January Classes Offer Eclectic Assortment
Patricia Ingalls
Six January classes provide opportunities to learn new food-preparation and photography skills, to develop a new career path, or to gather stories about local paranormal haunts.
Considering an Encore Career?, Jan. 8. Business professor Denise Beeson will discuss what exactly is an “encore career,” steps to consider before launch, benefits of an encore career, and inspiring examples. She also will discuss research, networking, financial aspects, and creating a business plan.
Making Baguettes, Jan. 13. Gene Fioretti returns to teach his popular class on how to make those crisp, long-loaved French baguettes at home, providing a close look at the steps and techniques involved.
Finding Great Buys at Thrift Stores, Jan. 14. Dave Barringer, who has 30 years in senior-level management at Goodwill and St. Vincent de Paul, teaches how to understand thrift stores and find great buys.
Decorating Valentine Cookies, Jan. 15. Entrepreneur Kathy Worwa leads a hands-on workshop on transforming sugar cookies into works of art, by sharing artful techniques from her cookie business.
PebbleCreek Sky in Photos, Jan. 28. Photographer Dave Sussman will teach ways to capture Arizona’s night-sky images using basic camera equipment.
Haunted Phoenix, Jan. 29. Dede Branning, leader of MVD Ghost Chasers, an Arizona paranormal team, will reveal spooky Phoenix sites, and explain spirit photography, electronic voice recording, and other technology used to study the paranormal.
For full details about January classes and to register, go to lifelonglearningatpc.org.
Participants complete the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office’ day-long Citizens Academy, during LLL’s trip Nov. 13. (Photo courtesy of MCAO)
Trip to MCAO a Success
Patricia Ingalls
Fifty PebbleCreek residents completed a day-long Citizens Academy, held Nov. 13, 2025, at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO) in downtown Phoenix. LifeLong Learning’s Trip Team arranged the inside look into the nation’s third-largest prosecutorial agency, which serves nearly 4 million residents in the fourth largest county in the U.S.
The captivating journey through MCAO’s criminal-justice system involved immersive presentations by County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, prosecutors, and detectives, to increase participants’ understanding of MCAO’s pivotal role. Participants delved into the case-review process, and learned how a case is submitted, reviewed and charged, as well as rationale as to why some cases are not charged. The group also engaged in a mock grand-jury presentation to decide whether a felony should be charged, and explored victim services.
Many participants commented on how victim-oriented the MCAO is. Each presenter showed primary concern for justice for the victims, as well as fairness for the accused.
The well-organized day included clear PowerPoint presentations, exhibits, and handouts, and all presenters encouraged questions from the group. A delicious lunch was generously provided by MCAO.
When participants submitted their reviews to LifeLong Learning (LLL), there was not one negative comment. To quote some of the rave reviews: “One of the best LLL events I have attended.” “Wowza! Another great LLL trip. So interesting to learn about our county and how they prosecute crimes.” “I would recommend highly.”
Sue Roth, LLL’s director of trips, said, “The MCAO only offers the Citizen’s Academy four times a year. We feel especially fortunate that they have given us a date the past two years, and have even offered us another date in November of 2026.”
Roth expressed appreciation for PebbleCreek residents’ support of LLL’s many activities. “We will continue to keep you informed” she said, “and to look for opportunities that offer worthwhile learning activities that are competitively priced and, of course, fun!”
Innocence Project Researcher to Give Evening Talk
Patricia Ingalls
Vanessa Meterko, research manager at the Innocence Project, will speak Friday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m. in the Tuscany Falls Theater, about the organization’s history, evolution, work, and mission. Materko will also share insights into her role within the Data Science and Research department.
The Innocence Project was founded in 1992 by Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld, who gained national attention in the mid-1990s as part of the “Dream Team” of lawyers who formed part of the defense in the O.J. Simpson murder case. As of 2021, the Innocence Project has successfully overturned more than 300 convictions through DNA-based exonerations.
Meterko earned her M.A. in forensic psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, part of the City University of New York. She has conducted research and published on a variety of topics, including health care, subtle discrimination and wrongful convictions. She has also served as an advocate for survivors of intimate-partner violence and sexual abuse in New York City.
For full details, and to register for the $15 evening Premier presentation, go to LifeLong Learning’s (LLL) website at lifelonglearningatpc.org.
The theater is equipped with a hearing-loop system, which is a special type of sound system for people who use hearing aids. Full information is posted at LLL’s website.