An antidote to Irma

By Evelyn C. McDonald
Arts & Culture Reporter
September 20, 2017 10:00 p.m.

Just when you think you have everything planned out perfectly, a few threads unravel. Amelia Lifelong Learning had arranged a great lineup of fall courses. We were feeling pretty confident that we had everything under control. And then came Irma.

We felt certain that in the run up to the hurricane and the aftermath, people weren’t paying much attention to learning opportunities. I’m happy to say we are still offering the courses and just trying to get the word out that they are available.

Our tribute to literature starts on Monday, September 25, when Nancy Dickson will take us back to one of the earliest myths about the conflict between heroes and monsters – Beowulf and Grendel. On Wednesday, September 27, Bernie McCabe will bring us up to the recent past in a discussion of Eugene O’Neill’s The Long Day’s Journey Into Night. Both of these courses are being held at St. Peter’s.
The first week of October will feature four more courses start. These offerings are on language, photography and artificial intelligence. Berta Arias will continue her sessions in Spanish. Berta’s course will be presented at the Plantation twice weekly, starting on October 3.

Lea Gallardo is offering two short courses. The first is on photography basics on October 4. If you still have a digital camera in the box or have not progressed beyond Auto, this is the course for you. The other is composition and creativity on October 11. It is intended to help you improve picture taking once you know the basics. You can sign up for either one or both. These two courses will be held at St. Peter’s.

Starting on October 5, there will be a course on the implications of artificial intelligence. The course will look at four areas where artificial intelligence promises to change the way we live – driverless cars, robot companions, and the like. The course will also be held at St. Peter’s and no technical knowledge is necessary. (Full disclosure – I’m teaching the course. And yes, in another life, I was a techie.)

The following week, October 10, Barbara Kent will repeat her Italian for Travelers course. This course is not just the language but also culture, food, and all the things that make Italy such a fabulous place to visit. This course is also going to be held at St. Peter’s.

If you are interested in any of these courses, please visit our website – www.amelialearning.com
If you have any issues with the site or you are truly a last minute person, just come to class the first day with cash or check – most courses are $50. Lea’s are $20 for each session; $40 for both.

Evelyn McDonald moved to Fernandina Beach from the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. in 2006. Evelyn is vice-chair on the Amelia Center for Lifelong Learning and is on the Dean’s Council for the Carpenter Library at the UNF. Ms. McDonald has MS in Technology Management from the University of Maryland’s University College and a BA in Spanish from the University of Michigan.