spring/summer 2020 course catalog · 2020. 2. 28. · three environmental laws provide the...

• The system will send an email to each registrant indi-cating which courses they are enrolled in and which courses, if any, they are wait-listed for.

CONTINUED REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT OF FEES

March 8th and throughout the term• Members who signed up for courses/trips/tours are

now registered and can go to their “My OLÉ!” page to find out which courses they are enrolled in, modify their registration if they wish and pay any fees. If there are no fees or changes, registration is complete.

• Registration will continue as it has in the past. If courses fill, waiting lists will be generated as they always have been, i.e., when enrollment reaches the maximum for a course, subsequent enrollees will be wait-listed in the order in which they register.

• Members who need or wish to pay fees in person can do so on Wednesday, March 11th, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM at Wells Fargo Museum Anchorage. They can also register in person if they haven’t already done so.

Learn to Read MusicPresenter: Sue RiehleInstructor’s home: 1608 E. 27th Ave9:45 to 11:00 AM 4 weeks, March 31, April 7, 14, 21

Materials: Yamaha YRS-302b plastic soprano recorder (can be purchased at The Horn Doctor or online); music stand; The Sweet Pipes Recorder Book 1 (can be purchased during class from instructor or bought online).

This recorder course is for those who do not read music or who need a refresher. Members who took this course pre-viously are encouraged to sign up again if they do not feel comfortable playing the material in Unit Four of The Sweet Pipes Recorder Book 1. Unit Four will serve as a review for returning students and as an introduction for new players.

Register online at www.OleAnchorage.org. Need Help? Call Member Support at 231-0095.

Course CatalogSpring/Summer 2020 www.OleAnchorage.org

Registration:

Opportunities for Lifelong Education

Spring/Summer 2020

REGISTRATION 2020 IN A NUTSHELL:

COURSE SELECTIONMarch 5th – 7th members can:

• Sign up online for courses, trips and tours• Register in person, March 6th

Transition March 8th the system will:

• Randomly order registrants in oversubscribed courses/trips/tours

• Send emails with enrollment/wait list information to registrants

REGISTRATION CONTINUESMarch 8th onward members can:

• Register online for courses, trips and tours• Pay fees and manage their registration online• Register/pay in person, March 11th

COURSE SELECTIONMarch 5th – 7th • Members may go to the OLÉ! website to sign up for

courses, including hikes, trips and tours. Members’ personal “My OLÉ!” pages will display their choices, and they can modify them by adding or dropping at will.

• There will be no advantage to signing up early or later during this three-day period, i.e., everyone who signs up anytime during the first three days will have an equal chance of getting into popular courses.

• In-person registration and other assistance will be offered on Friday, March 6th, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM at Wells Fargo Museum Anchorage.

Transition • If more people sign up for a course than can be accom-

modated, the system will randomly place them either in the class or on a numbered waiting list.

Tuesdays

If the pace is too slow, participants are welcome to move into the Tweenies Recorder Group, and if it’s too fast, one-on-one sessions can be arranged with Sue Riehle. To discuss placement options before enrolling, contact Sue.

Tweenies Recorder GroupPresenter: Sue Riehle The Horn Doctor Music Store, Upstairs1000 Ingra Street 11:15 AM to 12:30 PM 4 weeks, March 31, April 7, 14, 21

Materials: Yamaha YRS-302b plastic soprano recorder (can be purchased at The Horn Doctor or online); music stand; The Sweet Pipes Recorder Book 1 (can be purchased during class from instructor or bought online).

This class is designed for those who are beyond the Learn to Read class. If you can comfortably play Unit Four of The Sweet Pipes Recorder Book 1, this is probably the class for you. For those possibly beyond the beginner stage, please contact Sue Riehle for other placement options before enrolling. Movement between classes is always possible during the semester to best meet the needs of the class and the student. Sue Riehle has taught privately (sax, clarinet, piano, re-corder) and in school settings since 1978 and has conducted adult vocal and instrumental groups in Alaska and New Zealand. She can be contacted at 744-5110 (evenings and weekends) or at [email protected].

Musicals Old and NewPresenter: John S. RolstonBP Energy Center1014 Energy Ct. 2:00 to 3:30 PM 4 weeks, March 31, April 7, 14, 21 Limited to 20 participants

Do you love classical Broadway musicals? Wouldn’t it be gratifying to listen to one with no interruptions and no pressing obli-gations? That is the goal of this course. Song lyrics and photos of the productions will be projected for everyone to follow, and after the first class, a synopsis of the next week’s show will be distributed. On tap:

Tip Toes, 1925, music by George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin; Anything Goes, 1934, music and lyrics by Cole Porter; War Paint, 2017, music by Scott Frankel, lyrics by Michael Korie; and The Band’s Visit, 2017, music and lyrics by David Yazbek. We will also be treated to several songs from these shows sung by Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Ethel Merman and Bert Lahr. John Rolston taught philosophy at UAA for three decades and has presented many courses on opera and Broadway musicals for OLÉ!

Meet the AuthorsPresenters: VariousWells Fargo Museum Anchorage301 W. Northern Lights Blvd. 9:15 to 10:30 AM 4 weeks, April 1, 8, 15, 22

Each week we’ll hear from two Alaskan writers, a total of eight authors over the four sessions. They will talk about their craft and their books, including mysteries, histories, novels, memoirs, nature and adventure stories. Authors include David Brown, Rolfe Buzzell, Mei Mei Evans, Tom Kizzia, Nancy Lord, Keenan Powell, Carol Sturgulewski and Lori Townsend.

