View the quick, at-a-glance, course calendar.
Special Events
F22-021, Fall Kick Off Social
September 14, 2022, 01:30 pm to 03:00 pm
Location: Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas, Va 20110 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 150
Fee: None
Speaker/Host:
Description: Registration is NOT required for this event. Just come join us!
* A time to invite prospective members to attend and to socialize with returning members.
* A chance to meet class coordinators, learn about LLI’s various clubs, and to participate in drawings for door prizes.
* Help for registration (cash or checks, no credit cards).
* Light refreshments will be available at the “Tiki Bar”.
See you there!
Biography:
LLI Coordinator: Karla Anzzolin
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F22-022, New Member Orientation
September 19, 2022, 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Location: Trinity Episcopal Church, 9325 West St., Manassas 20110 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 30
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: TBD
Description: Come meet other new and not so new members of LLI for an enjoyable social event. Discussion will include the history of the organization, the various committees within LLI, and how to use the website.
Biography:
LLI Coordinator: Linda Whitehead
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F22-023, Annual holiday luncheon, A and B
December 15, 2022, 11:00 am to 02:30 pm
Location: Regency Clubhouse, 15351 Championship Dr., Haymarket, Virginia 20169 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 140
Fee: A. Members $25.00 B. Guests $35.00
Speaker/Host: TBD
Description: Annual Holiday Luncheon A or B
Thursday, December 15, 2022
Regency Clubhouse
15351 Championship Drive
Haymarket, Virginia 20169
A. Member $25.00 (include with registration)
B. Guest $35.00 (include with registration)
The last date for sign-up or cancellation is November 28, 2022.
Sign-in begins at 11:15 am and lunch will be served at noon.
Biography: N/A
LLI Coordinator: Karla Anzzolin
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LLI and Hylton Performing Arts Center Partnership
F22-031, A Celtic Christmas with Seán Heely
December 7, 2022, 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas, VA 20110 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: no max
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Seán Heely
Description: Join U.S National Scottish Fiddle Champion Seán Heely as he takes you on a tour through the beautiful music of Scotland & Ireland. You will hear different types of dance tunes, songs, and stories in relation to the Christmastime and year round traditions of the British Isles. You will hear how the rhythm and flow of the Scottish Gaelic language is very important to the way the music relates to the instruments and also to the dance! Some of the older traditions are well-preserved in these songs, and the history is fascinating.
Performance: A Celtic Christmas with Seán Heely
Sunday, December 11 at 4 p.m.
Tickets: $46, $39, $28. Use code LLI20 to receive LLI’s 20% discount.
Biography: Champion fiddler and singer Seán Heely is one of the most creatively versatile and captivating young artists of his generation. He is a U.S National Scottish Fiddle Champion as well as an award-winning Irish fiddler, singer, and harpist in the folk and Gaelic traditions of Scotland and Ireland. Seán holds a degree from the University of South Carolina in classical violin performance and was a 2019 Artist in Residence at Strathmore Music Center in Maryland. He has performed in Scotland, Ireland, South America, Germany and at prestigious venues in the U.S such as the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Seán has shared the stage with traditional music icons such as Liz Carroll, Bonnie Rideout, Natalie Haas, Cathy Jordan, Eamon O’Leary, Zan McLeod, Maeve Gilchrist, and Paddy Keenan. Along with his accolades in traditional music, Seán made his classical solo debut with the Virginia Symphony in 2012, performing Mozart’s 5th Violin Concerto. A composer and arranger, Seán has won national awards including the 2016 Scottish Fiddling Revival’s Tune writing Competition and was a featured soloist with the Virginia International Tattoo in Norfolk, Virginia, in April 2017 and 2019.
Sean has recorded two full length albums: Edge of the Bow and Homeport ~ Port na Dachaigh, both of which have received international acclaim.
Currently based in Washington, D.C., Seán performs locally and abroad with the Seán Heely Celtic Band, The Glencoe Lads, and Jennifer Cutting’s Ocean Orchestra. He is a musical ambassador for the British Embassy Scottish Affairs Office and the St. Andrew’s Society of Washington. He also travels abroad frequently as a solo artist, has been a speaker at events such as the Scottish North American Leadership Conference, and maintains a private teaching studio in Falls Church, Virginia.
LLI Coordinator: Valerie Kenyon Gaffney
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F22-032, Manassas Chorale: Broadway in Manassas!
September 29, 2022, 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas, VA 20110 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: No maximum
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Becky Verner
Description: Whether it’s a Broadway revival like The Music Man or new Broadway songs from current musicals like Dear Evan Hansen and Six (about the wives of Henry VIII), in this class you’ll learn more about the musicals, the story line and the music. You’ll leave humming at least one melody and will know more about the music from a number of different Broadway musicals. For a toe-tapping time, sign up!
Performance: Manassas Chorale, Broadway in Manassas
Saturday, Oct 08, 2022 7:30pm
Tickets: $25, $23 adult; free to Mason students and children (18 years and younger)
Biography: Rebecca (Becky) Verner is a Manassas native who holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from East Carolina University with graduate work from Shenandoah University in Church Music. She is the Artistic Director of the Manassas Chorale, a position she has held for 25 years. She is also the Traditional Music Director at Manassas Baptist Church, where she directs the Sanctuary Choir and Evensong Bells. She directs the Older Choir of the Greater Manassas Children’s Choir, now in its eighth season. Becky has trained singers who have sung at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York and has journeyed to six European countries with the Chorale as part of three tours. She enjoys a variety of musical styles, and Broadway show tunes are among her favorites.
