October Classes Emphasize Historical Highlights
Patricia Ingalls
LifeLong Learning enters the second month of its new season of classes with an emphasis on appreciating prominent people and events from the historical past—representing both family and community.
Each class costs $20 per person, is limited to 24 students, requires registration on www.lifelonglearningatpc.org, and takes place in the LLL Center.
Intro to Genealogy: Thursday, Oct. 19, 1-3 p.m.
Denise Beeson will show class participants how to research their roots, where to find information, and how to access sources of family history.
Denise Beeson, M.A., is a professor at Santa Rosa Junior College, in Santa Rosa, Calif. She established the Genealogy Program at the college and is a member in good standing at the Santa Rosa Genealogical Society, and the PebbleCreek Genealogy Club. She is a popular speaker at various genealogy groups.
History of Goodyear: Thursday, Oct. 26, 1-3 p.m.
The City of Goodyear is a mere 77 years old, so even its early history is available to discover. PebbleCreek historian Mark Pelletier will explore how multiple events in the international sphere not only brought about Goodyear, but continued to drive major milestones. Pelletier’s session will touch on the stories behind the establishment and growth of Goodyear.
The story of Goodyear is also intertwined with its neighboring cities, most notably Litchfield Park and Avondale, as well as throughout the Southwest Valley. As the few surviving landmarks continue to disappear, historical records remain for review, which this class will reveal.
Researchers I.D. Cancer-Fighting Foods
Bill Nee
Numerous researchers and organizations are working hard to develop cures for cancer. Dr. William Li heads the Angiogenesis Foundation, a nonprofit that is re-conceptualizing fighting global disease. He is enthusiastic about using certain foods to fight cancer. His TED Talk, “Can we eat to starve cancer?” (originally presented in 2010), shows insights on how certain cancer-fighting foods can cut off supply lines and beat cancer at its own game, through anti-angiogenesis, that is, preventing the growth of blood vessels that feed a tumor.
Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels. That process involves the migration, growth, and differentiation of endothelial cells, which line the inside walls of blood vessels. Other chemical signals, called angiogenesis inhibitors, interfere with blood-vessel formation. Li’s research showed that certain foods can cut off the blood supply to cancer tumors. While several anti-angiogenesis drugs have recently come to market, certain foods can help too, according to Li.
To watch this informative 20-minute TED Talk, go to TED.com, click “watch” in the header,” then “TED Talks,” then in “Search talks” input “Can we eat to starve cancer?”, scroll a little lower, and click on the talk you selected.
Bus Trip to Visit Sikh, Jewish Worship Sites
Patricia Ingalls
Learning about religions deepens our understanding of other people, their cultures, and ourselves. An Oct. 25 bus tour will visit a Sikh temple, plus a Jewish museum housed in a former synagogue.
Morning stop: Your journey begins at a beautiful Sikh temple, called Nishkan Seva Gurdwara Sahib, where you’ll be given an overview of Sikhism. Sikhism is a religion founded in India in the late 15th century. Most of the estimated 25 to 30 million Sikhs in the world live in India, and it is estimated that 1 million live in the U.S. Its theology is based on a supreme God, who governs with justice and grace, and believes in equality and service to others.
You will observe a service and hymns in the Gurdwara, the place of Sikh worship. This will be a very interesting and eye-opening experience.
Dress requirements at the Sikh temple: The religious beliefs of Sikhism require everyone to remove their shoes within the buildings. Women are required to wear scarves (bring your own) to cover their heads (a simple 26″ square scarf to cover the hair, not the face). Men are required to have their heads covered. Men’s head covering will be provided, as traditional American caps are not acceptable.
Lunch stop: Following the Temple tour, you will lunch at China Chili, one of the best Chinese restaurants in Phoenix.
Afternoon stop: The Arizona Jewish Historical Society is located in the restored original synagogue in Phoenix. It preserves and celebrates the rich heritage of the Arizona Jewish community and educates the public about Jewish historical experiences and contributions to Arizona. After a presentation by Rabbi Jeffrey Schesnol, you will have a docent-led tour of the current exhibit, “We Remember the Holocaust.” The exhibit features new, high-tech, three-dimensional, interactive holograms and virtual reality. Only a dozen places in the world have this hologram experience.
The tour’s time is 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. The cost is $80 per person. Registration is limited to two per event, for each LLL user account. Register online at www.lifelonglearningatpc.org.
Training for Future HOA Leaders Offered
Cathy Lindstrom
In recent Transition 101 classes presented to the PebbleCreek Community, two questions were frequently asked: “How do we get the best HOA board we can, once we have gone through transition?” and “How do we keep from having a rogue board that doesn’t operate in the best interests of the community?”
Once our board is composed solely of homeowners, we will need more residents who are willing to serve our community, either on the board or on one of the HOA committees. Homeowners will need to examine candidates’ leadership qualities, in order to ensure that any elected board member is prepared to serve effectively.
Many residents, who have expressed interest in how the board operates, are concerned that individuals may lack the needed knowledge and skill sets to serve. So, the current HOA Board approved having the Transition Advisory Group and a group of homeowners work together to develop a training program.
The training program consists of 10 to 12 topics, with two components for each topic. All of the training is free.
* First, a YouTube video prepared by our attorney, Beth Mulcahy, will be announced, which can be viewed at a time convenient for homeowners on their own computers.
* Second, a group discussion about each video will be held at a later time, so that questions can be addressed, and topics explored in more depth.
The first video will be titled “10 Things That Get HOAs Into Trouble,” and the link to access it is tinyurl.com/3jszfu7j.
A follow-up discussion group is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 23 at 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the LifeLong Learning Center, Room 107, at the Activities Center on the Eagles Nest side. Anyone can view the videos, but registration is required to join the discussion group, with a maximum of 24 participants. You can register by emailing Cathy Lindstrom at [email protected].
Many residents may not express interest in participating in HOA leadership, but they do want to ensure that their elected representatives are effective board members, who can demonstrate an understanding of the issues facing PebbleCreek. This training will help those of you who are interested in how to analyze candidates and make informed choices for a vote. The videos are interesting, and the discussions are likely to be quite lively, so come join us!
Please note that the Mulcahy videos are hosted on YouTube. So video links shown on the side margin are not recommended by or compiled by the HOA, the Election Committee, or LifeLong Learning. YouTube tailors what is populated there to the viewer’s previous interests on YouTube and related content to the video being watched.