(September 16 - November 15)
The Bement-Billings farmstead is an authentically restored living history museum in Newark Valley and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It interprets domestic life, agricultural practices, and the natural environment of the early 19th Century Colonial Era. Interpreters in period dress will introduce us to and demonstrate open hearth cooking, blacksmithing, fiber arts, as well as leisure activities such as card games and dancing. Afterwards, participants are welcome to explore the grounds and visit the charming gift shop.
Presenter: Museum staff
Class is limited to 30
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: In Person
Location: Bement-Billings Farmstead, Newark Valley
Notes: Class is limited to 30. Meet at Bement Billings Farmstead, 9241 Route 38, Newark Valley
It's never too late to refine your style---including your writing style. Explore with us a mere handful of seemingly magical techniques that will animate your writing, enhancing its impact and appeal. Please bring pen and paper to class or to your Zoom location.
Presenter: George Lohmann, retired English teacher
This class meets 3 times:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
Leaders of the Binghamton University Diversity Education Team will discuss what DEI is and how it can positively affect all walks of life on campus and beyond. They will describe their division goals: creating a sense of belonging and cultivating a culture of care on the BU campus. Among the topics which the presenters will explore are the innovative programs through which they stimulate enthusiastic and meaningful participation in Cultural Competency Training and Conflict Resolution and Prevention Strategies. Additionally, they will discuss racial healing circles and positive relationship-building using a trauma-informed lens for healing. Some questions that the team will answer are: How does the Division of DEI support everyone’s success? How does DEI create buy-in to engage students, faculty, and staff to want to do this work? How does DEI address unconscious bias?
Presenter: Dr. Ada Robinson-Perez, Richard Quiles, Jen Smith
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
The circle of fifths is a schema that musicians use, ordering the major keys around a circle. Composers of popular and classical music employ a circle of fifths progression, moving around the circle of fifths, to structure a melodic line. After reviewing a few basic music fundamentals, this session will play and go over illustrative chord progressions from Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart, and Handel, as well as passages from well-known standards such as “Fly Me to the Moon,” “Autumn Leaves,” “All the Things You Are,” and “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me.” If time permits, we will play examples from other popular songs to show how this progression is widely used.
Presenter: Kent Struck, retired medical doctor who loves music
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
Southern Utah south of I-70 has unique geological formations that give it the feel of another planet. Odd rock formations, canyons, mountains, plateaus and vast areas of open space defy our normal understanding. There are five national parks and over 80% is federal land. The state parks are also unworldly. It's sparsely populated but attracts millions of visitors per year. Join us and see what draws people to travel here.
Presenter: Scott Lauffer and Kathy Cronin
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
Ease into Gentle Yoga practice with a live sound bath. Gentle yoga is perfect for people with limited mobility, those recovering from injury, and anyone looking to relax and de-stress. This practice will help you increase energy, improve flexibility, and learn de-stress activities to use when you need them! Sound therapy is becoming more widely recognized as a path to greater levels of relaxation. Sound baths can reduce anxiety, help with emotional release, and improve mental focus and clarity. Yoga mats will be provided, and there will be an option to use a chair instead of floor work. Bring water and blankets to help with position adjustments and to cozy up if you choose to indulge in sound only.
Presenter: Ramona Lena, Grace Antonakos
This class meets 2 times:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
Notes: Yoga mats will be provided. Bring water and blankets.
The Book of Leviticus has become a cultural weapon of our day - the supposed justification to condemn and dehumanize in the public square—particularly by certain Christian circles. But is that all this portion of the Christian canon can be used for? Join the Rev. Scott Parnell, Rector of Christ Episcopal Church, to engage with the narrative of Leviticus: how it relates to the Christian story (from the Christian perspective), and why weaponizing the text actually contradicts its purpose.
Presenter: Rev. Scott Purnell
This class meets 2 times:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
The Lime Hollow Nature Center is the culmination of efforts since the 1960s to protect an unusual assemblage of marl ponds, a peat bog, and kame-and-kettle topography along an abandoned railroad right of way on the boundary of Cortland and Tompkins Counties. The Center now comprises almost 600 acres, is open to the public, and fulfills a vision centered around outdoor access for all. Come join us on a guided exploration of this fascinating natural asset.
Presenter: Ilya Shmulenson
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: In Person
Location: Lime Hollow Nature Center, Cortland, NY
Notes: Located at 338 McLean Road, Cortland, NY. Carpooling will be arranged.
Why the short story? Storytelling is a powerful tool! This course will explore the ways Russians have shaped their stories to reflect their view of themselves, their society and their place in the wider world. From Gothic gloom to slapstick satire, whether evading censorship or probing the questions of the day, Russian stories offer keen observation of human nature. Among the stories selected are Alexander Pushkin’s "The Shot,” Nikolai Gogol’s "The Nose," and Anton Chekhov’s "The Lady with the Dog." You will be provided with copies of the stories ahead of the course. While the instructor will give cultural and biographical background to enhance your appreciation of the work, the course is primarily discussion based.