LLI Coordinator: Valerie Kenyon Gaffney
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F22-033, Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra: Salute to the Military
November 2, 2022, 01:30 pm to 03:00 pm
Location: Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas, VA 20110 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: No maximum
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Dr. Darden Purcell
Description: Dr. Darden Purcell will present a class entitled “Songbirds – Singers in the Big Band.” This presentation will focus on popular singers in the Big Band Era.
Performance: Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, Salute to the Military
Saturday, November 12 at 8:00 PM
Tickets: $48, $41, $28. Use CODE LLI20 for LLI’s 20% discount.
Biography: Dr. Darden Purcell is a featured soloist with symphony orchestras, big bands and small ensembles, and a Jazz vocal educator. Her ensembles have performed at the Kansas City Jazz Summit, ACCENT Vocal Festival and Jazz Education Network conferences, and have shared the stage with the New York Voices, The Manhattan Transfer and ACCENT. Dr. Purcell has presented for the Virginia Music Educators Association, ACDA Southern Region in Sao Paulo, Brazil and the Institute for Jazz Research in Graz, Austria. Dr. Purcell is the Director of Jazz Studies, Jazz Voice instructor and director of the Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble at George Mason University.
LLI Coordinator: Valerie Kenyon Gaffney
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Arts & Literature
F22-041, Art and Nazis in World War II Germany NOTE REVISED DATE AND LOCATION
October 7, 2022, 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas, Va 20110 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 80
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Dr. Jeanette Nicewinter
Description: The visual arts had a prominent place in Nazi ideology. As a former aspiring art student, Adolf Hitler had definitive ideas about the role of modern art in the future of Germany. This talk explores the various roles of art in the Nazi regime and beyond.
Biography: Dr. Jeanette Nicewinter is an assistant professor of art history at Northern Virginia Community College’s Annandale Campus. She earned her doctorate in art historical studies from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2016. Her area of specialization is ancient American art with a focus on ceramics from the northern highlands of present-day Peru. However, she frequently identifies as a “generalist” and enjoys teaching a broad spectrum of art-historical topics. She has given presentations for the Manassas LLI during each of our last four semesters.
LLI Coordinator: David Pace
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F22-042, Poetry of Love
September 23, 2022, 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Bethel Lutheran Church, 8712 Plantation Lane, Manassas 20110 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 80
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Mr. Conrad (Connie) Geller
Description: Poets, from their biographies, seem to know little about love, but that hasn’t stopped them from writing about it incessantly. This session will examine some of their passionate efforts, from Ovid and Shakespeare to Yeats and Dorothy Parker. Attendance is limited to those LLI members over age eighteen.
Biography: Conrad Geller studied English literature at Harvard and ever since has been a passionate though still inexpert reader and writer of poetry. His poems have appeared in many obscure publications, and he has won prizes from among others, the Poetry Society of Virginia. He is also a veteran of teaching classes for OLLI, having given courses about Chaucer, Swift and Poe in Sterling and Reston. In December of 2021, Mr. Geller presented a class for LLI-Manassas entitled “Poems That Tickle Your Fancy.”
LLI Coordinator: Karen Waltman
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F22-043, Celebrating Stephen Sondheim
October 28, 2022, 01:30 pm to 03:00 pm
Location: Trinity Episcopal Church, 9325 West St., Manassas, Va. 20110 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 80
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Dan Sherman
Description: Stephen Sondheim was one of the most influential composers and lyricists in American musical theater in a career spanning more than 40 years. Well before his recent death, Sondheim was celebrated for the versatility of his shows and the depth of his lyrics. Dan Sherman will review Sondheim’s life and cover his work to show its astonishing range. His talk will consider many unusual performances and include clips of Sondheim presenting and discussing his work, including his comments on the recent West Side Story film.
Biography: Dan Sherman is a recently retired economist, who earned a doctorate at Cornell University. He has taught more than 25 courses to lifelong learning groups in the Washington area, mostly on topics related to musical theater. Dan has given us classes on Frank Lloyd Wright, Oscar Hammerstein, George Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein, and Stephen Sondheim.
LLI Coordinator: Lynn Hoffman
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F22-044, “We’ll Always Have Paris”: Enjoying Casablanca
October 7, 2022, 01:30 pm to 03:00 pm
Location: Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas, Va 20110 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 150
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Dan Sherman
Description: Although conceived as a standard studio film, Casablanca was quickly recognized as a great romantic film, full of memorable characters and iconic lines, all supported by one of Hollywood’s greatest scores. Dan Sherman will provide the backstory to the film, place it within the studio production system, and tell how it developed from an unfinished script when shooting began into the Best Picture of 1942. The talk will include clips from the movie, discuss its actors and creators, and highlight reasons for its appeal.
Biography: Dan Sherman is a recently retired economist, who earned a doctorate at Cornell University. He has taught more than 25 courses to lifelong learning groups in the Washington area, mostly on topics related to musical theater. Dan has given us classes on Frank Lloyd Wright, Oscar Hammerstein, George Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein, and Stephen Sondheim.
LLI Coordinator: Ann Cain
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F22-045, Highlights of Art History: Exploring the World of Egypt, Greece and Rome!
October 21, 2022, 01:30 pm to 03:00 pm
Location: NVCC Parrish Hall, 10731 Campus Dr, Manassas, VA 20109 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 150
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Professor Rosemary Gallick
Description: In this presentation, Dr. Gallick will lead us on a visual tour of the ancient wonders of the Egyptian, Greek and Roman worlds. Starting with background information, our tour will include the discovery of writing in pictures and in hieroglyphics. It will highlight ancient Egypt, the pyramids, and the lives of the several pharaohs. Moving on to the Greek civilization, we will navigate the Aegean seas and see the pre-Greek creation of landmarks of democracy and the importance of the Parthenon on the acropolis. Finally, our whirlwind tour will conclude with Rome in its artistic and imperialistic glory.