40 Years of the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program

Presenter: Issa SpatrisanoWells Fargo Museum Anchorage301 W. Northern Lights Blvd. 10:45 AM to 12:00 Noon 4 weeks, April 1, 8, 15, 22 Limited to 30 participants

The 1980 Refugee Act established the U.S. Refugee Reset-tlement Program. This course will cover the history of the program, describe how it has changed through the years and examine where we are today. Learn both the national and local context for the program, with a close look at how services are provided here in Alaska.

OLÉ! Courses for Spring/Summer 2020

2 Register online at www.OleAnchorage.org. Need Help? Call Member Support at 231-0095.

Learn to Read Music

Tuesdays (continued)

Wednesdays

Issa Spatrisano is the program director and state refugee coordinator for the Refugee Assistance and Immigration Services (RAIS) program in Alaska.

Anchorage Housing: Past, Present and Future

Presenter: Connie YoshimuraWells Fargo Museum Anchorage301 W. Northern Lights Blvd. 1:00 to 2:15 PM 4 weeks, April 1, 8, 15, 22

Everything you need to know about residential real estate from a historical, current and future perspective, includ-ing how to fix up for resale, the priority of single-level homes for seniors, home improvements for seniors, home inspections for energy efficiency, home inspections prior to sales, home security, zoning issues and why America and Alaska lack affordable housing. Connie Yoshimura, owner/broker of Dwell Realty, has over 40 years of residential real estate sales and land de-velopment experience. She has written popular real estate columns for the Alaska Journal of Commerce, the Anchor-age Daily News and Homes by Design.

Estate Planning with Those You LovePresenters: Debbie Janssen and Heather FlynnWells Fargo Museum Anchorage301 W. Northern Lights Blvd. 2:30 to 3:45 PM 4 weeks, April 1, 8, 15, 22

Planning ahead makes things easier for you and your loved ones after you are gone. In session one, Debbie Janssen will provide practical advice about making arrangements upon a death, including decisions you can make in advance. In the remaining sessions, Heather Flynn will discuss how to communicate your wishes about end-of-life decisions – financial, physical and mental – to your loved ones. Debbie Janssen is the owner and secretary of Janssen Funeral Home. Educator, community volunteer and phi-lanthropist Heather Flynn served on both the Anchorage School Board and the Anchorage Assembly.

Change Your Posture and Your Mind with Breath

Presenter: Joy BackstrumFirst Christian Church, Basement3031 Latouche Street 9:15 to 10:30 AM 3 weeks, April 2, 9, 16 Limited to 40 participants

Physical therapist Joy Backstrum will explore the role of the respiratory muscle (the diaphragm) as the “director” of your movement and rest possibilities. Discover how breathing patterns affect posture and movement and can limit one’s ability to move freely and to rest well. Learn simple, daily techniques and strategies to improve how you move and feel. Joy Backstrum is co-owner of The Physical Therapy Place in Anchorage, the only certified postural restoration center in Alaska.

National Environmental Policy Act and Clean Air and Water Acts

Presenters: VariousFirst Christian Church, Classroom3031 Latouche Street 9:15 to 10:30 AM 4 weeks, April 2, 9, 16, 23

Three environmental laws provide the fundamental frame-work for public land management. Dr. Joan Kluwe will first present an overview of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), how and why the law was passed, what it means for project proposals today, and how to meaning-fully participate in the process. In session two, Gene Mc-Cabe will discuss the history and goals of the Clean Water Act and how it is applied in the wastewater permitting process of the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC). In the final class, Barbara Trost will offer a brief his-tory of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and its amendments. She will explain how ADEC’s Division of Air Quality implements the CAA in Alaska.


3Register online at www.OleAnchorage.org. Need Help? Call Member Support at 231-0095.

Wednesdays (continued) Thursdays

Stopand

Breathe

Joan Kluwe joined the National Park Service in 2016 and currently serves as the Regional Environmental Coor-dinator for Alaska. Gene McCabe is the Wastewater Discharge Authorization Program manager with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Barbara Trost is with the Alaska DEC and has been the program manager for Monitoring and Quality Assurance since 2008.

Great Ideas of Classical PhysicsModerator: Bill ColeFirst Christian Church, Main Hall3031 LaTouche Street 10:45 AM to 12:00 Noon 4 weeks, April 2, 9, 16, 23

With all the current emphasis on modern physics – relativ-ity, quantum mechanics, particle physics and the like – we often lose sight of the value, functionality and beauty of classical physics. In these lectures from The Great Courses©, Dr. Steven Pollack of the University of Colorado provides a historical discussion of the emergence of the scientific method as we know it, placing heavy emphasis on



Thursdays (continued)

the thought processes required in scientific explorations. There is much conceptual material, but little math in the course, so a strong math/science background is not re-quired; this course is suitable for people with little science background as well as those with training and professional experience in a technical field. Bill Cole spent 20 years working in mineral exploration and petroleum geology and, later in his career, worked for the Alaska Department of Natural Resources as a mining regulator.

More Beginning Russian

Presenter: Michele WhaleyFirst Christian Church, Classroom3031 Latouche Street 10:45 AM to 12:00 Noon 4 weeks, April 2, 9, 16, 23 Limited to 35 participants

Study the Russian language and culture through stories, songs and videos. Be ready to act, sing, move, laugh and smile. No home-work will be assigned, but extensive on-line resources will be made available to students who want to study independently. This course is appropriate for both continuing and new OLÉ! Russian students. Michele Whaley retired from 30+ years of teaching Rus-sian in the Anchorage School District and at UAA and now offers online and face-to-face Russian classes. During the summer, she coaches teachers from around the United States in storytelling, a “comprehensible input” method of teaching a second language.

