Dr. Eric Reiman
Lieutenant General John Regni, USAF
Alzheimer’s, drones, orphans and movies: January LLL topics timely and relevant
Now that the holidays are behind us, LifeLong Learning at PebbleCreek lectures resume with diverse subjects to educate and entertain. Be sure to mark your calendars for these wonderful speakers and programs that you won’t want to miss, and plan to arrive early to ensure a seat in the auditorium.
Breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s Research
Monday, January 12 at 10:00 a.m. Dr. Eric Reiman, chief executive director of the institute, will share the latest discoveries and talk about the Alzheimer’s Prevention Initiative. The Banner Alzheimer’s Institute is internationally known for its research into the early detection of Alzheimer’s.
Riders on the Orphan Train
Friday, January 23 at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m., Alison Moore and Phil Lancaster use original songs, storytelling and video interviews to tell the story of this little known chapter in American history. Both performances are sold out. If you have tickets that you will not be able to use, please let others know so that those who have not been able to purchase tickets will have an opportunity to see this outstanding show.
Commercial Drones in the Arizona Skies
Monday, January 26 at 10:00 a.m. While the uses for civilian applications for small, unmanned drones are constantly growing, they are also considered a threat to wildlife and personal privacy. Lieutenant General John Regni, USAF retired, led the Arizona consortium on the use of drones in the state and is working on developing multiple applications for them.
Tickets to all Monday Morning Lectures are $3 per person and are available in the Renaissance Theatre Lobby prior to the lecture.
Visit www.lifelonglearningatpc.org for more information about these lectures and other LLL programs.
Auditorium is filled to capacity in advance of FBI lecture.
FBI attracts overflow crowd as LLL lectures grow
Every seat in the auditorium was filled by 9:45 a.m. Monday, November 17 and the lobby was still full of people who hoped to hear the FBI agents talk about international terrorism.
Given the growing popularity of the Monday Morning Lectures, we knew it would happen at some point. Nevertheless, we are sorry we could not accommodate everyone. LifeLong Learning, like every group that uses the Renaissance Theatre, must abide by the fire code rules, including no sitting on the steps or standing in the aisles.
There’s no sure-fire way to predict what lecture will draw large crowds, but we’re seeing greater numbers for all our lectures than we have in years past. Similarly, many of the trips and several classes are already filled. The growing number of PebbleCreek residents is contributing to increased attendance, but we like to think we’ve also done a better job of spreading the word about our programs.
We are discussing how to deal with overflow crowds in the future. In the meantime, be sure to mark your calendars for the Monday Morning Lectures you want to attend and plan on arriving early.
Residents sign up for LLL trips in record numbers
The LifeLong Learning day trips to interesting places in the Phoenix valley continue to draw a quick response from PebbleCreek residents. The Mystery Castle and Bashas’ Art Gallery trips are filled to capacity; additional seats for the Phoenix Symphony were added and a third date was scheduled for the visit to the Amazon Distribution Center, Goodyear’s 911 Center and the Cancer Treatment Center of Phoenix. There are wait lists for all of these trips.
There is still room on the bus for the full day trip to Florence, Arizona, on Tuesday, March 10 with a tour of the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Saint Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Monastery and the Pinal County Historical Museum. A special lunch will be served at St. Athos Greek Restaurant. The fee for this trip is $65 and includes all fees and tips as well as lunch.
Each year we plan a meal and tour at a historic valley venue. There are a few spaces available for the Sunday evening, April 19 visit to the Wigwam Hotel for a tour and cooking demonstration, dinner and cocktails on the Litchfield Restaurant patio. The fee for this historic venue visit is $70 per person.
Complete an LLL Trip Registration form and deliver it to Judy Cowan or to the LLL Team before any Monday Morning Lecture after January 12 in the Renaissance Theatre Lobby.
Be sure to visit our website at www.lifelonglearningatpc.org for complete information about trips, classes and lectures.
Author Jewell Parker Rhodes in PC Wed., January 28 at 10:00 a.m.
Two extraordinary women—one white, one black—lived together with the great abolitionist Frederick Douglass. The warring passions of these women, who were his mistress and his wife, are vividly resurrected in the finest novel to date by Jewell Parker Rhodes.
In Douglass’ Women, published in 2002, Rhodes re-imagines how his wife, Anna Douglass, a free woman of color, and Ottilie Assing, a German-Jewish intellectual, developed an uneasy solidarity in their shared love for Douglass.