Time will be allotted for questions and answers near the end of the presentation.
Biography: Rosemary Gallick is a Professor of Art and Art History at Northern Virginia Community College, where she has taught since 1996. She holds a bachelor’s degree in art from the State University of New York and a master’s from Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York. Her artwork has exhibited throughout the United States and in local venues including Fairfax, Reston and Vienna, Virginia. She had a solo show at the Village Green Gallery in Vienna in November of 2020. Ms. Gallick was awarded the 2017 Featured Artist for the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Community College Systems and again in 2020!
LLI Coordinator: Craig Johnston
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F22-046, Barbershop Harmony—The ”Other” Uniquely American Musical Art Form
November 4, 2022, 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas, Va 20110 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 150
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Presenters and performers: The program will be presented and performed by The Bull Run Troubadours (BRT). Included will be performances by both the Chorus and Barbershop Quartets. The BRT represents the Prince William Chapter of the National Barbershop Harmony Society, and has performed in Prince William County in many venues for over 50 years. The program moderator will be Dan Sobrio, an LLI member, and a 35 year BRT member with chorus and quartet singing experience.
Description: The Bull Run Troubadour Chorus moderator, Dan Sobrio, will introduce performances by the chorus and by two of its member quartets. The class will also include discussion of the origins of Barbershop music, the difference between a chorus and a quartet, the unique four-part chord structure of Barbershop music, and how the parts combine to produce its harmonies. Come and hear some old favorites in this entertaining and educational presentation of authentic American music!
Biography: The Bull Run Troubadours represent the Prince William Chapter of the National Barbershop Harmony Society and have performed in Prince William County for over 50 years. They sing at hospitals, museums, senior centers, malls, churches, historic sites, baseball & basketball games, festivals, stores, just about anywhere and everywhere! They sing for anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, and deliver Singing Valentines, including once, some years ago, to LLI-Manassas.
Dan Sobrio, the moderator and group leader, is an LLI member, and is a 35-year BRT member with chorus and quartet singing experience. He retired after 35 years of combined military (Army) and Federal Service, including positions with the Civil Service Commission, Office of Personnel Management, and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). At the time of his retirement, he served as the VA’s National Director of Labor-Management Relations and was the recipient of the VA’s Distinguished Career Award.
LLI Coordinator: Craig Johnston
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F22-047, These Precious Days: A Writing Workshop
October 17, 2022, 01:30 pm to 03:30 pm
Additional dates: Oct 24, Oct 31, Nov 7, Nov 14, Nov 21, Nov 28, Dec 5
Location: Bethel Lutheran Church, 8712 Plantation Lane, Manassas 20110 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 30
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Mary Winsky
Description: How precious this time of our lives can be if we stop to reflect in writing all we are still learning and living. Ann Patchett captures some of her life’s intimate wisdom and events in her fresh collection of brilliant and funny essays. Her warm, witty new anthology, These Precious Days, will provide us with lots of ideas for our own minds and hearts.
We will read several selections for each class, discuss their techniques and content, then bridge into our own lives and imaginations by writing our pieces of choice. We’ll write and share, giving positive feedback in class, enriching each other, and expanding our skills.
Please get the paperback large print edition to make it easy to reference in discussion, and read the introduction and first three essays – through page 50 – for our first class.
Biography: Mary Winsky will facilitate as she has learned to do from writers of all ages and stages in her many collaborative years as teacher and fellow writer.
LLI Coordinator: Elizabeth Crawford
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F22-048, Engineering and Creativity: Where Music and Math Meet
December 1, 2022, 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas, VA 20110 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 150
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Raffi Kasparian
Description: Raffi Kasparian will build on his earlier presentation to Thomas Jefferson High School in which he combined topics of mathematical polyhedra and musical composition. He will include his polyhedral discoveries which he presented in 2017 at the Bridges Math Art International Conference and weave them together with a slide presentation and a live piano performance of some of his own music.
You can see examples of his performances on his YouTube channel by clicking here or you can see examples of his polyhedra work by clicking here and by clicking here
Biography: Dr. Raffi Kasparian, D.M.A., has given solo and collaborative performances throughout the United States, Canada and the Philippines. His solo piano repertoire includes standard classical piano compositions by the great masters, as well as his own original compositions and arrangements of well-loved popular and sacred music. He performs frequently with accomplished instrumentalists and choral ensembles. In 2019, he performed Rachmaninoff’s second piano concerto with the Manila Symphony Orchestra in the Philippines. Most recently in 2022, he performed Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with the Fairfax City Band.
Raffi Kasparian’s strong interest in piano was suddenly ignited at the relatively late age of 14, after listening to and falling in love with recordings by Josef Hofmann of romantic-era piano concertos. Two years later, he entered college double-majoring in his two passions – math and music. Soon after, however, it became obvious that piano performance was his true calling. Kasparian obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Music from California State University at Northridge, his Master’s degree from the Peabody Conservatory, and his Doctorate in Musical Arts degree in piano performance from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He later continued in the Artist Diploma program at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Dr. Kasparian retired in 2015 from the United States Army, after serving 20 years as pianist for The United States Army Band (Pershing’s Own) Men’s Chorus and 4 years with The United States Army Field Band Soldiers’ Chorus. Currently, Kasparian accompanies the acclaimed Adult Symphonic Chorus of the Fairfax Choral Society. In addition to his performing schedule, he coaches advanced piano students.
