First Premier Lecture Covers 9/11’s Legacy
Patricia Ingalls
Remember to reserve your seat for LifeLong Learning’s first evening presentation of the new 2021-22 Premier Lecture Series. Hear an insider’s insights on the world’s deadliest terrorist attack, known as 9/11, and the ramifications of its aftermath. The in-person lecture will take place Friday, Sept. 10, at 7 p.m. in PebbleCreek’s Renaissance Theater.
Twenty years ago, on Sept. 11, nearly 3,000 people perished in the multi-pronged 9/11 attack that took place at the World Trade Center in New York City, at the Pentagon in northern Virginia, and in a field near Shanksville, Pa. In response to 9/11 and to terrorism spreading worldwide, the U.S. government completed the largest restructuring of its national security apparatus since World War II.
Premier lecturer Mark Randol, who worked as a civil aviation security field office manager for the Federal Aviation Administration on Sept. 11, 2001, had a unique vantage point for the dramatic events on that day. Randol will provide a brief overview of the attacks, including some little-known facts and statistics. In addition, he will summarize the U.S. government’s response, covering three past presidential administrations, and conclude with observations about how the attacks have profoundly changed America.
Tickets to all Premier Lectures cost $15 per person and can be purchased online at www.lifelonglearningatpc.org. Tickets also may be purchased in the lobby of the theater one hour prior to each lecture, subject to availability.
How Our Memory Works
Bill Nee
Have you ever misplaced something you were just holding? Completely blanked on a famous actor’s name? Walked into a room and immediately forgot why? Neuroscientist Lisa Genova digs into two types of memory failures that we regularly experience in paying attention and activating the correct neurons. She reassures us that forgetting is totally normal.
Following her talk, TED science curator, David Biello, asks questions of Genova about the differences between common moments of forgetting and possible signs of Alzheimer’s. She debunks a widespread myth about brain capacity and shares what you can do to keep your brain healthy and your memory sharp.
To view this 22-minute talk, go to TED.com, click “watch” in the header, then “TED Talks,” then in “Search talks” input “How your memory works—and why forgetting is totally OK,” scroll a little lower, and click on the talk you selected.
To learn more about this topic, plan to attend a future LifeLong Learning Monday Morning Lecture, entitled Understanding and Maintaining Your Memory, scheduled for Feb. 14, 2022 in the Renaissance Theater. Mark your calendar now, so you won’t forget!
On Sept. 15, in the LifeLong Learning Center, learn how PebbleCreek’s performing arts groups create their live stage productions, such as Showtime’s upcoming November musical presentation of Beauty and the Beast.
Sign-Ups Sizzling for Summer Lunch and Learn
Patricia Ingalls
Two presentations remain in LifeLong Learning’s newest, free opportunity to learn and engage, called Summer Lunch and Learn. The four-part program, which began in August, invites registered participants to bring their own lunches to the LifeLong Learning Center. They eat together for 15 minutes and then view a 45-minute, in-person presentation, enhanced by slides, videos, and samples. For those who prefer remote interaction, using Zoom enables a larger audience, at home or far away, to participate.
Register for each Summer Lunch and Learn by emailing [email protected] or by texting 303-917-2273. Include which program(s) you want to attend and, for each, whether you plan on participating in person or remotely using Zoom. The LifeLong Learning Center’s classroom space is limited. (Note that the text number is not monitored for calls or voicemail.)
The two September topics, both presented on Wednesdays, are:
Sept. 1: Creative Arts in PebbleCreek by Cheryl Neel, a PebbleCreek resident who has experience with all of PebbleCreek’s arts clubs housed in the Creative Arts Center. While seated, take this “guided tour” of the depth and type of art involvement offered in each discipline, see samples of members’ creations, plus visit each club’s website, detailing how to access various upcoming classes and events. Absorb a little history of the Creative Arts Center, as well as learn how Expressions Gallery and Gift Shop operates.
Sept. 15: Performing Arts in PebbleCreek by Laurie Farquhar, a former TV pro, who has directed productions for the PebbleCreek Players (which produces stage plays) and for PebbleCreek’s Showtime (musical theatre.) Learn how these clubs put on about four shows annually in PebbleCreek’s Renaissance Theater—from sourcing and show selection, to assigning directors and support staff, preparing scripting/staging/music, casting, rehearsals, coordinating with sound and lighting technicians, and rehearsals from day one through hell week.
Rekindle your youthful quest for knowledge. Register now for a LifeLong Learning class at www.lifelonglearningatpc.org.
LifeLong Learners Head Back to Class
Carole Korzilius
There’s good news for lifelong learners who have tired of Zoom sessions and sitting at home. A variety of 20 classes, scheduled for this coming season, running Oct. 7 through Feb. 24, will once again happen live—in the LifeLong Learning (LLL) Center!
The only exceptions are five classes that PebbleCreek residents plan to demonstrate live, in person, in their homes. Mike Andersen will share his knowledge and enthusiasm for his hobby of brewing beer at home. Gene Fioretti will repeat his classes about artisan bread, baguettes, pasta from scratch, and Neapolitan pizza.