Presenter: Nancy Tittler, Senior Instructor, German and Russian Studies Department, BU
This class meets 3 times:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
Notes: You will be provided with copies of the stories ahead of the course
In this class we discuss all kinds of scientific topics. Each class covers different subjects, depending on the interest of the discussion leader and class members. Emphasis will be placed on recent scientific developments. Participants are encouraged to contact the class leader with science articles and topics they wish to discuss. Topics cover everything scientific, from the latest findings on Covid-19 to climate change and green energy, to the latest developments in engineering, biology, social and behavioral sciences, chemistry, physics and cosmology—and more! Sometimes, we even delve into mathematics and the history and philosophy of science.
Presenter: Art Law, Alan Jones, Peter Stiles
This class meets 4 times:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
By late September the days shorten, and the nights become cooler and summer seems to “thin.” The fall equinox is the time of “equal nights” and the start of autumn. While no New England aster has ever worried itself much about the sun being directly over the equator on any particular day, there are a lot of changes in plants around this time. Join us at the Waterman Center in Apalachin for a short plant walk. We’ll see some of the current fall flowers, fruits, and ferns—and talk about how things will cope with the coming changes, and how (or whether) they deal with winter.
Presenter: George Lohmann, Julie Mundt, Jeff Smith
Class is limited to 15
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: In Person
Location: Waterman Conservation Center, Apalachin, NY
Notes: Class is limited to 15. Meet at 403 Hilton Road, Apalachin, NY
Join us for a muck-about to explore wetlands in the Binghamton University Nature Preserve. With luck, we might see some wildlife, but the main focus will be on the plants, some of which will still be in bloom and/or fruit. This field trip, mostly on level ground once we descend to pond level, will include some plant identification and ecology, and allow discussion of the values of wetland ecosystems for us humans. Wear footwear for muddy trails and consider bringing trekking poles to ease footing on uneven ground.
Presenter: John Titus, Biologist (BU) and Jeff Smith, Waterman Naturalist
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: In Person
Location: BU Nature Preserve
Notes: Parking: BU Lot M, next to the Nature Preserve.
This course will discuss security and privacy challenges in modern AI applications, including large language models (LLMs). It will be divided into two parts: Attacks and Defenses and will cover potential security threats and their consequences. Finally, it will discuss possible remedies and solutions for securing practical AI applications and their challenges. In this course, Dr. Rakin will demo recent work attacking LLMs and showcase a practical application where these attacks exhibit severe consequences.
Presenter: Dr. Adnan Siraj Rakin, BU School of Computing
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
Founded in Americus, Georgia in 1976, Habitat for Humanity today operates globally and has helped build, renovate, and repair more than 600,000 decent, affordable houses in all 50 states and more than 70 countries. They identify qualified partner families based on the program's income guidelines and partnership criteria. Once selected, Habitat provides support and guidance to families as they pursue the mortgage process. Locally, Broome Habitat brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope in Broome and Tioga Counties. Teisha will describe how Habitat operates; Dave and Chris will describe their involvement and share photographs of recent projects. For more information about Habitat see broomehabitat.org.
Presenter: Lateisha Judge-Ulrich, Dave Martin, Chris Bodenhorn
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Online using ZOOM
Location: Online
Notes: Zoom Only
Fall is an excellent time to look for birds, as they wind down the breeding season and prepare to either migrate south or overwinter here in the Southern Tier. Join naturalist Michelle Knuepfer for a beginner-friendly birdwatching walk to the Waterman Conservation Education Center in Apalachin. We will walk along the ponds and trails of the Waterman Center to observe a variety of birds. From pond to field to hemlock gorge, this area has a wide variety of habitats that attract a variety of species, both winter residents and migrants. This is open to birders of all experience levels. Binoculars are recommended but not required, as we will incorporate birding both by sight and by ear.
Presenter: Michelle Knuepfer, Naturalist, Waterman Conservation Education Center
Class is limited to 15
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: In Person
Location: Waterman Conservation Center, Apalachin, NY
Notes: Class is limited to 15. Meet at 403 Hilton Road, Apalachin, NY
“The Hungry Ear” is a product of Judy McMahon’s love of the short story. After listening to the NYC radio version of actors reading stories, she thought that local actors in the Southern Tier could do just as good a job. In 2007 her proposal was accepted by the Broome County Library to read stories live throughout the year. “The Hungry Ear” has become a popular hour to spend, listening as we did as children, leaving our own world and entering another. Now “The Hungry Ear” returns to Lyceum. Come and enjoy what Judy calls “a cocktail hour for the mind” as we hear four classic and contemporary short stories.
Presenter: Judy McMahon, actress, director; Bill Gorman, actor, author
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
Join us for this captivating tour of Sicily and Malta. On our virtual tour of these two Mediterranean islands, we'll discover their distinctive beauty, culture, cuisine, and history. On the island of Sicily, we'll visit Palermo, Agrigento, Syracuse, Catania, Taormina, and Mount Etna, as well as UNESCO-listed sites: Valley of the Temple - Greek ruins, Piazza Armerina's Villa Romana del Casale—to admire the world's largest collection of Roman mosaics. On the island of Malta—the largest of the three inhabited islands that make up the Maltese archipelago—we'll explore both St. Julian's and UNESCO-listed sites: Valletta (The Walled City), Medina (The Silent City), Gozo—the second largest island in the Maltese archipelago, Ġgantija Temples and more!