For the last twenty years, Raffi has maintained a dual career as concert pianist and software engineer. After taking a computer programming class while at Peabody, his love of math found an outlet in computer programming as a hobby. At the advent of the dotcom era, he was hired as a software developer by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), where he remained until the company split. He is now with SAIC’s sister company Leidos.
On his own, Raffi continues to pursue his passion for recreational mathematics. In 2017, he presented his mathematical discoveries in the area of polyhedra, where he highlighted his pioneering and innovative software tool Archimedean at the Bridges 2017 International Conference for Math and the Arts at the University of Waterloo in Canada. Serendipitously, while there he met a fellow musician with whom he later collaborated on a project to translate and analyze music from a mathematical perspective. Raffi’s love of math and music is coming full circle.
LLI Coordinator: David Pace
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Current Events
F22-051, Great Decisions 2022, Part 2
October 27, 2022, 01:30 pm to 03:00 pm
Additional dates: Nov 3, Nov 10, Nov 17
Location: Bethel Lutheran Church, 8712 Plantation Lane, Manassas 20110 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 80
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Dan Leahy
Description: Great Decisions is America’s largest discussion program on world affairs. The program model involves reading the Great Decisions Briefing Book, watching the DVD, and meeting in a Discussion Group to consider the most critical global issues facing America today. Part 2 of the 2022 program will discuss the following topics: Outer Space, Drug Policy in Latin America, Myanmar and ASEAN, and the Quad Alliance.
In addition to the schedule above, make-up of the 4th Class for Part 1 will be on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, from 10:30 to noon.
NOTE: The briefing book can be purchased directly from the Foreign Policy Association at www.fpa.org
Biography: Dan Leahy is a retired federal government employee with over 30 years of public service in the area of international trade. Dan is a longtime member of LLI and taught the Current Events Discussions and Great Decisions classes for several years. He is a past president of LLI and currently is a member of the program committee.
LLI Coordinator: Dan Leahy
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F22-052, Inflation and Unemployment?
October 4, 2022, 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Bethel Lutheran Church, 8712 Plantation Lane, Manassas 20110 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 65
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Mitch Rachlis, Ph.D.
Description: The trade- off between inflation rates and unemployment is difficult to evaluate because so many factors can affect both. In this presentation, Mitch Rachlis will discuss the most common factors that have been suggested and tell why it is so hard to determine which are most important and how they interact as our dynamic economy develops over time. As a result, policy decisions by the Federal Reserve, Congress and the President are always contentious.
Biography: Mitchell Rachlis Ph.D. (economics) worked for the U.S. Government Accountability Office for 30 years specializing in financial and housing market policy issues and regulation. As an Assistant Director he provided technical assistance to other analysts, developed specialized analyses, and wrote reports. He taught economics and finance at local universities and published professional articles on risks in local mortgage markets, statistical appraisal methods, statistical testing for discrimination in financial markets, and financial literacy. He has offered several courses at LLI dealing with economics and political economic issues. He is Treasurer of LLI and on the LLI Board.
LLI Coordinator: Jo Anne Renton
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F22-053, Continuation of Discussion of Current Issues in Our System of Justice with Judge William Jarvis
December 16, 2022, 01:30 pm to 03:30 pm
Location: Prince William County Courthouse, 9311 Lee Avenue, Manassas, VA. Courtroom 4, Third Floor (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 126
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Honorable William Jarvis, Judge of the General District Court.
Description: Judge Jarvis returns, by popular demand, to continue his educational and thought- provoking discussion of issues in our legal system, including our rights in court and on the street. Policing practices are certainly in the news and remain a popular topic of discussion. More specific topics will depend on what is happening when our class takes place in December. Whatever the issue, we can rely on Judge Jarvis’s insights to help us develop informed opinions.
Biography: Honorable William Jarvis, Judge of the General District Court, graduated from Old Dominion University in 1985 with bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and criminal justice. After graduate work at the University of Virginia, he attended George Mason University School of Law, graduating in 1991. He served as a prosecutor in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, from 1992 to 1998, and in Marion County, Florida, from 1998 to 2002. Upon returning to Virginia in 2002, he served as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in Prince William County until 2012, when he was elected to the bench. Throughout his career, he has taught search and seizure law as well as other topics to police, attorneys, and other judges.
LLI Coordinator: Craig Johnston
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Experience Buffet
F22-061, The Enduring Enchantment of the Alhambra
November 4, 2022, 01:30 pm to 03:00 pm
Location: Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas, Va 20110 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 150
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Joyce Johnston
Description: Not only is the Alhambra the most important surviving remnant of the last Muslim kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula (711—1492), it’s now the most popular landmark in Spain. It’s composed of not just one palace, but three—all different, all beautiful, all with magnificent views of Grenada. A Moorish poet described the building as a pearl set in emeralds. Plus, it boasts lush gardens so lovely that their Arabic name means “Paradise.” It’s famous worldwide as the setting for The Thousand and One Nights and in the U.S. as the inspiration for Washington Irving’s Tales from the Alhambra. Even mathematicians honor its tiles as the only known example of all 17 of the tessellation variations of a single wallpaper group. There’s even an asteroid belt named for it
Over the years Joyce Johnston has shared several of her travels with our members, and we can all look forward to this visit to the Alhambra.
Biography: A lifetime of travel as an Army brat has given Joyce Johnston a love of unexplored places and a taste for adventure. Now retired from public school teaching after 37 years, she has extended her love of diverse cultures to her multinational students at George Mason University and to frequent travel with her husband Craig. In previous LLI Experience Buffets, Joyce shared her experiences in venues as varied as the cities of Eastern Europe and the beauties of life above the Arctic Circle. Now she is delighted to add the highlights of one of the most enchanting, intricate places she has ever visited.
