Harrisburg Region

To the ancient Romans, Morocco marked the western limits of empire. To its Muslim conquerors, Morocco was “the land of the setting sun.” To Hollywood, it was a hotbed of wartime intrigue – memorably brought to life in the movie Casablanca. This program provides a colorful glimpse of the history and culture of Morocco. From the desert oases of the south to the ski slopes of the High Atlas Mountains … from the bustling markets of Marrakech to the old Jewish Quarter of Fes … Morocco offers the armchair traveler a wealth of wondrous sights and fascinating facts!

This will be a 4-session Zoom discussion of the book: Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande. You will need to obtain and read the book on your own. The class will cover two to three chapters of the book each week. In order to facilitate good discussion, specific discussion questions will be assigned in advance for each week. We encourage you to take part in all four sessions, do “homework” between sessions, and share your thoughts, concerns, and personal plans for the end of life with other participants.

One in ten U.S. adults has a food allergy, and about half of these cases do not show up until adulthood. The prevalence of food allergies and intolerances in American society has seen an uptick in recent years, and while we may not all have one; most of us know someone who has uncomfortable reactions to a specific food. This course will provide insight on the difference between allergies and intolerances, how food allergies are diagnosed, and resources for safe, allergen-free recipes, advice, and more!

When we wake up the first morning after retiring, we realize that we are no longer defined by the work we do. We ask ourselves, “Who are we now?” We need to find another identity and outlets that give us purpose. It is time to reflect on our skills and interests, and search for how that can be expressed in new ways. We can find meaning in deeper friendships, volunteering, service projects, continued learning, hobbies, or even part-time work. Any of these can bring us a purposeful identity. If we missed this opportunity in pre-retirement, the time to start is now.

The year 2020 marks the hundredth anniversary of women’s right to vote in the United States. This course explores the march toward greater gender equality in the political arena by examining trends in women’s political representation and influence over the course of the past century. We will focus on women’s voting behavior - whether women form a bloc in the electorate; on trends in women’s access to various public offices; on whether women’s presence makes a difference in the way decisions are made and in the policies government produces; and on the barriers women face in running for public office. Recent efforts by women candidates to run for presidency especially highlight gender stereotypes that impact the issue of when we will see the first woman president.

This course will cover the origins of our government and how the framers of our constitution established a government that divided power between three separate branches, created a system by which no single branch had more power than was necessary to carry out its duties, and existed by the consent of those people who would be governed by it. It is the concept of a government made of three branches that fulfills the premise that there is a separation of powers within the government, and it includes a system of checks and balances. Explanations will be provided about how each branch: legislative, executive, and judicial was created and what their specific duties are with regard to a government designed to represent its people. The similarities and differences between the three branches will also be reviewed.

We all know that we live in the Milky Way Galaxy. But what is the galaxy? What are the characteristics of a galaxy? The class will provide an understanding of the types and features of galaxies. We will explore the cause and effects of black holes; look at our understanding of the Universe, and the options for the fate of the Universe.

Join us in watching (or re-watching) a series of classic Hollywood films. The instructor will select one film a week being shown on Turner Classic Movies (TCM). You will be given a schedule listing when the films will be shown (mostly at 6:00 pm or 8:00 pm). During the class session, Roger Godin will do a 45-minute presentation about the film, discussing the filmmakers, the stars, and the significance of the film in American film history. He will also analyze the film utilizing stills from the movies and clips of certain key scenes. A question and answer session will follow during which class participants can offer observations about the movie or ask questions.

This course will cover the origins of our government and how the framers of our constitution established a government that divided power between three separate branches, created a system by which no single branch had more power than was necessary to carry out its duties, and existed by the consent of those people who would be governed by it. It is the concept of a government made of three branches that fulfills the premise that there is a separation of powers within the government, and it includes a system of checks and balances. Explanations will be provided about how each branch: legislative, executive, and judicial was created and what their specific duties are with regard to a government designed to represent its people. The similarities and differences between the three branches will also be reviewed.

A faith, a culture, and a political movement – Islam has represented all of these throughout history. Many Americans find the subject of Islam mysterious, even worrisome, as they reflect on the rise of terrorist movements across the globe. This two-part course seeks to promote a broad, objective understanding of the world’s second-largest religion. Among the topics to be covered are the life of its charismatic founder, the Prophet Muhammad; its core rituals and beliefs; its sectarian diversity; the rise and fall of Muslim power and influence, from the 7th through the 19th centuries; and the issues posed by a reinvigorated Islam today.