Celebration Lifelong Course Catalog – Fall-Winter 2024

If I had a dollar for every time someone said in my art class “I can’t draw a straight line,” I would be rich! Art: Back to Basics will make you “richer” once you understand the basic formulas for a successful drawing. We will start with pencils. What do all those letters and numbers on the sketching pencil actually mean? Learn what volume, value, perspective, and composition have to do with art. You will complete at least two small drawings and one final piece. Who cares if you can’t draw a straight line? That’s not much fun anyway. You will need to provide/purchase 6 or more H and B sketching pencils of different numbers, a soft white vinyl eraser, and a drawing pad 8 x 10 or larger.

Instructor: Joan Werner

As a little girl, Joan began painting with her grandmother, an art and music teacher who traveled by wagon between schools to teach. After Joan’s graduation from Kutztown University with a BS in Education, Joan also traveled among schools – also using an art cart! She subsequently earned a degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, served as a high school Art and Music department head, taught AP Art and many other art courses, and received a master’s degree in education. After retiring from public education, she continued educating and learning from others as director of a small museum. Art has always let her HeART soar, while teaching keeps her grounded.

Broadway’s Greatest Musicals: The Tonys – Part 2 showcases the Tony Award-winning Best Musicals from 1987 to 2024. Using extensive video clips, we’ll explore some of the famous and lesser-known musicals that have won the Tony. Expect some surprises! Join us for award-winning theater – Part 2!

Instructor: Don Salvo

Don Salvo is a co-founder of the Playwrights’ Lab at the Pittsburgh Public Theatre and teaches playwriting and courses about Broadway Musicals at Celebration Lifelong. Don is a published playwright and has had multiple plays performed throughout the country. His play, Unraveled, a Heideman Award Finalist for Drama from the Actors Theatre of Louisville, was produced twice off-Broadway and introduced Joe Manganiello to New York audiences. His plays One-Way Mirror and The Florida Highwaymen were finalists for the Verna Safran Prize. A professionally trained dancer/actor, he is a proud member of Actors’ Equity and has performed in over 60 productions with the Kenley Players. Don earned degrees from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University, and was a Fellow in the School of Speech and Drama at Northwestern University.

Broadway’s Greatest Musicals: The Tonys – Part 2 showcases the Tony Award-winning Best Musicals from 1987 to 2024. Using extensive video clips, we’ll explore some of the famous and lesser-known musicals that have won the Tony. Expect some surprises! Join us for award-winning theater – Part 2!

Instructor: Don Salvo

Don Salvo is a co-founder of the Playwrights’ Lab at the Pittsburgh Public Theatre and teaches playwriting and courses about Broadway Musicals at Celebration Lifelong. Don is a published playwright and has had multiple plays performed throughout the country. His play, Unraveled, a Heideman Award Finalist for Drama from the Actors Theatre of Louisville, was produced twice off-Broadway and introduced Joe Manganiello to New York audiences. His plays One-Way Mirror and The Florida Highwaymen were finalists for the Verna Safran Prize. A professionally trained dancer/actor, he is a proud member of Actors’ Equity and has performed in over 60 productions with the Kenley Players. Don earned degrees from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University, and was a Fellow in the School of Speech and Drama at Northwestern University.

Gardening in Florida can be stunning and exciting! Join Robert Bowden, a horticulturist and author with more than 40 years of Florida gardening experience, for fun-filled presentations on a variety of gardening topics. Class 1: Easy to Grow Summer Perennials is about the long game and budget-friendly choices: easy-to-grow perennials, including spring, summer, fall, and, yes, even winter bloomers. Class 2: Creating a Bird Friendly Garden will discuss a habitat that you can create to provide birds with food, shelter, and nesting sites throughout the year. Class 3: Creating a Butterfly Garden is more than just an aesthetic choice to bring color to your garden. Butterflies act as pollinators and can greatly benefit the health of your garden plants.

Central Florida Gardening Part 1 and Part 2 are stand-alone courses, so you may choose to enjoy one or both.