LLI Coordinator: Craig Johnston
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F22-062, Alice Mergler and the Arts
October 20, 2022, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Bethel Lutheran Church, 8712 Plantation Lane, Manassas 20110 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 80
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Presenter, Alice K. Mergler
Description: During the first hour of this class Alice Mergler will speak about her life that intertwined family responsibilities with her love of art, poetry and education. Alice lives in Historic Manassas in a house that was the precursor to Osbourn and Osbourn Park High Schools. The Osbourn sisters, Eugenia and Fanny, lived in and provided education from their home on Grant Ave. As Alice’s six sons aged, she was able to join the workforce as an educator herself, teaching English and history at what is now Unity Reed High School and language arts and drama at Parkside Middle School. Alice’s environs have been enriched over the years with the building of not only an arts community but other gifts as well. Are you familiar with Historic Manassas with the gazebo on Grant Avenue and Sudley Road, “Arts Alive,” the E.G. Smith Baseball Park, The Spilled Ink Open Mike Project, the Poet Laureate’s Circle or the Prince William Co. Arts Council? If so, you should know that Alice and her family had a hand in every one of these qualitative life amenities for the Greater Manassas Area.
During the second hour of the class, Alice will speak about the benefits of having an Arts Council for Prince William Co., the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park. She will invite members of the Arts Council to the class to present their fall and winter 2022 programs. She will also have a Poet Laureate present to talk about the two years each of the five laureates served in that role. This class will leave you energized and inspired by the way the arts can be an integral part of all of our lives.
Biography: Alice K. Mergler earned a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and a master’s from George Mason University. She taught English and American history at the high school level and guided the process for Parkside Middle School to become a Cambridge International School. She was the originator and producer of a television cable series featuring area groups and individuals related to the arts. She serves on the poetry arm of the Arts Council and founded the Prince William Poet Laureate Circle, which chooses a Prince William County Poet Laureate every two years. In 2021 she sponsored the program “In the Company of Laureates,” where state, regional and local poet laureates gave their readings. Alice was honored in 2018 with the Seefeldt Award for Arts Excellence—the Pioneer Award for Lifetime Contributions to the Arts. She is a lifetime member of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She also continues to learn at LLI-Manassas as a faithful member of Mary Winsky’s writing class.
LLI Coordinator: Nancy Osborne
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F22-063, The Romantic Danube—a Photo Travelogue
September 26, 2022, 01:30 pm to 03:00 pm
Location: Bethel Lutheran Church, 8712 Plantation Lane, Manassas 20110 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 150
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Mike Ahern
Description: The longest river in western and central Europe, the Danube courses through ten countries and four capital cities. From earliest times, it provided a route between Europe and Asia for traders and armies as empires rose and fell along its length. The region has inspired generations of artists, poets and musicians, and the timeless architecture of grand European cities like Prague, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest. In this photo travelogue, Mike Ahern will share his recent experience of a classic river cruise on this beautiful and historic river.
Biography: Mike Ahern holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry and served 26 years in the US Army. He has taught at the US Military Academy at West Point, 12 years with Prince William County Schools, and as an adjunct for George Mason University’s College of Education. He is a former Washington Post Teacher of the Year for Prince William County Schools. He is a former president of LLI-Manassas and has taught many classes for LLI.
LLI Coordinator: Mike Ahern
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Health & Fitness
F22-071, The Six Pillars of Brain Health
December 12, 2022, 01:30 pm to 03:00 pm
Location: Bethel Lutheran Church, 8712 Plantation Lane, Manassas 20110 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 80
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Paul Singh, AARP Volunteer
Description: It’s never too late to take charge of your brain health! In this interactive session, you will learn about the six pillars of a brain-healthy lifestyle, share your brain-boosting activities, and be inspired by others. This session is a good overview for LLI members interested in improving their brain health and will provide you with actionable steps you can take along with resources to learn more.
Biography: Our presenter, Paul Singh, after winning the Toastmasters humorous speech contest over 14 times all the way up to the national level in 2003, started his stand-up comedy career. Along the way, he has performed at all the top venues in the world, including the Improvs, Comedy Zone, and Yuks Yuks in Canada. In 2014 he started Happiness 101 workshops at various senior centers, and in 2016 he joined AARP and started giving Brain Health and Decluttering and Downsizing presentations. He is representing the AARP in this presentation
LLI Coordinator: Jo Anne Renton
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F22-072, And the Beat Goes On: Cardiology Care in Manassas
November 2, 2022, 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Bethel Lutheran Church, 8712 Plantation Lane, Manassas 20110 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 80
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Raza Naim Yunus, MD
Description: Expert cardiologist Dr. Raza Yunus will be your guide through the journey of cardiac health. He will cover prevention and treatment of coronary artery disease, heart attack care, and what to expect in the cardiac catherization lab.
Biography: A graduate of Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, with a residency: at George Washington University Hospital, Washington, D.C., Dr. Raza Yunus joined UVA Cardiology in January 2022 after completing his fellowship in interventional cardiology at George Washington University Hospital. His clinical interests include diagnosis and treatment for conditions such as coronary artery disease, congenital heart disease, arrhythmia, atherosclerotic heart disease, carotid artery disease, congestive heart failure, vascular disease, heart attack prevention and care, and critical care medicine. Dr Yunus is board certified in internal medicine, cardiology, echocardiography and nuclear cardiology and board eligible in interventional cardiology. Patients of Dr. Yunus will have access to a wide range of comprehensive treatment options to meet their unique cardiac care needs.