Philanthropy 101

Presenters: VariousFirst Christian Church, Basement3031 LaTouche Street 10:45 AM to 12:00 Noon 4 weeks, April 2, 9, 16, 23

A philanthropist is someone who donates time, money or skills to help create a better world. The choices for both

A Note on OLÉ! Presenters: All OLÉ! presenters volunteer their time and energy to teach for OLÉ!. We are deeply grateful to them for contributing in such a significant way to the quality of life for Anchorage’s seniors. Additional information about some presenter(s) is included in the course descriptions on the OLÉ! website. Select “Courses,” then “Current Courses” from the Main Menu.

modest and substantial donations are endless and the needs are so great that it can be hard to know where to start. Course presenters have all been associated with different philanthropic organizations in Anchorage. They will cover ways to identify goals, give practical advice on developing or improving a giving plan, discuss estate plans and review the financial benefits of charitable contribu-tions and trusts.

• April 2: Philanthropic Intent with Jo Michalski, a highly successful fundraiser who has served on and chaired numerous nonprofit boards throughout Alaska. Jo served as chairperson for a successful $100 mil-lion endowment campaign for the Alaska Community Foundation.

• April 9: Making Wise Decisions with Diane Moxness, former executive director of the Nordic Skiing Associa-tion of Anchorage. She serves on the boards of several local nonprofits.

• April 16: Donor Advised Funds with Elizabeth Miller. Elizabeth is a certified fundraising executive who, after a 30-year career at United Way of Anchorage, joined The Alaska Community Foundation as vice president of development and communications.

• April 23: Estate Planning, Trusts and Taxes with

Abigail E. O’Connor, an Anchorage attorney who spe-cializes in estate planning, estate and gift tax strategic planning, Alaska trusts for both Alaskans and non-Alaskans, representation of trustees and beneficiaries, estate administration, and family business succession planning.

Alaskan Wildlife Conservation in the Midst of Climate Change

Presenters: Staff from Bird TLCFirst Christian Church, Main Hall3031 Latouche Street 1:00 to 2:15 PM 4 weeks, April 2, 9, 16, 23

Birds are one of the most noticeable bellwethers of our planet’s well being, and as such, they have been warning us about climate change for years. Alaska is home to 445+



bird species, most of them migratory, and has the most globally significant Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in the United States. What is being done and what more could be done to protect Alaska’s wildlife in this era of rapid climate change? Weekly topics will include:

• The System of Life-Giving Parks and Refuges• Navigating the Alphabet Soup of Agencies Governing

Wildlife Management in Alaska• The Comeback Kids• Alaska’s Choices for the Future of Our Natural World

Thomas Merton: Spiritual Explorer for Our Times

Presenter: Kathleen TarrFirst Christian Church, Classroom3031 Latouche Street 1:00 to 2:15 PM 4 weeks, April 2, 9, 16, 23

Thomas Merton, the most famous monk in American history, was a Trap-pist monk and teacher, bestselling author, spiritual thinker, peace activist, poet and social critic. Kathleen Tarr will talk about the many facets of Thomas Merton’s extraordinary life, including his 1968 surprise sojourn in Alaska, and

will explore why Merton remains profoundly relevant in the 21st century. Kathleen Witkowska Tarr is the former program coordi-nator of UAA’s MFA Program in Creative Writing and has taught creative writing at the university and community levels. She is a Merton scholar, the founder of the Alaska chapter of the International Thomas Merton Society and a frequent speaker about Merton’s life and legacy.

Yoga FlowPresenter: Heather Rae ReichenbergFirst Christian Church, Basement3031 LaTouche Street 1:00 to 2:15 PM 4 weeks, April 2, 9, 16, 23 Limited to 40 participants




This beginner yoga class will incorporate both Hatha and Vinyasa yoga, combining dynamic poses with flowing breath. Tune into your parasympathetic nervous system to calm the mind while increasing flexibility and loosening tired, achy muscles. Participants should bring their own yoga mats. Heather Reichenberg is an ACE-certified personal trainer working with Masters athletes (35+) and others wanting to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Heather will complete her 200-hour yoga teacher training in May.

Blogging: How and Why to Keep an Online Journal

Presenter: Don BladowFirst Christian Church, Classroom3031 Latouche Street 2:30 to 3:45 PM 4 weeks, April 2, 9, 16, 23 Limited to 25 participants

Start a blog: stay in touch with friends and relatives, share ideas with people of similar interests and write home from your travels. This is a hands-on class. Participants should bring a laptop computer or tablet they are familiar with and must be able to use the keyboard, manipulate pictures and navigate the web without help. Some students may want to use their phone as a hot spot if connectivity is an issue. Don Bladow is a retired ASD technical coordinator who taught mathematics part-time at UAA for 20 years. He has created two blogs and updates them on an irregular basis.

Creating a Niche Market in AnchoragePresenters: VariousFirst Christian Church, Main Hall3031 Latouche Street 2:30 to 3:45 PM 4 weeks, April 2, 9, 16, 23

Curious about entrepreneurship in Alaska? Meet four very different, successful Alaskan business owners who will share their unique stories: how they started their busi-

nesses, how they found their niche and how they have kept ahead of the competition.

• April 2: Creating Anchorage’s Only Organically Based Salon and Spa with Jen Bersch, owner/stylist, Salon Da Vinci

• April 9: Successfully Starting the First Brewery in

Anchorage with Gary Busse, general manager, Mid-night Sun Brewing Co.