Instructor: Robert Bowden

Recently retired after having been the Executive Director of Orlando’s Leu Gardens for nearly thirty years, Robert Bowden was previously the Director of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, the Director of Horticulture of the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, and the Director of Horticulture at Old Westbury Gardens, Long Island, New York. Throughout the U.S. and Caribbean, Robert’s photographs and essays can be seen in gardening magazines and professional journals. He has written several books including Florida Fruit & Vegetable Gardening and The Florida Top Ten Garden Guide.

Nothing beats eating fresh fruits and vegetables that you handpicked from the garden and there are many that you can grow before cool weather arrives in Central Florida. Join Robert Bowden, the author of Florida Fruit and Vegetable Gardening, to learn about them.

Class 1: How to Grow Fall Veggies in Orlando will help you learn about the long list of easy-to-grow vegetables that you can grow this fall.

Class 2: Good Bugs, Bad Bugs will discuss crawling, flying, jumping, burrowing, and walking bugs in our landscaped gardens.  The beneficial insects pollinate our flowers and eat the bad guys. However, at some point bad bugs will show up accompanied by lots and lots of hungry friends. Learn about good and bad bugs from a bug enthusiast!

Class 3: Growing Luscious Florida Fruit can be a fun project, and a fruit tree forest is a simple way to become food independent. Most fruit trees grow in the ground; however, some can be grown in pots on a back patio. Join Robert Bowden for a discussion about fruit trees and berries suitable for growing in Orlando.

Central Florida Gardening Part 1 and Part 2 are stand-alone courses, so you may choose to enjoy one or both.

Instructor: Robert Bowden

Recently retired after having been the Executive Director of Orlando’s Leu Gardens for nearly thirty years, Robert Bowden was previously the Director of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, the Director of Horticulture of the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, and the Director of Horticulture at Old Westbury Gardens, Long Island, New York. Throughout the U.S. and Caribbean, Robert’s photographs and essays can be seen in gardening magazines and professional journals. He has written several books including Florida Fruit & Vegetable Gardening and The Florida Top Ten Garden Guide.

Tom Kennington has thrilled us over the years with his music courses, from “Radio & Rock ‘n Roll” to “Musical Ramblings.” In the first two weeks of this course, Tom will feature “The Music of YOUR Lives,” favorite songs submitted by class participants along with the memories those songs bring back. In Week Three, Tom will share some of the songs and fascinating stories of the many stars he has had the opportunity to work with.

Previously offered in the Fall 2023 Term.

Instructor: Tom Kennington

Tom Kennington has a BS in Broadcasting from University of Florida. Tom spent 20 years in radio as an on-air personality, Program Director, National Program Director and General Manager. For 16 years, he worked at Walt Disney World as the Manager of Promotions and Film and as Television Development Director.

At the age of 43, the impressionist painter Claude Monet moved to the town of Giverny in Upper Normandy where he continued to pursue his lifelong experiments with light and color and his passion for flowers. He established his family home in the French countryside surrounded by blooming gardens and arboreal landscapes — all of which he painted incessantly. Giverny became his canvas. At Giverny, Monet became an expert landscape architect, designing and planting every section of his glorious garden, especially his Japanese pond and water garden which inspired hundreds of his majestic water lilies paintings, including his “chef-d’oeuvre” installed at the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris. Come along with us to recreate Monet’s later years — marked by creativity, frustration, fame, cataracts and an unrelenting need to continue to paint and garden until his death. We will explore what became of his world-renowned “series paintings”: Giverny Gardens, Haystacks, Rouen Cathedral, Weeping Willows, and the Water Lilies. At the end of our adventure, I am certain that you will agree with Claude Monet: “My garden is my greatest masterpiece and source of inspiration.”

Instructor: Arlene Sanchez-Busse

Arlene Sánchez-Busse has a BA in Anthropology from the University of Puerto Rico and a JD from the University of Puerto Rico, School of Law. Arlene spent twenty-five years as a practicing attorney in the Courts of Puerto Rico, specializing in family law and children’s rights. She spent ten years teaching English. She studied painting with Andres Bueso, one of the Caribbean’s foremost painters. Arlene has studied the Impressionist Movement for many years and has traveled to museums all over the world to view the masterpieces of Monet, Renoir, Morisot, Degas, Pissarro and Manet. She has also visited many of the sites and towns in France and Europe that inspired their paintings.