Presenter: John Battisti
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
Notice your posture as you sit at your computer reading this course description. Modifications to your office can improve your health. Physical ergonomics studies human anatomy, physical activity and the design of products. It looks at changes we can make to our surroundings to reduce discomfort and prevent common injuries. Ben joins us to discuss ergonometric guidelines and corrections, as well as when to see a physical therapist and what to expect. Topics will range from office set-up to posture to how to safely perform daily activities. Ben will discuss what to do if pain persists, and when to seek formal physical therapy or medical management and decision-making.
Presenter: Benjamin Dvorsky, PT, DPT, UHS Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
An Ithaca-area and Binghamton alum (Ph.D. Sociology 1980), Dr. Laurentz brings his Sociology, Clinical Psychology, and broadly defined Spiritual orientation to his approach in helping seniors. He has been placing a brief article into PowerPoint for discussion that can take off in any direction since the needs of each class are different. You may feel free to participate or not. Prior classes have led to interesting discussions on a wide range of aging issues.
Presenter: Robert Laurentz, PsyD, PhD
This class meets 2 times:
Delivery: Online using ZOOM
Location: Online
Notes: Zoom only
In this two-session course we’ll explore the complexities of addiction as well as pathways to long-lasting healing and personal renewal. We’ll learn to recognize the roots of addiction and understand its psychological, physical, and social dimensions. The course will also delve into effective healing strategies, including therapeutic interventions, self-care practices, and community support systems. The instructor is someone who has walked the walk, and who knows the contemporary drug scene. You’ll hear his own dramatic story and his passionate advocacy for mental health services.
Presenter: Merrit Hartblay, MSW, CASAC, Therapist, Social Worker and Chemical Dependency Counselor
This class meets 2 times:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
Notes: Note: there is an intervening week between the two sessions
Join us for a leisurely walk to become better acquainted with native tree species residing in the varied habitats at the Waterman Conservation Education Center. This is the original site established to serve the public in the 1970s and especially to promote ecological literacy. As day length shortens in late September, fall color should be on the increase. The center hosts a varied mix of trees, from remnant hemlock woods to the colorful maples, oaks, birches, and beeches of the typical northern mixed forest. There are even a few living American chestnut trees. Trails are well maintained and relatively level, though wet weather can lead to some muddy conditions. The walk will include open areas and edges and a gentle wooded slope along a glen.
Presenter: John Titus, Biologist (Binghamton University) and Jeff Smith, Waterman Naturalist
Class is limited to 20
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: In Person
Location: Waterman Conservation Education Center, Apalachin, NY
Notes: Class is limited to 20. Meet at 403 Hilton Rd., Apalachin, NY
Join Kristin Horowitz, founder of The Pad Climbing and lifelong adventurer, as she shares her journey from sleeping in a tent under cliffs to leading a mission-driven climbing gym chain. With stories and photos from iconic climbing spots like Red Rocks and Yosemite, Kristin reflects on risk, reinvention, and resilience. Whether you’ve climbed or not, this is a conversation about navigating life’s crux moves with purpose and adaptability. Includes a visual tour of The Pad’s new Vestal location.
Presenter: Kristin Horowitz, CEO and Founder, thepadclimbing.org
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
Notes: Includes a visual tour of The Pad's new Vestal location
The 1950s and 60s saw tremendous social and political change. The popular music of that time saw significant change too. But who cares about that! We just love the music, change or no change! Valley Harmony will walk us through samples of that music from both decades, melding its carefully blended a cappella harmonies with the original melodies, while reviewing insights about the songs and the artists who created them.
Presenter: Randy Kerr, George Lohmann, Mike Sheldon, and J. Ladd Yost
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
John and Al visited Egypt separately, with different tour guides, but in this course they will join forces, so that you'll see Egypt with four eyes, as it were. Their respective visits overlapped in many respects, but were different in others. You see Egypt from north (Alexandria) to south (Aswan and Nubia), and hear about both ancient and modern Egypt. If you've seen or heard of the treasures of Tutankhamun, you'll already know that the treasures of Egypt are beyond comparison, and Al and John will definitely confirm and elaborate the truth of what you've heard.
Presenter: Al Vos, retired professor of English at Binghamton University, John Battisti, world traveler
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
In the wake of the federal government’s termination of the U.S. Refugee Assistance Program, what happens to the communities left behind? This session explores the human and institutional fallout of ending Refugee Resettlement and the evolving work of support, adaptation, and solidarity. It offers insight into local realities and the ongoing fight for dignity without federal infrastructure.