LLI Coordinator: Kelly Espy
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History
F22-081, The Wonders of Ancient Ephesus
November 29, 2022, 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Istanbul, eight times zones away, via Zoom
Maximum class size: 300
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Serif Yenen
Description: The ancient city of Ephesus in southwestern Turkey offers a sense of timelessness. Situated on the Aegean sea, it was a flourishing seaport in ancient times and is replete with symbols of its Greek and Roman past. Structures from the ancient world found there today include the Temple of Artemis (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World), the Library of Celsus, theaters, sophisticated aqueducts, public baths, and Hadrian’s Temple.
Ephesus also had strong ties to early Christianity. It was home for a time to the Apostle Paul, and he wrote epistles to the Ephesians. The Apostle John is said to have lived his last years there, along with the Virgin Mary. Ephesus is also believed to be one of the sites of the Seven Churches of the Revelation.
Biography: Serif Yenen is a travel specialist, tour guide, travel writer, filmmaker, international keynote speaker and lecturer. He wrote Turkish Odyssey in English, the “first guidebook of Turkey ever written by a Turk.” Yenen gives lectures about travel and Turkish history and culture, the majority of which are for academic communities. His guidebooks are used as textbooks or are on suggested reading lists at various universities, and his articles and columns are published in international magazines and national newspapers. He has given numerous presentations for the Smithsonian Associates, both in person at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. and also via Zoom. He has also been a guest speaker for the Penn Museum in Philadelphia, the Boston University, the University of Washington, the American Turkish Societies, the Boston Cultural Festival, Stormont Parliament Building in Belfast, various libraries and many more places. Serif Yenen has been leading tours in Istanbul and all over Turkey since 1989. He was designated Best Tourist Guide of the year 2006 by Skalite and has been asked to give guiding services to such noted people as Pope Benedict XVI, Oprah Winfrey, Matt Lauer and Lester Holt (Today Show-NBC). He continues his signature tours with a focus on culture, history and culinary experiences.
This is the third LLI presentation by Serif Yenen. The first, on the history of Istanbul, was a highlight of the Fall 2021 semester, and his talk on Göbekli Tepe in the Spring 2022 semester was acclaimed to be among the best programs which LLI-Manassas has ever presented.
LLI Coordinator: David Pace
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F22-082, The Victorian Internet: How the Telegraph Changed 19th Century Society
December 1, 2022, 01:30 pm to 03:00 pm
Location: Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas, VA 20110 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 150
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Mike Ahern
Description: The internet has clearly changed our 21st-century world. But, in fact, people in the 19th century experienced a similar revolution with the invention of the telegraph. With striking parallels to our modern Internet, this invention shrank the world, spurred economies, and upset the fabric and mores of Victorian society. Based on the book The Victorian Internet by Tom Standage, this presentation will explore how inventors, visionaries, eccentrics and con artists used the telegraph to create a 19th-century internet. (Note: this class is a reprise of a presentation originally given by Mike and Elaine Ahern for the Fall 2016 program).
Biography: Mike Ahern holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry and served 26 years in the US Army. He has taught at the US Military Academy at West Point, 12 years with Prince William County Schools, and as an adjunct for George Mason University’s College of Education. He is a former Washington Post Teacher of the Year for Prince William County Schools. He is also a former president of LLI-Manassas and has taught many classes for LLI.
LLI Coordinator: Mike Ahern
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F22-083, The Fauquier History Museum at the Old Jail — docent led tour
September 30, 2022, 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Location: The Fauquier History Museum, 10 Ashby Street, Warrenton, Virginia 20186 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 20
Fee: $6.00, payable at the door
Speaker/Host: Museum Docent
Description: The Fauquier History Museum at the Old Jail (formally known as The Old Jail Museum) is located in the old Fauquier County prison complex. It was erected in 1808 as the 6th jail in Warrenton. In 1966, the complex was closed and taken over by the Fauquier Historical Society to be preserved as a history museum.
The exhibits at the museum have been described as” authentic and well displayed,” local history at its best. The 19th and early 20th century jail cells compel visitors to consider what prisoners endured. A new exhibit focuses on the experience of runaway enslaved persons, and an interactive map points to many aspects of African-American life in Fauquier County before and after emancipation. Also, some say that the museum is haunted. Visitors have reported meeting a number of “long time residents,” the ghosts of former inhabitants. Come and see for yourself.
This will be a docent led tour of the museum. Because of that, there is a reduced admission fee of $6.00 payable at the door. Please be advised that the tour involves climbing stairs.
An optional post-tour add on: pick up lunch from one of Warrenton’s restaurants and meet fellow LLI members at Pearmund Cellars, just 15 minutes away at 6190 Georgetown Rd, Broad Run, VA 20137
Biography: Museum docent
LLI Coordinator: Valerie Kenyon Gaffney
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F22-084, Native American: The Invisible Foundation of the Modern World
October 10, 2022, 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Dar al-Noor Islamic Community Center, 5404 Hoadly Rd, Manassas, 20112 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 120
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Jim McClellan, Ed.D (Hon.), Ph.D.
Description: The contributions of Native Americans to our world today are many. Yet we largely ignore what humanity has gained from them. This lecture discusses the role played by the first peoples of the Americas in advancing civilization and explores why we choose to ignore it.
Biography: Dr. McClellan joined the faculty of Northern Virginia Community College in 1975 and was promoted to the rank of full Professor in 1984. He has also served as an adjunct on the faculty of George Mason University. Dr. McClellan has taught both history and political science at NOVA, and since November of 2006, he has been serving as the Dean of the Liberal Arts for NOVA.
In 2019, he was named the first Fellow of Dundee and Angus College and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Education degree from Abertay University of Dundee, Scotland.