We will continue our exploration of new and learned techniques using colored pencils, expanding our renderings with the new Prismacolor 24 Colors Highlighting and Shading Set. We will color new floral designs on gray toned mixed media paper. We have learned gray toned paper allows us to color with an emphasis on white and light tones creating luminosity, vibrancy and contrast. Adding the 24 new colors of the Highlighting and Shading Set to our traditional set will allow us to enhance our coloring experience, creating beautifully rendered floral designs. Our coloring projects are on a “no need to know how to draw” basis. You will be e-mailed the templates (PDF) of the drawings and the step-by-step simple coloring guidelines which you will bring to class. Join us to create beautiful flower artwork that you can proudly display. Our extended two-hour class time gives everyone time to relax and color at a leisurely pace. Hope to see you in class soon!

You will receive via e-mail a list of the materials, including the gray toned paper, which can be easily purchased through Amazon, Blick, Target, or any art supply store. Repeat colorists should have almost all the materials already on hand.

Instructor: Arlene Sanchez-Busse

Arlene Sánchez-Busse has a BA in Anthropology from the University of Puerto Rico and a JD from the University of Puerto Rico, School of Law. Arlene spent twenty-five years as a practicing attorney in the Courts of Puerto Rico, specializing in family law and children’s rights. She spent ten years teaching English. She studied painting with Andres Bueso, one of the Caribbean’s foremost painters. Arlene has studied the Impressionist Movement for many years and has traveled to museums all over the world to view the masterpieces of Monet, Renoir, Morisot, Degas, Pissarro and Manet. She has also visited many of the sites and towns in France and Europe that inspired their paintings.

Join us for a whirlwind tour of some of the most fabulous travel destinations in the world!

Week 1: The Camino de Santiago with Vicky Chard and Traci Lomas
Please join us as we take you with us on our recent adventure, walking 500 miles from Lisbon, Portugal, to Santiago de Compostela in Northern Spain. The “Camino de Santiago,” also known as “The Way of St James,” is a pilgrimage that people undertake for many different reasons, religious, spiritual, health, or, like us, just two friends with a shared sense for adventure. We will introduce you to the wonderful people we met and the spectacular places we visited along our way, sharing lots of stories that we hope will inspire you to get out, see the world and walk more …. Bom Camino!

Week 2: The Wonders of Southeast Asia with Tim Johnson
Explore the Southeast Asian countries of Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and China with Tim. Discover their rich history, heritage, and cultures. Meet the people and experience their cuisine. Encounter the sights, the sounds, the smells as you walk through the temples. And see how genuine and friendly the people are in each country.

Week 3: European Christmas Markets with Theresa Duwe
We’ve all heard how special the European Christmas markets are. The lights, the ornaments, the food, the gluhwein! And yes, the special holiday season done the European way. The magic of European Christmas markets will come alive as Theresa shares the beauty and delights of her trip to December Christmas markets in Germany and Alsace. It is truly beautiful, magical and oh, so festive! This course will surely put you in the holiday spirit.

Instructors:

Tim Johnson

Tim Johnson has a BBC from the University of Florida’s College of Architecture and Fine Arts and an MBA from Rollins College. He has also taken courses at Harvard, MIT, Cornell and Yale. Tim spent the last 21 years of his career with Walt Disney Imagineering developing over 100 projects. Most were commercial projects for Walt Disney World, but many were retail projects for all the Disney Theme Parks around the world.
Vicky Chard

A Celebration resident for 20 years, Vicky likes to describe herself as Welsh by birth and American by choice, officially becoming an American citizen in 2011. She has enjoyed successful corporate careers in the UK and in the United States. Besides having lived in New Jersey, California and Louisiana, Vicki has visited every single US state, but she always finds her way home to Celebration. Vicky has been gifted with a curious sense of adventure which led her to her biggest personal challenge yet — completing the Camino de Santiago in May/June, 2024.