Presenter: Steve Ordonez, Community, Immigrant, & Refugee Services Program Manager, American Civic Association
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
Justice for animals involves the intersection of profound ethical, moral, and legal considerations. We shall examine how the concept of justice for animals has evolved from ancient to modern times. The course will challenge the traditional philosophical separation of humans from animals. As human society evolves, so must our understanding of the welfare of animals. If animals are sentient and have intrinsic value, how must justice be applied to ensure their well-being and protection? The course will emphasize the importance of recognizing our moral obligations towards animals and will argue that the way we treat animals is deeply connected to broader social issues like racism, sexism, and age discrimination. By acknowledging the moral worth of animals, we can work towards a more inclusive and just society where their needs and rights are respected.
Presenter: George Catalano, retired Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering at BU
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
This course will go over investment strategies and portfolio construction fundamentals. We will review the rules of the road and ways you can navigate markets given the current economic environment. The intention of this course is to help individuals of all financial backgrounds with all levels of experience.
Presenter: Matthew Kistner, Financial Advisor
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
Join us to learn hand-building pottery techniques and make a slab plate and mug. You can choose from a variety of glaze colors and pattern stamps to personalize your items. The price includes materials, and Clayworks will fire and glaze your pottery. Your dishwasher- and oven-safe creations will be ready for you to pick up before the holidays! Time permitting, an additional plate or mug can be made. No previous clay experience is required. Please bring a bag lunch and drink. Held at Roberson Museum Clayworks, 30 Front Street, Binghamton (rear entrance).
Presenter: Maryanne White, Clayworks Manager and Instructor
Class is limited to 10
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: In Person
Location: Roberson Museum Clayworks, 30 Front Street, Binghamton
Notes: Class size is limited to 10. Held at rear entrance
Tin Pan Alley, a nickname for the American popular music industry, had been a kind of Jewish ethnic business niche since the 1920s in sheet music publishing, Broadway musical theater, and even record companies. That began to change by the mid-1960s with the British Invasion and the rise of Detroit's Black-owned Motown Records. Although Tin Pan Alley declined in the face of these developments, the Jewish presence in American pop music remained robust. This talk explores the profound cultural and economic changes that remade pop music and pop culture as a whole.
Presenter: Jonathan Karp, Assoc. Professor of History, Judaic Studies, BU
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
According to one review, Woodard’s book is “an endlessly fascinating look at American regionalism.” This historian offers a revolutionary and revelatory take on American history and American identity and reviews how the conflicts between them have shaped our past and continue to mold our future. Please read Colin Woodard’s American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America prior to the class.
Presenter: George Lohmann
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
Brain function depends on cardiac output, but cardiac output typically declines with increasing age resulting in reduced cognitive performance. McLeod will be discussing why this decline in cardiac output occurs and how you can prevent this decline and ensure your brain function stays optimal throughout life.
Presenter: Kenneth McLeod, Professor Emeritus, Binghamton University Watson School of Engineering
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
Spend an afternoon with other Lyceum members making a piece of art. This session will be a step-by-step watercolor class from start to finish. Everyone from the beginner to the long-term painter should learn something new. We will all take home a painting, matted and ready to frame. The fee for this class includes the cost of the supplies, including handouts and the matte to frame your work. This class is in-person only and limited to 15 participants; there will be no recording.
Presenter: Kathleen Smith, Artist and Instructor
Class is limited to 15
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: In Person
Location: WSKG Classroom
Notes: In Person only, limited to 15 participants
After giving an invited presentation at the University of Oxford for her sabbatical, Prof. Bacon took the opportunity to tour this University of 39 colleges and the ancient city itself, which dates to at least the 8th century, as well as the Ashmolean Museum, the oldest museum in the UK. Other highlights of her excursion include William Shakespeare's home and the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, the Houses of Parliament and the Tower of London, an archaeological-led tour of Stonehenge, Avebury, and Bath, plus the exquisite Arundel Castle in West Sussex. Please join us in this narrated presentation of her experiences in England. Note: This presentation will not be recorded.
Presenter: Katherine Bacon, Adjunct Associate Professor of Theater Emerita
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
Notes: This presentation will not be recorded
Recent news headlines have flagged pollinator declines but left news readers with a limited understanding and an even more limited array of solutions. In this class, Master Beekeeper Heather DeHaan discusses the actual nature of contemporary threats to wild and domestic bee populations, debunking pervasive myths about which bee populations are in decline and why. She then outlines concrete ways to protect and sustain pollinator health through our choice of food, garden plants, and chemicals for use in home and yard. The Q&A will leave space for addressing a wide range of questions related to bees including where to find local beekeeping clubs and what to do when you see a swarm.
Presenter: Heather DeHaan, Master Beekeeper, Associate Professor of History, BU
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
This class will be a discussion of the current events or “hot” topics of the day. We hope you find this class enlightening and invigorating.
Presenter: Ben Kasper, Emeritus Professor of Social Sciences, SUNY Broome
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
We will tour this Hindu temple and its art. The ashram rehabilitated the site of the vacant Our Lady of Lourdes parish and opened in 2023. The main deity of the temple is the 16-armed form of Paranitya Narasimha. This is Bhakti Marga’s first U.S. ashram and the largest U.S. temple dedicated to Narasimha. We will learn how the ashram came to be; the different deities and art; the history of Bhakti Marga and its spiritual leader, Paramahamsa Vishwananda; and their philosophy. After the tour, participants are invited to partake of a vegan meal. We also are invited to stay for some or all of the 6 p.m. service, which includes music. This will be held at Bhakti Marga Paranitya Narasimha Ashram, 304 Demarest Pkwy, Elmira (enter just below the parking lot). Lyceum will facilitate carpooling.