• April 16: Becoming Alaska’s Source for Event Planning and Décor with Darl Schaaff, owner of Art Services North

• April 23: Finding Success in Anchorage’s Competi-tive Retail Market with Jana Hayenga, owner of Cabin Fever Gifts and The Quilted Raven and previous owner of Classic Toys, Once Upon a Time Bookstore and Flypaper

Sourdough for the SourdoughsPresenters: Gretchen Bersch and Eswin AguilarFirst Christian Church, Basement3031 Latouche Street2:30 to 3:45 PMCost: $10 Limited to 16 participants

In all of baking, nothing seems to capture our imaginations and cu-riosity like sourdough. Join bakers Gretchen Bersch and Eswin Aguilar for a discussion of the theory and art of baking with sourdough. In the first class, Gretchen will cover the science behind sourdough, and in the second, Eswin will demonstrate how to work with sourdough. Participants will also be invited to sample several types of sourdough bread.

Section A: Thursdays, April 2 and 9 Section B: Thursdays, April 16 and 23

Gretchen Bersch is a retired university professor who has been happily baking bread for sixty years. Eswin Aguilar is a baker at Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop in Anchorage.


Great Performances: Now Hear This

Facilitator: Craig ValentineUAA Beatrice McDonald Hall, Room 235 9:00 to 10:15 AM 4 weeks, April 3, 10, 17, 24

Join Scott Yoo, renowned violinist and conductor of the Mexico City Philharmonic, as he travels the musical capitals of Europe in this four-part PBS series, Now Hear This. Yoo collaborates with musicians, instrument builders, musicologists and other experts. The program features the music of Vivaldi, Bach, Scarlatti and Handel as Yoo travels through Italy, France, Germany, Spain and Morocco.

OLÉ! member Craig Valentine has hosted several classical music courses for OLÉ! using The Great Courses© video series. A geologist and civil engineer by profession, Craig grew up in a theatrical and classical music environ-ment.

Alaska Native PerspectivesPresenters: Warren Jones and Stacey LucasonUAA Beatrice McDonald Hall, Room 1179:00 to 10:15 AM 4 weeks, April 3, 10, 17, 24

Join two Yup’ik philosophers, Warren Jones and Stacey Lucason, as they share perspectives on the history, phi-losophy, art and contemporary concerns of Alaska native communities and cultures. In addition to their classroom presentations and discussions, they will suggest readings for those who wish to go further.

Maaruk (Warren Jones) is of Gwich’in and Yup’ik ancestry and grew up in the Nome area. He is a steward of Northern philosophy – the idea that the North has its own unique epistemology, ethics, etc. – and his interests range from culture to cosmology and complex systems. Stacey Lucason, daughter of Richard Lucason and Sandra Wing and mother to Olga, is an adjunct professor at UAA where she teaches a course on Alaska Native perspectives.

Secondhand SightseeingPresenters: VariousUAA Beatrice McDonald Hall, Room 116 9:00 to 10:15 AM 4 weeks, April 3, 10, 17, 24



Let Mike McCormick, former Anchorage Daily News “Weekend Naturalist” columnist and Whistling Swan Productions cofounder, take you on a journey to Port Townsend, Washington. Mike will share colorful stories as he leads you through awe-inspiring cedar and spruce forests, across beaches visited by thousands of birds, and around historic districts with hundreds of 19th century buildings (including the jail where Jack London may have spent the night). You’ll learn about music, art, rhododen-drons, wooden boat festivals and so much more. Helen Peters and her daughter Tracie Wright joined a 20-day Overseas Adventure Travel tour to the fascinating and ancient country of Egypt, from Cairo south to the Temple of Abu Simbel and north to Alexandria, a city founded by Alexander the Great. The tour included seven days on the Nile River and a visit to Aswan High Dam. Theirs was OAT’s second tour following a long period of limited ac-cess after the Arab Spring uprising.

Carving its way through the St. Elias Range, the Tatshen-shini/Alsek River system has earned a reputation as one of the most beautiful rafting rivers in the Americas. Passing through the largest preserve and non-polar ice fields in the world, the Tatshenshini flows into the Alsek River and ends up near the mouth of Glacier Bay. In July/August 2019, Judy Green spent 12 sunny days rafting and packrafting the river with an outfitter based in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. (This presentation is rescheduled from the winter term)

Documentarians and sound engineers Lucy Peckham and Michael Sakarias rode the ferry MV Tustumena from Homer to Unalaska in August of 2018 to collect oral histories from residents and passengers in commemoration of the Tusty’s 50-plus years of service in Southwestern Alaska. Enjoy the spectacular scenery and listen to the sounds of the ocean, the wildlife, the venerable Tustumena herself and the stories of everyone involved in this memo-rable trip.

Fridays

Holger Weinandt photo



How the Internet Works: Nuts and Bolts, Computer Security and Data Privacy

Presenter: Kenrick MockUAA Beatrice McDonald Hall, Room 235 10:30 to 11:45 AM 4 weeks, April 3, 10, 17, 24

Ever feel like you need to take a step back and learn how the Internet actually works? Professor Kenrick Mock will cover: the history of the Internet (networks, packet switch-ing and protocols); the major components of the Internet and how they work; computer security (identity theft and data security risks); practical ways to protect oneself; and Internet technology trends for the future. Kenrick Mock is a professor of computer science and the current interim dean of the College of Engineering at UAA.

The Neuroscience of Learning and MemoryPresenter: Rachael HannahUAA Planetarium & Visualization TheaterUAA Beatrice McDonald Hall, Room 117 10:30 to 11:45 AM 4 weeks, April 3, 10, 17, 24

Note: Class will meet in the Planetarium on April 3rd and in B. McDonald Hall the following three weeks.