Traci Lomas

A resident of the United Kingdom, Traci lives in the Peak District, home to some of the most outstanding English countryside and natural beauty in the world. Traci bought a home in Celebration in 2010, which she visits often, and, because of her Celebration friends and neighbors, she considers it the best decision she’s made for her family. When Vicky Chard told Traci that she was planning to walk a Camino and asked her if she would like to join her for a week along the way, being impulsive, Traci said, “No not for a week, but I will join you for the whole journey.” And that’s how it all started!

Theresa Duwe

Theresa Duwe has a BS in Telecommunications from Indiana University. She has enjoyed cooking since she was a child and eventually transformed her love of cooking into a small catering business which she owned for 16 years. She is a self-taught private chef and has taught cooking classes. After moving to the Orlando area, she met some wine enthusiasts who introduced her to the world of studying wine. Theresa was hooked and her new passions became studying wine and pairing food and wine. She holds a SafeServ Manager Certificate and an Alcohol Server Certificate. She has passed the Introduction Level of Court of Master Sommeliers Exam, a Certification in Sherry, and continues to study and learn as much as she can about wine. Now she enjoys teaching others about wine as well as food and wine pairings.

Florida is known for beautiful beaches, springs, and nature preserves, many of which are just a short drive away. In our previous Exploring Florida course in Spring 2024, we stuck fairly close to home; this time we’ll look at locations all around the state. From boardwalks to rail trails to beaten paths, there are a wealth of ways to explore our beautiful backyard and see some of the wildlife who call it their home. Florida is also home to some unusual attractions – both natural and manmade – that are worthy of a spot on the bucket list! In this course, you’ll learn about some short (and long) hikes where you can explore the Florida landscape, as well as some of the unique attractions our state has to offer.

Instructor: Jane Wahl

Jane Wahl has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the University of Florida. She has earned a Six Sigma Black Belt, CPCU, CLU, and other designations throughout her career in the insurance industry. In addition to traditional insurance roles, she was a Public Affairs Manager; directing legislative, media, and community activities; and a Process Manager; working to streamline operations and enhance quality, and training others to do the same. She is a native Floridian who enjoys tennis, and is a big fan of the state’s beautiful weather.

What do a Cowboy Hat, a Railroad and a Laboratory have in common? Nothing! But
learn all about Henry Flagler, John B. Stetson, and Thomas Edison — and their beautiful
homes that you can visit here in Florida!

Instructor: Audrey Byllott

After working for Citibank for 20 years, Audrey Byllott became a Director for MasterCard USA for six years, then joined MasterCard Europe as a consultant for five more years. Her banking career may have nothing to do with American Icons but her love of history and interesting people does! As a Lifelong instructor, Audrey has lectured on 18 American Icons. All of them have museums and/or homes right here in Florida and are worth a visit.

Unlock the colorful and creative world of crochet in this engaging three-part workshop, ideal for beginners and seasoned crafters alike. Class 1: The Art of the Granny Square. Learn to craft the classic Granny Square. Class 2: Joining the Pieces. Transform your individual squares into a cohesive project. You will have homework. Class 3: Finishing with Flair. Put the final touches on your crochet work as we cover borders, blocking, and other finishing techniques. Join us and start turning yarn into art! The materials fee covers the supplies you will need.

Instructor: Rene Baron

Rene Baron is thrilled to be your crochet instructor. Her crochet journey began at eight when her grandmother taught her the basics. Rene teaches beginner crochet courses at her local library and shares her love for this craft through her YouTube channel and social media presence as Martha & Me. Since moving to Celebration in 2010, she has been eager to give back to this lovely community she calls home.

Have you ever thought you’d like to make a quilt, but weren’t sure where to start? This course will go through some of the basics of quilting, with plenty of class time allowed for practicing what you learn and working on your skills. We’ll look at traditional quilts as well as applique and t-shirt quilts, from creating the top to adding the batting and putting it all together. Disclaimer: the instructor is not an expert! But you don’t have to be an expert to make a quilt. First, you just need to start, and this course will help you do that. Instructor to provide list of minimal materials needed.

Instructor: Jane Wahl

Jane Wahl has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the University of Florida. She has earned a Six Sigma Black Belt, CPCU, CLU, and other designations throughout her career in the insurance industry. In addition to traditional insurance roles, she was a Public Affairs Manager; directing legislative, media, and community activities; and a Process Manager; working to streamline operations and enhance quality, and training others to do the same. She is a native Floridian who enjoys tennis, and is a big fan of the state’s beautiful weather.