Presenter: Reyanshananda
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: In Person
Location: Bhakti Marga Paranitya Narasimha Ashram, 304 Demarest Pkwy, Elmira
Notes: Lyceum will facilitate carpooling
Isaac Perry designed buildings, including Sherman Phelps' mansion. He also designed Spring Forest Cemetery's gates, behind which both men are buried. Streets and even towns were named in honor of some of those at rest here, echoes of the area's history. Interesting monuments and epitaphs mark the graves of the once well-known, politicians, war veterans, and those whose history is known only to their loved ones. Join us for a walk through this park-like cemetery where there may be ghosts, but there are certainly stories. The cemetery, for all its promise of peace and quiet, is close to a highway—be prepared for traffic noise. We will be navigating several relatively steep inclines, and there is one unpaved roadway we will be traversing which can sometimes be muddy. Class is limited to 15. The cemetery is located at 51 Mygatt Street, Binghamton.
Presenter: Carol Towers, Retired Librarian
Class is limited to 15
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: In Person
Location: Spring Forest Cemetery, 51 Mygatt Street, Binghamton
Notes: Class is limited to 15
President William McKinley served from 1897 until his assassination in 1901. During his presidency, the U.S. emerged from a deep depression, went to war with Spain, created an overseas empire, and saw the beginning of Progressive Reform. While most historians have viewed McKinley as mediocre, President Donald Trump has sung his praises. We will examine McKinley's presidency, explore his recent prominence, and consider how we rank presidents.
Presenter: Dr. Donald Nieman, PhD, Professor of History, BU
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
This immersive class takes participants on a journey through the local arts scene, with a focus on the history, impact, and role of arts councils and galleries in the community. Through guided visits to neighborhood galleries and meetings with arts council representatives, participants will gain firsthand insight into the evolution of the local art scene, the mission of arts organizations, and the role of artists in shaping cultural identity. Participants will hear how these institutions support artists, engage with the public, and contribute to the social and economic vitality of the area. Class discussions may be enriched by guest speakers, including curators, gallery owners, and artists, who will share their experiences and perspectives. By the end of the class, students will develop a deeper appreciation for the arts as a dynamic force in community building and historical preservation. The class is limited to 20 and will meet at the Broome County Arts Council, 223 State Street, Binghamton. Note: Members may wish to carpool.
Presenter: Connie Barnes, Jenny Chang, Roz Salati, John Brunelli, Karen Kuff-Demicco
Class is limited to 20
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: In Person
Location: Broome County Arts Council, 223 State Street, Binghamton
Notes: Class is limited to 20. Members may wish to carpool
The two most commonly recognized but misunderstood ideas are “The Two State Solution" and the most recent statement by Trump of "buying Gaza" and turning it into a resort. What do these proposals mean when fleshed out and how could they impact the deep animosity between Palestinians and Israelis? What role would the PLO play, if any? What roles would the surrounding countries play, given their past experiences with displaced Palestinians? What does "the right of return" mean in either context?
Presenter: ENDS HERE
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
Through music and language, the Madrigal Choir of Binghamton will explore with you the vast array of colors and personalities of all four seasons. The program encompasses music from madrigals through contemporary composers. Concert Location: Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church, 44 Main Street, Binghamton.
Presenter: The Madrigal Choir of Binghamton
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: In Person
Location: Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church, 44 Main Street, Binghamton
Notes: Offsite at Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church
This conflict laid the foundations for the rupture between the colonies and the home country. British-American, French, and Native American empires changed forever. The economic and political opportunities offered in North America kept the Anglo-French tensions high even before fighting erupted and forced the Native Americans to choose sides as they lacked the capability to hold either back. The resulting treaty and financial impact on the British government quickly affected the relations between the colonies and the Home Country, with both sides drawing increasingly incompatible requirements. Learning more about this war will bring clarity not only to why the American Revolution occurred but exemplify similarities with current political and diplomatic problems facing the United States and the Western World.
Presenter: Michael Bogdasarian, MD
This class meets 4 times:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
Let’s have an informed discussion on four important national issues: 1. How well is our nation’s educational system working for our nation’s children and for the nation as a whole? What is working and what is not? 2. What impact will tariffs have on us and our fellow Americans? 3. In what way is our electric grid working well or coming up short? 4. What impact is social media having on young people? There may be suggested readings on one or all of these topics so you can come to class prepared with some insights.
Presenter: Steve McCormack
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
Shakespeare: the Man Who Pays the Rent is a book by actor Dame Judi Dench as interviewed by Brendan O’Hea, director and actor at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. Dench reviews the parts she has played in 21 of the bard’s plays, how she approaches these parts and the actors and directors with whom she has worked. She also relates details about her life and family, and her feelings about such things as failure, critics, the audience, and changing times. The class will read and discuss her comments and interpretation of the roles she has played in comedies, histories, tragedies, and romances. It is not necessary to be familiar with the plays, although this would be useful in appreciating her narrative. Judi Dench’s comments are insightful and often humorous. This class is in-person only and will not be recorded.