Learning and memory are at the foundation of being hu-man. In this course, Dr. Rachel Hannah will describe how neurons connect with each other to process and store information. She will also describe the neuronal modifica-tions responsible for learning and explain how these change throughout our lifetimes. Finally, she will talk about how neurons may become degraded with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

• April 3: Planetarium Neurotour (Meet in the UAA Planetarium)

• April 10: Basic Mechanisms of Learning and Memory • April 17: Learning and Memory Throughout Our Life-

time• April 24: Mechanisms Disrupted in Learning and

Memory with Alzheimer’s and Dementia Dr. Rachael M. Hannah is an assistant professor of

biological sciences at UAA where her research focus is on the brain’s circulatory system. She is currently exploring a new animal model (red-eared slider turtle) in an effort to discover how some organisms’ brain cells survive in low oxygen environments.

Unraveling the Mysteries of MedicarePresenters: VariousUAA Beatrice McDonald Hall, Room 116 10:30 to 11:45 AM 4 weeks, April 3, 10, 17, 24

Unravel the mysteries of Medicare:

• Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and B (Medical Insurance): Dana Barnett, manager of the Medicare Information Office, will cover eligibility, enrollment periods, coverage and the costs of these important parts of Medicare.

• Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage Plans) and D (Stand Alone Prescription Drug Plans): Jeanné Larson, lead Medicare counselor and subject matter expert for the Medicare Information Office, will decode definitions, enrollment opportunities, enroll-ment choices, coverage and costs.

• Medicare Costs and Medigap: Dana Barnett will review the costs of Medicare and how to maximize benefits while minimizing costs. She will also plumb the depths of Supplemental Medicare, also known as Medigap plans.

• Medicare Fraud and How to Read a MSN: The estimated cost of Medicare fraud is approximately $60 billion per year. Nila Morgan, manager of the Medicare Information Office housed at the Anchorage Senior Activity Center, will cover the Senior Medicare Patrol and its efforts to detect and report Medicare fraud. She will also unlock the key to understanding a Medicare Summary Notice.

Fridays (continued)


The Fight for Women’s Right to VotePresenter: Gretchen BerschUAA Beatrice McDonald Hall, Room 235 1:30 to 2:45 PM 4 weeks, April 3, 10, 17, 24

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment guaranteeing and protecting women’s constitutional right to vote. This historic centennial offers a great opportunity to commemorate a milestone of de-mocracy. We will explore the history of the women’s move-ment over seven decades, follow the vote as it was won state by state, and celebrate the eventual passage of the 19th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution in August 1920. Gretchen T. Bersch is a retired university professor who loves women’s history. Her great-great-grandmother’s suffrage activities gave her a fascination for the women’s movement and the work to gain equal rights.

The Media You DeservePresenter: Paola BancheroUAA Beatrice McDonald Hall, Room 116 1:30 to 2:45 PM 4 weeks, April 3, 10, 17, 24

How do you become a better consumer and creator of media? Join us as we examine contemporary issues in the media and wrestle with our role in a complex media ecosys-tem. Paola Banchero is an associate professor in the Depart-ment of Journalism and Public Communications at UAA where her research interests include media for and about people with little political and economic power. She also co-created two UAA documentaries for the planetarium.

Housing, Homelessness, and Finding “Home,” Part II

Presenter: Nancy BurkeUAA Beatrice McDonald Hall, Room 117 3:00 to 4:15 PM 4 weeks, April 3, 10, 17, 24

Review current housing and service programs under development in Anchorage to help people and families find

OLÉ! Courses for Spring/Summer 2020Fridays (continued)

J. R. R. TolkienPresenter: Toby WiddicombeUAA Beatrice McDonald Hall, Room 117 1:30 to 2:45 PM 4 weeks, April 3, 10, 17, 24

Materials: Participants are encouraged to have copies of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and J. R. R. Tolkien: A Guide for the Perplexed.

Study the life and works of J. R. R. Tolkien with the au-thor of J. R. R. Tolkien: A Guide for the Perplexed. Dr. Widdicombe, professor of English at UAA, will dis-cuss Tolkien’s major works, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, with an emphasis on how these works fit into the larger picture of Tolkien’s life and art. Time will be spent on understanding the textual meaning of the individual works as well as where these pieces fit in Tolkien’s my-thology of Middle-earth.

Dr. Toby Widdicombe has published books on J. R. R. Tolkien, Edward Bellamy, utopianism, Shakespeare, Ray-mond Chandler and Anglo-American travel writing. He is the former editor of Utopian Studies.

The Exploration of WonderPresenter: Paul DaggettUAA, Engineering & Industry Building, Room 103 1:30 to 2:45 PM 4 weeks, April 3, 10, 17, 24 Limited to 20 participants

Join other OLÉ! members in fun, hands-on explorations of the physical world. Discover how a cement boat floats, why you have to shake a ketchup bottle to get ketchup flowing and how funhouse mirrors work. Each class will begin with an introduction to a topic followed by group work exploring the concept with simple, everyday materials. Paul Daggett has worked for 35 years as a geophysicist and geologist with ARCO, BP and other companies in the oil and gas industry.

Explore the ornamental and indigenous trees and shrubs of the Anchorage landscape. Learn about their range and how they are being affected by climate change. Weather permitting, we will go outside and visit the trees. Retired from the U.S. Forest Service, Ken Winterberg-er worked for decades as a research forester managing forest inventories in Alaska, Hawaii and the Pacific Trust Islands. He is an expert in photogrammetry and remote sensing and has been observing the impacts of climate change over the years.