Kimekomi is the Japanese craft of covering balls with fabric. It is fast, fun and easy to learn. The balls are traditionally given as gifts. They can be customized for seasons or holidays. They make excellent ornaments. They do not require any sewing skills! Instructor to provide materials needed.

Instructor: Barbara Mckenna

Barbara has been a crafter her entire life. She has had quilts exhibited in national and local shows and has a few blue ribbons logged. She enjoys attending Lifelong classes and feels she has some skills to share with the Lifelong members. Barbara, an explorer of all textile arts, and her photographer husband Kevin both do watercolors, are birders, and are devoted to tai chi and travel.

Pack your suitcases, we are heading to Bordeaux! And what better ways to explore Bordeaux than by car, river-cruise boat, and foot? Enjoy a recap of Theresa’s travels and tastes of the Bordeaux Wine Region in this course straight from her April trip to France. You will learn the intricacies of this world-famous wine region. What grapes are grown and are best here? What’s the difference between right bank and left bank? Only red wine comes from Bordeaux–true or false? All this and more as we taste our way through the left- and right-bank wines of Bordeaux. Come discover why this world-famous wine region is so special, what you like and maybe don’t like, how to decipher a Bordeaux wine bottle label, and how beautiful this region really is in the springtime. Sante!!

Instructor: Theresa Duwe
Theresa Duwe has a BS in Telecommunications from Indiana University. She has enjoyed cooking since she was a child and eventually transformed her love of cooking into a small catering business which she owned for 16 years. She is a self-taught private chef and has taught cooking classes. After moving to the Orlando area, she met some wine enthusiasts who introduced her to the world of studying wine. Theresa was hooked and her new passions became studying wine and pairing food and wine. She holds a SafeServ Manager Certificate and an Alcohol Server Certificate. She has passed the Introduction Level of Court of Master Sommeliers Exam, a Certification in Sherry, and continues to study and learn as much as she can about wine. Now she enjoys teaching others about wine as well as food and wine pairings.

So, you think you know Mark Twain? This course explores the connections between the life and writings of Samuel L. Clemens and his role in an emerging America from 1865 to 1910. Using biographical materials, actor portrayals, photos from his life, recordings, and samplings of his writings, we will discover more about Mark Twain and his legacy. Previously offered in the Spring 2021 Term.

Instructor: Bill Grindl

Bill Grindl has an MBA in Finance and Marketing from Suffolk University and a BA in Music Composition from Berklee College of Music. Bill is a former professional musician and administrative staff member of Berklee College of Music. Besides his passion for music, Bill has had lifelong interests in the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes and in collecting and analyzing cartoons and comics.

Back by high demand! This course is an extension of Parts 1, 2, and 3 offered in the last three sessions, but with new subject matter! Ever get tired of your friends telling you what the government should do and why? Somehow, they have all the answers that only they can see with such clarity. Well…in this course we are going to dive into the gray and muddy areas of government policy and specifically how it relates to money and the economy. Part 4 will focus on topics relevant to the Candidates and how THEY tell US, the policies will impact our money!

Instructor: Dan Zagata

Dan Zagata is the Managing Director of Evershore Financial Group, an independent comprehensive financial services firm. Dan brings 21 years of experience working with professionals, businesses, and non-profits to help them realize their financial potential and goals. Dan earned a BA in Economics and an MBA in Finance from Bentley University, Boston, and earned his DBA in Finance from the International School of Management, Paris, France. He also holds a graduate certificate of Financial Planning from University of Miami. In addition, he has earned the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Chartered Financial Consultant designations from the American College and is a Chartered Life Underwriter.

Going beyond your travel comfort zone is exhilarating and, with the help of experts, not as complicated as you may think. This course will help you discover extraordinary travel destinations — with much to offer in terms of culture, history, exceptional scenery, and wonderful people. Join Cindy and her guest destination experts as you travel through Flanders, Grand Cayman and Egypt. Learn about each destination from an insider’s perspective. What are the sights most people miss? What are the travel experts’ favorite places, foods to eat, and unique experiences you can incorporate into your next vacation? As always, Cindy’s experts bring a unique perspective to their destinations.