Presenter: Charlene Thomson, retired teacher and published composer
This class meets 2 times:
Delivery: In Person
Location: WSKG Classroom
Notes: In-Person only, will not be recorded
Join naturalist Michelle Knuepfer for a presentation about how to make the place you call home into a welcoming place for both birds and people. For many people, backyard birding is an excellent introduction to learning about our local birds. Beyond feeders, there are many things we can do to enhance the habitat of where we live to be friendlier and safer for birds! This presentation includes everything from tips for putting up bird feeders to creating a bird-friendly habitat with native plants. She will also cover actionable tips on how to minimize threats to birds, such as window strikes and predation by cats.
Presenter: Michelle Knuepfer, Naturalist, Waterman Conservation Education Center
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
What is it about Tucson—a small city surrounded by the Sonoran Desert—that annually attracts over 180,000 retirees from many northern states and Canada? The co-presenters will share their reasons for selecting Tucson, a UNESCO city of gastronomy, as their winter home. They will discuss the sunny dry climate, things to do, cuisine, and day trips available throughout Southern Arizona.
Presenter: Pete Shambo and Kathy Harasta
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
We will explore Louise Erdrich’s National Book Award-winning The Round House (2012), about some of the historical challenges facing Native American women. Narrated by the 13-year-old son of a tribal judge and a tribal enrollment specialist, the novel begins with small trees undermining the foundations of the family house, suggesting the impact of an assault that threatens the family and the whole tribe. Set in the late 1980s, the novel follows young Joe’s efforts to understand what has happened to turn his mother into a bed-ridden invalid, while his father tries to find justice through limited tribal law. Joe and his friends seek answers at the Round House, a place of worship for the Ojibwe people. In this suspenseful and often funny novel, the conflict between U. S. law and tribal needs for justice lead Native people to impossible choices. Please read the first 50 pages prior to the first class.
Presenter: Susan Strehle, Emerita Distinguished Service Professor of English, BU
This class meets 4 times:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
Notes: Please read the first 50 pages prior to the first class
What is time travel? As I live from one moment to the next, moving forward in time, am I time traveling at the rate of one second per second? This does not seem to be what we mean when we refer to time travel. Time travel seems to require a “discrepancy between time and time” (David Lewis, “The Paradoxes of Time Travel”). This class will discuss the different theories of time, what we refer to when we discuss time travel, and the grandfather paradox. Optional reading: David Lewis, “The Paradoxes of Time Travel,” from American Philosophical Quarterly, 13, (1976).
Presenter: Naomi Dershowitz
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Online using ZOOM
Location: Online
Notes: Zoom only
This course is about the wolf as a metaphor in stories that echo in the lives and minds of humanity. We shall consider wolves as cultural symbols across time and examine their presence in mythology and folklore. For centuries, wolves have captured our imaginations with their intelligence and strength. Wolves are more than animals; they are symbols of freedom and resilience, deeply woven into our stories and traditions. Stories about wolves embody worldviews colliding, and we live still with the fallout. From the mystical wolves in European folklore to the revered wolf spirits in Native American traditions, these majestic creatures have played the role of spiritual guides and ancestral figures. They teach us lessons about balance, survival, and the importance of community.
Presenter: George Catalano, retired Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering at BU
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
Mannerism in the visual arts is associated with late 16th century works with distortions of scale and perspective. Musical Mannerism is usually tied to the same general time frame and somewhat later, in the fitful, experimental interface of the Late Renaissance and the Early Baroque. Musical Mannerism is dominated by bold attempts at "text painting," employing dissonances unprecedented in Western music to depict anguished sentiments in the texts, with exquisite resolutions therefrom.
Presenter: J. Ladd Yost
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
Known as "The 45," it was Scotland's last bid to win independence from England in 1745. Join history nut George Cummings as we explore this heroic attempt by Bonnie Prince Charlie to win back the throne of England for his father King James II. The rallying cry of the Clans to defeat the English came to grief on the moors of Culloden in 1746. Come see the belted plaid along with the famous broadsword and targe (shield) used by the Scots and imagine the gripping yell as they charged headlong at the English muskets with bravery as their fiercest weapon!
Presenter: George Cummings
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
If you’re a fan of art and architecture, you won’t want to miss this special bus trip which combines guided tours of both. We’ll spend the day at two of Buffalo’s gems: the spectacular Frank Lloyd Wright Darwin Martin House and the extraordinary Buffalo AKG Art Museum. A National Historic Landmark built between 1903 and 1905, the Martin House was designed by acclaimed American architect Frank Lloyd Wright as the city home for Buffalo business executive Darwin D. Martin and his family. Included in Time Magazine’s 2024 list of the world’s top places to visit, the exceptional Buffalo AKG Art Museum is an outstanding center of modern and contemporary art, whose stellar collections rank among the world’s top international surveys of 20th century painting and sculpture and include works spanning the mid-19th century through the present day. Please note: The Martin House Plus tour is not wheelchair accessible. There is a considerable amount of walking, standing, and stair-climbing on the tour. Cost includes bus fare and museum tours; meals are not included so please bring a lunch. We’ll stop at a restaurant for dinner on the way home. We meet at 6:45 a.m. at Shafer Bus, 500 North St, Endicott. Limit: 30 participants; reservation deadline is Thursday, September 18.