Professor McClellan is the author of numerous articles published in magazines and journals. He is also the author of Historical Moments: Changing Interpretations of America’s Past, a two-volume examination of American history, the second edition of which was published in 2000 by McGraw-Hill.
LLI Coordinator: Valerie Kenyon Gaffney
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F22-085, History of the Appalachian Trail
September 21, 2022, 01:30 pm to 03:00 pm
Location: Bethel Lutheran Church, 8712 Plantation Lane, Manassas 20110 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 100
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Mills Kelly
Description: The Appalachian Trail is America’s oldest long distance multi-state hiking trail. First proposed by Benton MacKaye in 1921, construction of the trail began in 1925 and was completed in 1937. In one hiking season today, as many as 4 million people set foot on the AT for a few hours, a few days, or to walk the entire 2,192 miles. Why has this trail become so popular, and what does it tell us about the history of 20th century America? These questions and more will be at the core of this class.
Biography: Mills Kelly is a professor of history at George Mason University and executive director of the Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media located there. He grew up here in the Northern Virginia area and has been teaching at Mason since 2001. His current research is focused on the history of the Appalachian Trail, and he is also the host of “The Green Tunnel Podcast,” a show about the history of the trail.
LLI Coordinator: Christina Cinalli
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Lifestyle
F22-091A, Holiday Flower Arranging, Group A
December 14, 2022, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Flower Gallery of Manassas, 10816 Sudley Manor Drive, Manassas, VA 20109 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 20 per group
Fee: $40.00 – pay upon arrival – in either cash or check
Speaker/Host: Doug Burroughs
Description: Doug will demonstrate how to choose flowers, greenery, and other materials for a floral arrangement and will supply each student with the materials needed to make an arrangement to take home to enjoy.
This is a one-session class that repeats in order to accommodate more members. Sign up for the time you prefer.
The last date to register for the class is December 1, 2022. If you are waitlisted for the class, the coordinator will let you know if space becomes available.
Biography: Doug Burroughs has owned the Flower Gallery of Manassas for over 40 years. His career began in high school when he had a job delivering flowers after school. He now works in all aspects of the floral business, including designing floral arrangements. Doug has taught classes for garden clubs, civic groups and numerous classes for LLI.
LLI Coordinator: Jill Gentry
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F22-091B, Holiday Flower Arranging, Group B
December 14, 2022, 01:00 pm to 03:00 pm
Location: Flower Gallery of Manassas, 10816 Sudley Manor Drive, Manassas, VA 20109 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 20 per group
Fee: $40.00 – pay upon arrival – in either cash or check
Speaker/Host: Doug Burroughs
Description: Doug will demonstrate how to choose flowers, greenery, and other materials for a floral arrangement and will supply each student with the materials needed to make an arrangement to take home to enjoy.
This is a one-session class that repeats in order to accommodate more members. Sign up for the time you prefer.
The last date to register for the class is December 1, 2022. If you are waitlisted for the class, the coordinator will let you know if space becomes available.
Biography: Doug Burroughs has owned the Flower Gallery of Manassas for over 40 years. His career began in high school when he had a job delivering flowers after school. He now works in all aspects of the floral business, including designing floral arrangements. Doug has taught classes for garden clubs, civic groups and numerous classes for LLI.
LLI Coordinator: Jill Gentry
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F22-092, What’s Stopping You? Moving past life’s obstacles
November 18, 2022, 01:30 pm to 03:00 pm
Location: Bethel Lutheran Church 8712 Plantation Lane Manassas VA
Maximum class size: 80
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Louise Noyes
Description: Have you ever said to yourself, “Gee, I wish I could…. (fill in the blank)”? In my journey of discovery following my spouse’s death, I’ve met people of all ages who have expressed disappointment at what they have not done. I’ve heard “I’ve always wanted to play the guitar, or speak a foreign language, or write my family history.” If these laments sound familiar to you, I’m here to ask, “What’s stopping you?” My intention is to share my own quests for skills and experiences that my professional and family life put on hold. I’ll focus on wildlife photography but touch on other ventures in the hope that my experiences will entertain, but also nudge you off that fence you may be sitting on so you can finally pursue those passions. Note: There will be a drawing for one of Louise’s beautiful 2023 calendars.
Biography: Louise Noyes spent her early years in Seattle, Washington, and in the foothills of the Cascade Range. A graduate of the University of Washington, she spent 36 years in positions of increasing responsibility in the Intelligence Community, responsible for economic analyses of China and Russia and for politico-military issues in the Middle East. Along the way, she picked up a business degree, post-graduate studies in economics, and some proficiency in German, Russian, and Chinese. Her husband of 47 years passed away in mid-2019. And now she’s very busy trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up.
LLI Coordinator: Nancy Osborne
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F22-093, Sorting Fact from Fiction Online
September 29, 2022, 01:30 pm to 03:00 pm
Location: Zoom
Maximum class size: 300
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Larry Lipman
Description: Do you believe everything you see online? There are plenty of sensationalized headlines, misleading stories and even complete falsehoods circulating on the Internet, making it hard for even the most discerning reader to sort fact from fiction. There is so much information – and misinformation – out on the Internet today. How do you know what to believe? Which news sources can you trust? Is the image real or has it been altered? Let AARP help you identify what is fact and what is not. Armed with valuable tools and resources, you will be able to verify online content and spot red flags. This program will equip you with valuable tools and resources to help you stay safe online.
Biography: Larry Lipman is a volunteer with AARP Virginia. He is a former executive editor for state news with the AARP Bulletin, a former contributing editor with AARP The Magazine, a former Washington correspondent with Cox Newspapers, a former adjunct professor of journalism at The George Washington University, a former president of the Regional Reporters Association and a former president of The National Press Club. He is also a former president of the Washington chapters of the Society of American Magicians and the International Brotherhood of Magicians.
