This course is for those who are comfortable with the present and preterite tenses in Spanish and want to deepen their understanding of Spanish grammar and communication. We will learn the imperfect past tense, the future tense, and subjunctive mood, among other verb forms, and will engage in classroom conversation. Please purchase the book Spanish Easy and Fun (c. 2023) before the first class. This course will cover units 21-30 in the book. To get the most out of the audio component of this class, students will need access to a computer, tablet, or smartphone for homework study. A $3 copy fee will be collected at the first class.

This Hula course introduces the basics of traditional Hawaiian dance, focusing on graceful movements, fluid arm gestures, and rhythmic footwork. Students will learn fundamental steps such as the basic kaholo, ami, and hula pahu, while also understanding the cultural significance behind the dance. The course emphasizes the connection between movement and storytelling, as well as the importance of rhythm and breath in hula. Perfect for beginners, this class offers a fun, energizing way to improve flexibility, coordination, and body awareness, all while exploring the rich history of Hawaiian culture.

In an age of rapidly advancing technology, genetics is playing an increasingly significant role in science and medicine. With these breakthroughs come profound and thought-provoking questions. Who owns our genes? Are GMO foods safe to eat? Is it ethical to create entirely new proteins to combat disease and genetic disorders? What are the caveats and concerns surrounding CRISPR technology? Should we create “designer babies”? What happens if insurance companies gain access to our genetic profiles? Are we, in some ways, playing God? Join me as we explore these questions and many more. (No prior knowledge of genetics is required to take this class.)

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. Over 250 "show and tell" items will be displayed and explained in this class, covering medical supplies, water purification, water extraction, types of food to store, how to store food, where to find food, camping gear, lifesaving tools, fire starters, CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiation, and Nuclear) hazmat suits and masks, emergency radios, Geiger counters, EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) detection, ways to protect your family, and much more. We will discuss pros and cons of "bugging in" (staying home) and "bugging out" (leaving home) for the various types of calamities along with when it will be safe to go outside again.

This course concerns the legacy of facism and conflict upon the German people, specifically the families and survivors of the Nazis, beginning with the Denazification Program initiated by the United States and its allies. Course consideration and discussion will include the Nuremberg Trials, military tribunals, executions and imprisonments, as well as the fate of German prisoners-of-war. Focus topics will be the refugee population and the Holocaust resettlement, the widows and “rubble” women living in devastated German cities, as well as the education of the German youth in post-war publications and media.

Once each month, meet a naturalist at a County Park for an introduction to what’s going on with plants, animals and insects as nature reawakens from winter. Then head out for a naturalist-led hike to look and listen for nature in action. Dates and locations: March 6 at St. Patrick's County Park; April 3 at Spicer Lake Nature Preserve; May 1 at Bendix Woods County Park. All dates meet 1-3 pm.

Ready, set, hike! During this series, you will get to explore several parks and observe different plant and animal habitats while getting in healthy exercise. This program will consist of six guided hikes, some of which may take place on moderately hilly terrain and muddy trails. Hikes will take place at 10am on Wednesdays from March 11th to April 22nd. The first hike will be at St. Patrick's County Park.

This will be a single session class March 12, about the South Bend Watch Company. We will discuss the need for high quality watches, a little about how they work, the company's origins, many of the people involved, products, location, ultimate demise and aftermath. For anyone who has an old pocket watch and would like to bring it to the class, I will remain afterward to provide any information I can about the watch. This session will meet Thursday, March 12.