Presenter: Museum staff
Class is limited to 60
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: In Person
Location: Buffalo, NY (bus trip)
Notes: Bus trip. Limit: 30 participants; reservation deadline is Thursday, September 18. Meals not included
Learn to appreciate an actor's process and basic skills, which are valuable for everyone. We will read, discuss, and study selected scenes and monologues from great writers of stage and film ranging from Shakespeare to Neil Simon. If you join this class either in person or on Zoom, you don't have to step onto the stage, as it were; you can just listen and join the discussion. But in-person class members will be encouraged to take part.
Presenter: Katherine Bacon, professor of Music and Theater at SUNY Broome
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
At the beginning of this year, Paul, Mary and John Chaffee, who as the children of Presbyterian missionaries had grown up in Thailand, led a group of twenty-one family members and friends (including Mark and Debby Epstein) on a two-week tour of Thailand. The purpose was twofold: to revisit places that were important to the Chaffee siblings when they were growing up and to see as much of the country as possible, particularly Bangkok, Chiang Mai and the far south. This class will combine accounts of the Chaffees' early years with a travelogue of the tour itself.
Presenter: Prof. John Chaffee and Dr. Mark Epstein
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
In 1876, New York Governor Samuel Tilden got more popular votes than Ohio Governor Rutherford B. Hayes. But Hayes became President. How did that happen? What did the election show about the state of Reconstruction? This course will examine how the loser of the popular vote became President and what happened as a result.
Presenter: Dr. Phyllis Amenda
This class meets 3 times:
Delivery: Online using ZOOM
Location: Online
Notes: Zoom Only
The discussion will revolve around the two different sets of goals established by Putin and Zelensky, with a sense of realism given the inability of either side to achieve them. What are the implications of an agreement between the two parties with other countries as mediators, especially the United States? How much of a threat does Russia pose?
Presenter: Michael Bogdasarian, MD
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
Naturalist Rick Bunting presents highlights from a year of observation and photography of a wide variety of local wildlife. Rick has a story to go with each photo.
Presenter: Rick Bunting
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
This visually rich program will introduce you to several aspects of Karen’s artistic journey. First, we’ll explore how her landscape and water imagery has evolved over time from drawing and painting the region’s backroad landscapes to her current project interpreting Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic ‘Fallingwater.’ We’ll also learn how her artistic work shifted between landscape to working with the figure, and how her experiences working with Native Americans and dancing with Broadway stars influenced her roles as both an artist and educator. Afterwards, Karen will guide us through a related “no experience needed https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=122149558244521950&set=gm.1194641235205999” drawing activity. This class is in-person only and will not be recorded. Class Limit is 25; registration deadline is Tuesday, October 28.
Presenter: Karen Kucharski, Artist and Educator
Class is limited to 25
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: In Person
Location: WSKG Classroom
Notes: In-Person Only, will not be recorded. Class Limit is 25; registration deadline is Tuesday, October 28
Falls are common in older adults, and the risk of falls increases with age. Many factors contribute to falling, such as physical, psychological, medication, and environmental factors. In this talk, Dr. Bair, a geriatric physical therapist, will provide exercise guidelines to increase your physical ability to reduce fall risk and explain how to modify risk factors in other domains.
Presenter: Woei-Nan Bair, PT, PhD, Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy, BU Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Online using ZOOM
Location: Online
Notes: Zoom only
Come along on a journey of birdwatching and nature-exploration to southern Costa Rica, with a stay in the charming city of San Vito, near the Panama border. At just over 3,000 feet elevation, San Vito’s climate is more comfortable than the muggy coastal lowlands. The region has a diverse array of flora and fauna and is home to the Las Cruces Biological Research Station, Wilson Botanical Garden, and San Vito Bird Club. Our travels will take us to find bellbirds, quetzals, boat-billed herons, hummingbirds, monkeys, coati, sloths, and jaguarundi, among many other plants and animals. During this talk you’ll learn the interesting history of San Vito, come along on birdwatching adventures, and discover a few other locations in Costa Rica great for wildlife- and bird-watching.
Presenter: Anne Sibley
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
A magnet for both tourists and locals since opening in 1859, Central Park has attracted millions of visitors. Join professional guide Eric Mathern for a virtual visit to this world-famous park. We will focus on the history of the park, including the individuals who created it and the challenges the park has faced over the last 165 years. Through visual aids, public records, and entertaining stories, Eric will show us many of the park’s attractions, including sculptures, lakes, and fountains. Special attention will be given to the most popular areas, such as Bethesda Fountain, the Sheep Meadow, and the Mall, which features the park’s newest sculpture dedicated to female pioneers of the suffrage movement.