Two Great Actors, Four Underappreciated Films

Presenter: Edward PanscharUAA Rasmuson Hall, Room 117 3:00 to 5:30 PM 4 weeks, April 3, 10, 17, 24

Watch two superb actors display their skills in these four seldom-seen films:

• Libeled Lady (1936, 98 minutes) with William Powell and Jean Harlow

• Stage Door (1937, 92 minutes) with Kathryn Hepburn and several stars yet to reach fame

• Life With Father (1947, 118 minutes) with William Pow-ell and a young Elizabeth Taylor

• Morning Glory (1933, 74 minutes) with Kathryn Hep-burn, winning her first of four Oscars



Fridays (continued)

safe, stable homes. Nancy Burke and guests will expand on prior policy-focused sessions with details about new and developing programs. Nancy Burke is housing and homeless services coordinator for the Municipality of Anchorage. She works with the city on addressing the high incidence of people with mental illness and substance use disorders among the homeless population.

Preserve that Moment: Smartphone Video Photography

Presenter: Scott JensenUAA Beatrice McDonald Hall, Room 235 3:00 to 4:15 PM 4 weeks, April 3, 10, 17, 24 Limited to 20 participants

Learn to harness the power of the phone that’s right in your pocket. This course will show you how to film and edit video images that capture and preserve the great memo-ries of life. Scott Jensen has had a long career in video journalism, content creation, multimedia management and teaching during which he won 22 Emmy Awards and two National Edward R. Murrow Awards.

Trees and Shrubs of AlaskaPresenter: Ken WinterbergerUAA Beatrice McDonald Hall, Room 116 3:00 to 4:15 PM 4 weeks, April 3, 10, 17, 24

Ed Panschar is a retired CFO from the Chicago area who first moved to Alaska in 2009. He is, among other things, an amateur film buff.



SpringSpring Hikes, Trips and Tours

Behind the Scenes at Midnight Sun Brewing Co.

8111 Dimond Hook Drive11:00 AM to 12:00 NoonSaturday, April 18Cost: $15.00

Activity Level: Easy: Able to stand for up to one hour and climb a few stairs. Limited to 30 participants

Learn what it takes to brew beer in a less-than-temperate climate with a long dark winter. If you’ve ever sipped a Sockeye Red or a Kodiak Brown, you’ll know that Midnight Sun Brewing Company, the oldest brewery in Anchorage and the second oldest in the state, has got this down. Cost includes the tour, beer tasting and appetizers.

Downtown Palmer Walking Tour and Valley Community for Recycling Solutions

Presenters: Sam Dinges, Jill Farris and Steve Brown8:45 AM to 3:00 PM Wednesday, April 29Cost: $24.00

Activity Level: Easy: Able to stand for up to one hour, climb a few stairs and get on and off a motor coach or van. Limited to 35 participantsNote: Meet the motor coach in the middle of the Carr’s parking lot, 7731 E. Northern Lights Blvd. for a 9:00 AM departure.

Enjoy the comfort of a motor coach ride to the Palmer Museum and Visitors Center, then take a guided walking tour of historic Palmer and learn about the 1935 Mata-nuska Colony. Bring your own lunch or have lunch in one of the many restaurants that line Main Street (Palmer Ale House, Turkey Red, Vagabond Blues, and Colony Inn are good possibilities). At 1:15 PM, the group will travel to the Valley Community for Recycling Solutions for a tour of their innovative Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), gold level, new facility and for an overview of their renewable energy systems.

Sam Dinges is the director of the Palmer Museum of History and Art, Jill Farris is an education specialist and Steve Brown is the executive director at Valley Commu-nity for Recycling Solutions.

Spring Hikes, Trips and Tours

Summer Hikes, Trips and Tours

Cottonwood Creek HikePresenter: Catherine InmanPalmer Hay Flats Game RefugeWednesday, May 27 10:00 AM to 12:00 NoonCost: $5.00

Activity Level: Moderate: Able to walk on uneven ground with gentle slopes up and down and many stairs.Limited to 30 participantsNotes: Parks Hwy about 2 miles from Glenn Highway exchange, to Fairview Loop then onto Hayfield Road to Refuge access sign - At Cottonwood Creek Access

The woodland bluff above Cottonwood Creek is a great place to enjoy a quiet walk in the woods. The trail is an easy 1.25-mile loop under a birch and cottonwood canopy that follows the creek as it drops precipitously to the wetlands expanse of the Palmer Hay Flats Game Refuge. It also skirts a small, picturesque lake and passes through the ancient remains of a significant Athabaskan settlement. The over-look provides a sheltered resting place to enjoy the pan-orama of the Palmer Hay Flats before descending. Guide Catherine Inman of the Alaskans for Palmer Hay Flats will lead this hike out to Scout Ridge and the Overlook.



Summer Hikes, Trips and Tours (continued)

Bird Ridge Plant HikePresenter: Marilyn BarkerThursday, May 2810:00 AM start; the hike will take all day.

Activity Level: Strenuous: Able to hike across uneven ground with steep up and down slopes, handle slippery conditions, jump moderate distances and climb extended stairs. Limited to 16 participantsNotes: Meet at the trailhead, Mile 101.5 of the Seward Highway, at 10:00 AM.

Botanist Marilyn Barker will lead a hike and plant talk on the Bird Ridge Trail during the brief window when early spring plants are emerging. The group will walk at a comfortable pace, checking out plants, taking photos and searching for wildlife. On past trips Marilyn has seen fox, moose, marmots and mountain sheep. If the tides cooper-ate, there is no better place to watch a bore tide than from Bird Ridge. To go to the top is 4.5 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 3,500 feet. It can take 8 -10 hours depend-ing on the weather. Marilyn plans to head for the top, but less intrepid hikers can turn around at any point (providing they do so in groups of two or more).