Instructor: Cindy Dykman

Cindy Dykman has a BS in Business Administration from Bowling Green State University. She spent her 35+ year career in the travel industry working for companies such as Delta Dream Vacations, Holiday Inn and Disney Destinations. Cindy was awarded the Walt Disney World Partner in Excellence award in 2007. In 2019 Cindy opened Inspired Travel Designs to share her passion with others. Cindy and her husband have traveled to 39 countries – and counting!

I have just returned! Re-live with me a journey of old and a journey of new. I love Paris as my second home, but this year I got to fulfill a bucket list item by attending the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics! I’ll take you through my journey (the good and bad) and give you a little taste of what the experience was like. I promise an authentic course, filled with shaky videos, blurry photos, and surprising moments! We will start from “How did you get tickets?” and end with the flight back to the US. Just maybe, this course will inspire you to take your own Olympic journey to Milan in 2026 for the Winter Games or to Los Angeles in 2028 for the Summer Games!

Instructor: Dan Zagata

Dan Zagata is the Managing Director of Evershore Financial Group, an independent comprehensive financial services firm. Dan brings 21 years of experience working with professionals, businesses, and non-profits to help them realize their financial potential and goals. Dan earned a BA in Economics and an MBA in Finance from Bentley University, Boston, and earned his DBA in Finance from the International School of Management, Paris, France. He also holds a graduate certificate of Financial Planning from University of Miami. In addition, he has earned the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Chartered Financial Consultant designations from the American College and is a Chartered Life Underwriter.

Let’s look at some of the stars from different countries that had a hit in the U.S. Obviously we’ll start with the Beatles…but…how about Ann-Margaret from Sweden and the Scorpions from Germany? Many more…and… maybe a few surprises!

Instructor: Tom Kennington

Tom Kennington has a BS in Broadcasting from University of Florida. Tom spent 20 years in radio as an on-air personality, Program Director, National Program Director and General Manager. For 16 years, he worked at Walt Disney World as the Manager of Promotions and Film and as Television Development Director.

What is the history of science fiction? Who are its major contributors? In this course, we will explore science fiction (SF) and its many subgenres. Although the class will focus on SF literature, it will also include film and video references. Let’s marvel at the SF items that eventually became real — and how reality and fiction cross fed each other!

Instructor: Bill Grindl

Bill Grindl has an MBA in Finance and Marketing from Suffolk University and a BA in Music Composition from Berklee College of Music. Bill is a former professional musician and administrative staff member of Berklee College of Music. Besides his passion for music, Bill has had lifelong interests in the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes and in collecting and analyzing cartoons and comics.

When Raymond Carver’s collection, Where I’m Calling From: Selected Stories, was named a finalist for the 1989 Pulitzer Prize, the jury proclaimed: “The revival in recent years of the short story is attributable in great measure to Carver’s mastery of the form.” We will read and discuss one or two stories a week, the titles of which will be emailed to you. Each story is published in Where I’m Calling From: Selected Stories, available in multiple formats: ebook, audiobook, paperback and hardcover. Let’s discover together why Carver’s stories are, according to The New York Times, “one of the masterpieces of American literature!”

Instructor: Dolores Salvo

Dolores Salvo was the Supervisor of Mathematics at a suburban school district near Pittsburgh where she taught high school math and English. She conducted workshops and seminars in math pedagogy and educational software at the national, state, and regional levels. After retiring from teaching in Pennsylvania, she taught math for several happy years at Celebration K-12. She currently teaches courses at Celebration Lifelong and served as the Chair of the Lifelong Steering Committee. Dolores enjoys teaming with her husband Don to deliver lectures and facilitate the Lifelong Book Club. She earned degrees from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh, and Duquesne University.

We will look at stars who had careers with more than one group. We will view videos of hits from each group, such as Paul McCartney who had hits with both the Beatles and Wings. You may be surprised by some of your favorites who were in different groups!