Presenter: Eric Mathern, writer, poet, birder, artist, and tour guide
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Online using ZOOM
Location: Online
Notes: Zoom Only
A key inflection point in CNY industrialization was the move to manufacturing machines which collect and transform data. For example, Bundy Manufacturing mass-produced automatic employee time clocks starting in 1889. We will discuss the people who built this success and follow the trail of Bundy through ITR, CTR, and the formation of IBM and its growth until 1940. We will conclude by looking at how Fairchild Semiconductor (founded by the son of a Bundy executive) enabled IBM Federal Systems Owego to switch from analog to digital airborne computers in 1957.
Presenter: Howard Zendle
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
Have you ever wondered how Neville Chamberlain could have misunderstood Hitler so utterly and completely; or how so many people ignored what was going on with Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme; or how an innocent woman named Amanda Knox could be charged and found guilty of a murder she didn’t commit? Gladwell has spent a large part of his career as an author examining academic research in the social sciences and interpreting it, often with a twist, for the lay reader. Talking to Strangers is an examination of how and why we misinterpret our interactions with strangers, the consequences of doing so, and how we might do better in the future. Please read Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don’t Know by Malcom Gladwell prior to class.
Presenter: Sandy Stiles, former school librarian who has no doubt misinterpreted many interactions with strangers but is always open to improvement
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
Lauren Caister is a Wildlife Biologist/Ecologist who spent a year conducting bird surveys along the Niger River in Niger, West Africa, with two other researchers in 2002. Lauren served as a US Peace Corps Volunteer in Niger in the late 1990’s for 3 years and became familiar with the language and culture during that time. This session is a reading of her journals that she kept of her experiences along the river in Niger with some additions about the cultures of the region and, of course, some biology as well. Please note that this course is about the experience of conducting wildlife research in a remote area rather than being about the research itself.
Presenter: Lauren Caister
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Online using ZOOM
Location: Online
Notes: Zoom only
Transgender, nonbinary, and gender diverse (abbreviated TGD) people are under a microscope today as the media and people spread misinformation, intentionally or not. TGD folks make up less than 1% of the population, and yet they are constantly discussed. Join Binghamton University’s Q Center Coordinator, Aiden Braun (he/him), for a presentation and discussion on the basics of TGD people. We’ll cover facts, myths, and best practices for supporting the trans community. NOTE: This session will not be recorded.
Presenter: Aiden Baun, Q Center Coordinator
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
Notes: This session will not be recorded
The tiny Central American nation of Belize is blessed with amazing biodiversity and natural beauty that stretches from its barrier reef (the second longest in the world) to its abundant sub-tropical rainforest. It is also on the front lines of the fight for environmental conservation in our rapidly developing world. Find out where the battle stands today from the past president of the Belize Zoo Neotropical Conservancy.
Presenter: Dr. Thomas Pasquarello, Emeritus Professor of Political Science, SUNY Cortland
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
This course explores the emergence of the modern anti-immigration movement by tracing the activities of a network of organizations and individuals who worked for most of the past 80 years to combat liberalizing tendencies in U.S. immigration policy. The cast includes ecologists and geneticists who embraced eugenics, an heiress with a passion for birds, and a Michigan ophthalmologist who founded many of the groups spearheading the push for immigration restrictions today.
Presenter: Professor Wendy Wall, Department of History, BU
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
Humankind has been fascinated with the Red Planet Mars. In this session Art will discuss the history of Mars exploration. From daring early spacecraft missions to sophisticated rovers scouring the surface, we’ll explore how humanity has been unlocking the secrets of the Red Planet. Dive into the breakthroughs that have shaped our understanding of Mars and discover how these achievements are fueling the future Mars explorations.
Presenter: Arthur Law
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Online using ZOOM
Location: Online
Notes: Zoom only
The discussion will center around China's expressed aims and actions in the South China Sea, the status of Taiwan, the roles of surrounding nations, and the involvement of the United States in securing Taiwan's independence. What is the importance of the South China Sea to our national interest, or indeed in the Far East Pacific Rim?
Presenter: Michael Bogdasarian, MD
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: WSKG Classroom
Based in New York and Tokyo, award-winning architects, Hiroki and Sandy design projects that range from small residential works to large-scale urban interventions that change the urban character of a city. Their firm (yoshiharamckee.com) strives to understand perception, materiality, and space. They will describe the principles of origami and how those principles can be used as design inspiration. The discipline of folding is developed in large scale objects that require totally different techniques. These are not your typical folded cranes. You can watch a short video of one of their projects on their YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNt43Z-fJo0.
Presenter: Hiroki Yoshihara and Sandra McKee, partners in Yoshihara McKee Architects
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Online using ZOOM
Location: Online
Notes: Zoom Only
Join us for a festive Lyceum Holiday Lunch at Little Venice Restaurant. Eggplant, Chicken, or Meatlog Parmesan, fountain drinks, and holiday cake will be served. Bar drinks are available.
Presenter:
Class is limited to 60
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: In Person
Location: Little Venice Restaurant in Downtown Binghamton
Notes: Registration must be made by December 3.