Full information on all four months of classes is posted on lifelonglearningatpc.org. For each class, PebbleCreek residents can peruse a class description, its time and date, the instructor’s credentials, and how to register online. Registration is now open for class participants to reserve their spots. (Registration for Great Decisions discussion groups will open in October.) Here’s a quick rundown of what’s ahead.
In November, a favorite PebbleCreek instructor, Adriana Greisman, will teach how to make better use of cellphone cameras, how to share photos through Facebook and email, and how to edit photos for albums. In January, she will present a three-part series of two-hour classes in beginning photography for those who want to ascend to professional quality.
Dru Bacon also returns, this time presenting the expertise that Creekers need to gain confidence in new electric vehicle technology.
Another returnee is gemologist Linda Kesselman, bringing new gemstones to share and more information on Arizona sites and stones.
Joining us for the first time is Lois Chohon, who will discuss food sensitivities, with an emphasis on gluten intolerance and irritable bowel syndrome. She brings years of experience, a complete assortment of ingredients, and her favorite recipes.
Genealogist Denise Beeson, another newcomer, will teach how to find ancestors, research their roots, and verify all those family stories to pass on to future generations. Her five-part cluster of classes focuses on sources, data research techniques, and the pros and cons of DNA testing.
History buff Mark Pelletier, who last season taught about Goodyear’s history, will cover railroads’ influence on Arizona’s tourism, land development, and economy.
Another history enthusiast, PebbleCreek resident Mary Thomas, will continue her Black history series, this time focusing on Reconstruction. Thomas will cover the post-Civil War and subsequent periods that have witnessed progress in civil rights for minority groups.
Jack Burns from the Social Security Administration (SSA) returns in February for an update on SSA changes and strategies for retirement planning.
Finally, LLL again will offer a choice of five time slots for Great Decisions, beginning in January. Each year, small groups register to meet for eight weeks to explore topical material provided by the Foreign Policy Association. Each week, participants study about 12 informative pages on a new topic, then come to class for a DVD presentation by national policy experts, followed by a live group discussion. Each group has a volunteer facilitator among its participants to lead discussions.
Further details about all classes and instructors, plus online registration, are posted on lifelonglearningatpc.org.
Paul Polk, president of LifeLong Learning
“We Don’t Need No Education”
Paul Polk
I saw Pink Floyd perform that song in 1972. While I really, really like the song, I couldn’t agree less! In my retirement years, I’ve found that continually learning new ideas, skills, and interests challenges me and keeps me mentally nimble. That’s why I was eager to get involved with LifeLong Learning when I moved to PebbleCreek three years ago.
Volunteers at LifeLong Learning have been busy preparing a full slate of offerings for a new season, which again includes evening Premier Lectures, Monday Morning Lectures, classes, trips, and more.
LifeLong Learning’s technology is keeping pace with the times. Last season, during COVID lockdown, we embraced Zoom to continue our lectures and classes. This season, we are the first PebbleCreek club to use a Quick Response (QR) code for ticketing—for our evening Premier Lectures.
Your paperless ticket, saved on your smartphone, will be scanned as you enter the theater. If you prefer, you may bring a printout of your QR code to the lecture to gain entry. You can also pay cash in the theater lobby one hour prior to a lecture, subject to availability. Thanks to Jim Plasker and his team for implementing this new technology for us.
Our 2021-22 season starts early with a Premier Lecture Sept. 10, presented live and in person in PebbleCreek’s Renaissance Theater. A former Federal Aviation Administration manager will examine the legacy of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, 20 years later.
This upcoming five-lecture season, running through Feb. 18, also brings variety. Other Premier Lectures include one of the last remaining Navajo Code Talkers from WWII and a Marie Curie impersonator.
How to start off each week? Go to a Monday Morning Lecture, of course! I like to walk over to the theater at 10 a.m., listen to a great lecture, and then continue my walk while pondering lots of new ideas and information. A full 16-lecture season will kick off Oct. 18, beginning with a presentation about minority inventors and innovators. I’m not sure which topic I’m looking forward to most, geology of the Grand Canyon or border security, among others. Join us until the final Monday Morning Lecture on March 28. No need to register, just drop in!
Classes? Why yes, we have classes, and they are in person! How to Make Bread, How to Make Beer, Great Decisions (I like that one a lot), and more will be taught, concluding Feb. 15.
And that brings us to trips! The trip schedule is still being finalized, as our trip destinations remain in flux, depending on their reopening to the public. We’re hoping for the Christmas light display at Phoenix (Mesa) Mormon Temple, the ASU Moon and Mars Lab, and others.
LifeLong Learning is pleased to present all these opportunities to PebbleCreek, and I encourage you to take advantage. Watch for further details and updates about registration at www.lifelonglearningatpc.org and in the PebbleCreek HOA’s weekly e-newsletter, PebbleNews.