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and Portage Valley

Presenter: Dianna WhitneyTuesday, June 29:00 AM to 3:00 PMCost: $28.00

Activity Level: Moderate: Able to get on and off a motor coach or van, stand for up to one hour, climb a few flights

of stairs and walk up to two miles on uneven surfaces.Limited to 50 participantsNotes: Meet the motor coach at 9:00 AM at the north-west side of the Carr’s Huffman parking lot at Huffman and Old Seward Hwy. There is a $5 fee for admission to the visitor center exhibits and movie; this is not included in the course fee. A National Park Senior Pass provides free admission. Bring your own lunch.

Enjoy a relaxing ride along Turnagain Arm in a motor coach, a brown bag picnic lunch, a guided tour of the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and a brief talk at the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center at Portage Glacier. There may even be time for a short walk on the Trail of Blue Ice in Portage Valley. Dianna Whitney is the executive director of the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.

Anchorage Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)

Presenter: Chad NicholsARTCC, 700 North Boniface Parkway10:00 to 11:30 AM

Activity Level: Moderate: Able to stand for up to one hour, climb a few flights of stairs and walk up to two miles on uneven surfaces. Limited to 20 participantsNotes: Participants must be U.S. citizens with govern-ment-issued photo identification to enter the facility. Meet at the security entrance of ARTCC. Parking is limited, 19 spots for all visitors, so please carpool if possible. Tour the Anchorage Air Route Traf-fic Control Cen-ter (ARTCC), the northern-, eastern-, and western-most center in the National Airspace System. ARTCC controls both domestic and oceanic airspace and is responsible for more than two million square miles of airspace. It provides single sensor display of traffic and weather using long and short-range radars and displays Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) surveillance as well.




Section A: Monday, June 8Section B: Tuesday, June 9Section C: Wednesday, June 10

Barbara Falls Hike: Botany and GeologyFacilitator: Leslie J. HornPresenters: Marilyn Barker and Anne PaschThursday, July 99:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Activity Level: Strenuous: Able to hike across uneven ground with steep up and down slopes, handle slippery conditions, jump moderate distances and climb extended stairs. Limited to 17 participantsNotes: The hike will start from the home of Les Horn in Eagle River; directions will be sent directly to participants. Bring your own lunch.

Hike the pristine and infrequently visited canyon of the South Fork of Eagle River and learn about its geological and botanical features. Unlike the slow and meandering North River channel, the South Fork is a wild, cascading stream of fast whitewater. The hike will traverse bear trails that follow the south bank wetlands easement along its entire length. Because access to the area can be gained only across private property, it is seldom visited and therefore virtually unspoiled. The hikes will be conducted on two separate one-mile sections of mostly level and unimproved trails. Hand ropes are rigged for safety in hilly areas and along one short, steep section. Bring your own lunch.

An inveterate wanderer, explorer, photography hobbyist, and lover of nature ‘in the rough,’ Les Horn has a deep and abiding interest in the natural sciences and in the state of the natural environment of ‘Spaceship Earth.’

Dr. Marilyn Barker is professor emeritus in the UAA Department of Botany and is active in the fiber arts community and the Alaska Native Plant Society.

Geologist Dr. Anne Pasch is professor emeritus in the UAA Department of Geology, retired after a 35-year teaching career. She is best known for her role in the discovery of evidence of dinosaurs in the Talkeetna Mountains and along the Colville River and the unearthing of ice age shell deposits at the Bering Glacier.

Government Hill Orchard TourPresenter: Stephen Gerlek Government Hill Commons Orchard Thursday, June 1110:00 to 11:30 AM

Activity Level: Moderate: Able to stand for up to one hour, climb a few flights of stairs and walk up to two miles on uneven surfaces. Limited to 30 participants Note: Information on a meeting place and parking will be sent directly to participants.

Did you know that Government Hill is now home to a com-munity fruit orchard? In this guided tour, we will learn how land slated to be dug up to make way for the now-defunct Knik Arm bridge project was transformed into an orchard and community gathering space. If the timing is right and the trees cooperate, this June visit should coincide with the blossoming of apple, pear and cherry trees. Photo by Thetus Smith




Alutiiq Culture and HistoryPresenters: Rachel Mason and Rita MiragliaFriday to Sunday, June 12 – 14Yukon Island Retreat Center

Kachemak Bay, Alaska. Visit www.yukonisland.com for more informationTotal Cost: $265, includes lodging and meals and 3% borough sales taxDeposit: $100. Balance due before May 13.Water taxi is an additional $65 round trip from Homer to Yukon Island, payable by cash or check only to Red Moun-tain Marine at the dock in Homer.Activity Level: Moderate: Able to climb a few flights of stairs, walk up to two miles on uneven surfaces and get on and off a boat.Limited to 15 participantsNote: To register non-member guests, contact Member Support at 231-0095 or [email protected].

Explore the rich cultural heritage of the Alutiiq (Sugpiaq) people – Alaska Natives of the Kodiak Archipelago, south-ern Alaska Peninsula and Prince William Sound. Yukon Island, where anthropologist Frederica de Laguna excavat-ed prehistoric Kachemak sites, is an appropriate setting to explore Alutiiq prehistory and history. We will learn about the origins of the Alutiiq and the settlement of Kodiak Island and other Alutiiq culture areas; become familiar with the Alutiiq culture and society first encountered by Russian colonists in the 1700s; and discuss the cultural change and population decimation that followed European contact into the 20th century. Come to reconnect with the natural world; leave with new knowledge and perspectives. Be prepared to share rooms, use an outhouse and forgo show-ers. Expect a great learning experience, good company and delicious food.