Instructor: Tom Kennington

Tom Kennington has a BS in Broadcasting from University of Florida. Tom spent 20 years in radio as an on-air personality, Program Director, National Program Director and General Manager. For 16 years, he worked at Walt Disney World as the Manager of Promotions and Film and as Television Development Director.

Eisenhower and Montgomery. Patton and Bradley. D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge, the Siegfried Line, the Red Ball Express, Remagen Bridge. These are just a few of the many leaders, battles, places, and events we will discuss in this new course. Eighty years ago, in June 1944, the Americans and their Allies launched a combined ground, naval, and air invasion of Northwest Europe against the defenses of the German Reich’s vaunted Atlantic Wall. American Soldiers fought their way ashore in Normandy, attacked and advanced through France, Belgium, and Germany, and 11 months later accepted the surrender of the “Thousand Year Reich.” Using a wide variety of maps and graphics, along with insights of the primary American leaders, we will review critical aspects of the strategic situation, the operational and logistical options, and tactical actions of the American and Allied Armies, and their Soldiers and Airmen, from June 1944 to May 1945. The Allied victory in the West shaped our present world, but that success was not inevitable. We will discuss how the campaign unfolded and the situations and strategic options encountered in planning and executing the final battles in Western Europe against the Third Reich. Materials fee will cover resource needed for the course.

Instructor: Kevin McKedy

Kevin retired from the U.S. Army in 2004 after serving most of his 25-year career with the Army in Europe. He graduated from West Point, earned an MA in History from Duke University, and later taught military history at West Point, where he was selected as a Master Teacher. As a civilian employee for the Department of the Army, Kevin worked as a staff historian for U.S. Army Europe in Heidelberg, where he planned and led battlefield staff rides for Army and Allied general officers who studied American campaigns in France, Germany, and Italy. From 2004-2016, Kevin volunteered with USO Europe, and created and conducted numerous battlefield and historical tours, taking nearly 4,000 USO guests to American WWI and WWII battlefields in France and Germany, the highlight of which was the annual 5-day Memorial Weekend trip to the Normandy battlefields. Kevin has lectured about the American Army in Northwest Europe during WWII to many diverse audiences and continues his study of its campaigns and operations during his frequent trips to Europe with his wife Pamela.

Let’s learn to use the watercolor pencil – a colored pencil when dry; but, with a wet brush, it is transformed into watercolor. In the first class I will demonstrate watercolor pencil techniques and give you time for guided practice. For the second and third classes I will supply basic drawings that you can use to apply your new skills. I will help where help is needed. I can hear you saying, “Please, I don’t want to buy yet another medium!” No worries! I have enough watercolor pencils for you to share. If you love using them, you can choose to purchase your own.

You will need to purchase/bring a pad of either mixed media or watercolor paper– 8 x 10 or 9 x 12. Instructor will bring watercolor pencils and brushes; however, feel free to bring your own…along with something to put water in to clean your brush and a pencil sharpener.

Instructor: Meryl Rachlin

Meryl Rachlin has been an artist for as long as she can remember. Meryl studied Graphic Design at Massachusetts College of Art. She worked on creative technology as part of her corporate career until starting her own mural/decorative painting business in 1995. Meryl also creates unique 3D dog portraits upon commission, managed the Celebration Art & Wine Strolls, and is a member of Celebration Lifelong Steering Committee. Meryl continues to learn new arts and craft mediums to teach at Celebration Lifelong.

With the advent of smartphone technology, particularly the iPhone, photography has become an integral part of everyday life. However, the sheer volume of photos taken can quickly become overwhelming. This course is designed to help participants effectively sort and organize their iPhone photos, ensuring that their cherished memories are easily accessible and efficiently arranged. By understanding the powerful features of the iPhone Photos app and exploring additional tools, participants will leave with the skills and confidence to manage their photo libraries effectively.

Instructor: Linda Quinn

Linda Quinn is a fine art photographer and book artist with over thirty years experience as both an artist and art teacher. She taught art in New York for 33 years, and has exhibited her photography in venues on Long Island and New York City. After retiring from teaching art, Linda attended classes at the Center for Book Arts in Manhattan and uses her knowledge to make artists books showcasing her photographic images.