Rhodes, who rose to prominence for The Marie Laveau Mystery Trilogy that explores the voodoo culture in New Orleans, has also turned to writing children’s books. The latest, Sugar, which tells the story of a 10 year old girl living on a sugar plantation in Mississippi, has won numerous awards.
Rhodes will discuss Douglass’ Women and Sugar and answer your questions about all her books at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 28 in the Palm Room at Eagle’s Nest. The session is free and admission will be on a first come, first served basis until the room capacity is reached.
Born in 1954 in Pittsburgh, Rhodes is a professor of creative writing and American literature at Arizona State University. Her first book, Voodoo Dreams: A Novel of Marie Laveau, published in 1993, explores voodoo in New Orleans. When it was restyled as a play The Arizona Republic cited it as the “most innovative” drama of the 2000-2001 season.
In addition to her voodoo themed novels, she is the author of Magic City (1997), Block Party (1998), Free Within Ourselves: Fiction Lessons for Black Authors (1999) The African-American Guide to Writing and Publishing Non Fiction (2001), Douglass’ Women (2002), Porch Stories: A Grandmother’s Guide to Happiness (2006) and recently, two tales for children: Ninth Ward (2010) and Sugar (2014).
The recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts in Fiction and honored with literary and professional awards too legion to list, Parker Rhodes has had her work published in Europe and Asia. She resides in Scottsdale with her husband and two children.
To learn more about her, visit her website at www.jewellparkerrhodes.com.
LLL classes begin in January 2015
Yes—some classes are already wait list only, but there are still several January and February classes with room for a few more interested students. No homework, no tests, no term papers; just an opportunity to learn some new information about topics that will interest you and many of your neighbors. Check out the entire schedule on the LLL website at www.lifelonglearningatpc.org or in our printed SCHEDULE available at the clubhouse carousels.
Consider the following early 2015 classes:
Critters on the Trail: Learn about the animals encountered on walks or hikes in the Arizona Desert. Ted Ingalls, a PebbleCreek resident, trains Phoenix Water Department field personnel in identification, prevention and treatment of bites related to insects and animals in the desert.
Tuesdays, February 3 and 10, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Palm Room; $30.
Digital Scrapbooking: Learn about Photoshop. Create online scrapbooks, transfer pictures to canvas, mugs, etc. Graphics designer, Marcy Dorsey worked with the LLL team to develop the SCHEDULE and recently won a prestigious design award.
Saturdays, January 17 and 24, 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. in the Computer Room at the Activity Center; $25
Genealogy: PebbleCreek’s Beth Clymer has started dozens of residents on the fulfilling exploration of their ancestors through the genealogy class.
Tuesdays, January 13, 20 and 27, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in the Computer Room at the Activity Center; $50.
Interpreting Your Dreams: Robert Hoss, researcher and lecturer on dreams for more than 30 years, offers easy techniques to relate dreams to waking life situations.
Thursday, January 22, 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. in the Sienna Room; $30.
Investment Basics: Graham Williams will explain, in easy to grasp terms, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange traded funds and annuities. Understand what you own and the risks in your portfolio.
Tuesday, February 17, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in the Milan Room; registration required; free.
The Music and Life of Neil Diamond: PC’s Lew Goldring will spin records play and talk about the music and legends of Neil Diamond; one of a series of musical legends classes. Come and bring your friends.
Wednesday, February 18, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in Tuscany Falls Ballroom; $20.
Use Your E-Reader: Public Library Access: Maricopa County Library District offers digital resources that cardholders can download for free. Goodyear Branch Manager Erin MacFarlane teaches you how.
Tuesday, January 27, 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.in the Capri Room; registration required; free.
Wildlife Photography: Photographing wild animals is one of the most rewarding areas of photography. Learn essential compositional elements, simplified to 10 tips. Kathleen Reeder, internationally published, award winning wildlife photographer, instructor and author lives in Arizona. www.KathleenReeder.com
Saturday, January 31, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the Capri Room; $20.
Print a Class Registration form from the website at www.lifelonglearningatpc.org or pick up one from the carousels in either clubhouse. Mail with your check to Renee Bruening or drop it off before any of the LLL Monday Morning Lectures starting again on January 12 at 10:00 a.m. in the Renaissance Theatre.