Rachel Mason has worked as a cultural anthropologist in Alaska for almost 30 years and has conducted research

in many Alaska Native communities, particularly in the Unangax^ and Alutiiq culture areas. Dr. Mason is currently employed as Senior Cultural Anthropologist, Alaska Region, for the National Park Service in Anchorage. Rita Miraglia is an archaeologist who has worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs for almost two decades. Previ-ously, she was a social anthropologist for Alaska Fish and Game and, following the Exxon Valdez oil spill, a cultural resource specialist.

A Scientific and Artistic Exploration of Yukon Island

Presenters: Taz Tally and Christina WhitingFriday to Sunday, June 26 –28 Yukon Island Retreat Center

Kachemak Bay, Alaska. Visit www.yukonisland.com for more informationTotal Cost: $265, includes lodging and meals and 3% borough sales taxDeposit: $100. Balance due before May 27. Water taxi is an additional $65 round trip from Homer to Yukon Island, payable by cash or check only to Red Moun-tain Marine at the dock in Homer.Activity Level: Moderate: Able to climb a few flights of stairs, walk up to two miles on uneven surfaces and get on and off a boat.Limited to 15 participantsNote: To register non-member guests, contact Member Support at 231-0095 or [email protected].

Explore the geology, natural history and beauty of Yukon Island with geologist, photographer and author Taz Tally and writer and photographer Christina Whiting. Take easy hikes, beachcomb, tide pool, take photos and write. Be prepared to share rooms, use an outhouse and forgo show-ers. Expect a great learning experience, good company and delicious food.

Yukon Island Retreat Center



OLÉ! board member, Janie Odgers, owner of JMO Travel, has been organizing group trips to wonderful locations for over 20 years. She works with individuals, schools and corporate groups to arrange tours that weave together his-tory, culture and a touch of adventure.

Walking Tour of Historic Hope, AlaskaPresenter: Diane Olthuis Hope and Sunrise Historical Museum2nd Street, Hope, Alaska Tuesday, July 1411:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Activity Level: Moderate: Able to stand for up to one hour, climb a few flights of stairs and walk up to two miles on uneven surfaces.Limited to 30 participantsNotes: Bring a lunch and plan on a three-hour visit in the town. The drive to Hope takes approximately 90 minutes. Specific directions will be sent directly to registered partici-pants.

Discover the rich his-tory of Hope, Alaska on this guided walking tour. Today, Hope is a sleepy town off the beaten path and home to just 200 people. However, prompted by the discovery of gold in the area in 1889, 2,000 people made their way to Hope and nearby Sunrise, and for a few weeks in the summer of 1898, Sunrise was the larg-est city in Alaska! During the boom years, Hope had two boat landings, two general stores, two saloons, a brewery, a pool hall, a restaurant, a hotel, a post office, a school, a social hall and a sawmill. All played a part in the fascinating story of the Turnagain Arm Gold Rush and the years that followed.

Diane Olthuis has lived in Hope for nearly three decades. She is active in the Hope and Sunrise Historical Society and is currently the museum development coordinator for the Hope and Sunrise Historical and Mining Museum. She is the author of It Happened in Alaska and Historic Building Survey Report; Hope, Alaska.


Dr. Taz Tally is a professional photographer, geologist and outdoor adventure author who lives in Homer. He teaches geology, photography and digital imaging courses for UAA, Sessions.edu, and Lynda.com/LinkedIn Learning, and his landscape photography and adventure books are on display at the artshopgallery.com.

Christina Whiting is a Homer writer and photographer whose poetry, essays and portrait, landscape and street photography are inspired by her wanderlust. She is also a freelance writer for numerous local and statewide publica-tions and media outlets.

Farm Tour: Peonies, Pottery and Coyote Gardens

Facilitator: Janie OdgersWednesday, July 88:45 AM to 4:45 PM

Cost: $65.00 Activity Level: Moderate: Able to get on and off a motor coach or van, stand for up to one hour, climb a few flights of stairs and walk up to two miles on uneven surfaces.Limited to 45 participants Note: Meet the motor coach in the middle of the Carr’s parking lot, 7731 E. Northern Lights Blvd. for a 9:00 AM departure.

The first stop on this year’s OLÉ! farm tour will be to see peonies. Champion Peonies at Champion Farm will be in full swing as it will be the height of the season. We will learn what it takes to grow peonies in Alaska commercially, from planting to harvesting to marketing. There will also be an opportunity to purchase peony plants for your garden. Up the road we’ll visit local potter Carol Goltz and her beautiful studio, WillowAK Pottery. Our final stop will be at Coyote Gardens. Gardener Les Brake’s amazing gardens have been written about and photographed for numerous magazines, includ-ing Horticulture Magazine, Sunset, Country Gardens and Gardens Illustrated. Lunch, included in the cost, will be at Eaglequest Lodge. Normally closed on Wednesdays, the lodge is opening just for our group.

OLÉ!OPPORTUNITIES FOR LIFELONG EDUCATION!P.O. Box 240488Anchorage, AK 99524-0488231-0095

Nonprofit Org.U.S. Postage PAID

Permit No. 107Anchorage, AK

Spring Celebration and Annual Meeting

UAA Cuddy Center • 12:00 to 1:15 PM

Come celebrate spring and OLÉ! with a light lunch and dessert prepared by UAA’s Seawolf Catering. This is an opportunity to express our appreciation for OLÉ! presenters,

volunteers and members. The annual meeting will follow with a report from OLÉ! board chair, Gretchen Bersch.

Note: You must register for this event to attend.

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