LLI Coordinator: Jo Anne Renton
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F22-094, Intergenerational Financial Planning
October 5, 2022, 01:30 pm to 03:00 pm
Location: Bethel Lutheran Church, 8712 Plantation Lane, Manassas 20110 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 80
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Reid Howard, CFP, MBA; Gary Howard, CFP, JD; and Eric Hiatt, CFP
Description: As life expectancies increase and families span multiple generations, intergenerational financial planning is critical for those who wish to remain financially independent, while also assisting with the financial goals and needs of children, grandchildren and charities. This class will offer an overview of the benefits of such planning, including: sustaining your own lifestyle; maintaining control, access and protection of wealth assets; and the tax efficient transfer of wealth according to your wishes. In more detail, you will learn about gifting strategies, use and funding of 529 accounts and Roth IRAs, Inherited IRA rules, and the importance of account ownerships and beneficiary designations — both the benefits and the pitfalls. Intergenerational financial planning usually starts with the parents, but requires sharing of values and information with children and grandchildren as appropriate. Invest the time to attend this class — knowledge is empowering.
Biography: Reid, Gary, and Eric are all Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) practitioners, with a comprehensive financial planning and wealth management practice in Gainesville. With over 45 years of experience in the financial services profession, all three are members of the Financial Planning Association (FPA), and the team has presented numerous classes for LLI.
Reid Howard received a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech with a concentration in personal financial planning and earned his master’s in business administration (MBA) at the University of Manchester in England.
Gary Howard graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science from Binghamton University and received his law degree (JD) from the College of William and Mary. He is a member of the Virginia State Bar.
Eric Hiatt also received a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech with a concentration in personal financial planning.
LLI Coordinator: Mike Ahern
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F22-096, Wine & Food Pairing – Three Creeks Winery
October 12, 2022, 02:00 pm to 03:30 pm
Location: Three Creeks Winery
18548 Harmony Church Rd. (Rt. 704)
Hamilton, VA 20158 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 50
Fee: $35
Speaker/Host: Speaker: Ashton Lough, Winemaker
Description: Three Creeks is a relatively new winery specializing in producing European-style wines from French varietals grown in Virginia’s climate and soil. Three Creeks wines are made by Ashton Lough, a well-respected winemaker in Virginia. Three Creeks is located in Hamilton, in Loudoun County, along the banks of three creeks. The tasting will include six wines, with accompanying food pairing.
Biography: Ashton Lough has a master’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Georgia. He completed all of the doctoral course work but decided to pursue a career in commercial wine making. His underlying philosophy in wine making is balance, that is getting the relationships between fruit, acid and tannins (red wines) in the right concentrations to deliver the best tasting experience possible for each particular vintage. Without balance wines become one dimensional. Making wine fulfills Ashton’s love of both science and art.
LLI Coordinator: Jerry Fisher
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F22-097, Rise and Shine with Chef Becky: A Breakfast Menu
November 7, 2022, 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Manassas Park Community Center, 99 Adams St., Manassas Park, VA 20111 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 20
Fee: $15.00 to be paid at the door
Speaker/Host: Chef Becky Waldman
Description: Chef Becky will demonstrate four exciting autumnal breakfast recipes in this curated cooking demonstration style class. She will highlight healthy seasonal ingredients that make these savory and sweet dishes pop with flavor. The breakfast dishes include: sweet potato, sausage and herb frittata with aioli, pumpkin pie overnight chia pudding, fresh crepes filled with spice apple compote, and zucchini fritters with chili lime yogurt cream.
Biography: Becky Waldman was born to American parents living in Venezuela when that country was a vibrant land of rich culture and beauty. Both of her parents were educators, who fostered a desire in Becky to share her knowledge and experiences with others. Upon receiving her bachelor’s degree, she taught Spanish and ESOL in a middle school in Prince William County. While she welcomed the opportunity to teach, her artistic leanings later led her to seek the creativity she had found in cooking since childhood. She left the public school system and went to a culinary school where she had the opportunity to go to the White House for the “Chefs Move to Schools” program supported by Michelle Obama. Upon completion of her culinary schooling, Becky worked in many high-end restaurants in Washington, D.C. and southern Florida. When she moved back to Virginia, she discovered a way to combine her knowledge and love of food with her commitment to educating the community about the infinite ways to make food flavorful, healthy, and environmentally sustainable. Now she is doing just that through her cooking programs for youngsters, demonstrating how to use the ingredients she finds at the Manassas Farmer’s Market on Saturdays and giving classes to those of us in the older set at LLI.
LLI Coordinator: Nancy Osborne
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F22-099, Ranger Talks from Distant National Parks, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area
October 19, 2022, 01:30 pm to 03:00 pm
Location: Zoom from San Francisco
Maximum class size: 347
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Ranger Fatima Colindres
Description: Join Ranger Fatima on a virtual discovery of the many hidden stories behind the transformation of Crissy Field Marsh. Learn how it went from a vast rich wetland to the city’s first landfill, to a military airfield, and now a beloved Recreation Area. Explore Fatima’s favorite Golden Gate National Recreation Area sites and learn why she loves them and recommends them to new park visitors.
NOTE: This is the same class which was originally scheduled to be held on April 19, 2022 but was cancelled due to illness.
Biography: Fatima Colindres is an interpretive park ranger at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area at the Presidio of San Francisco. She is part of the Community Outreach team and is passionate about providing a rich national park experience to people who traditionally have not visited the parks. She is a seasoned ranger who has worked with the National Park Service for 23 years. She specializes in working with underrepresented communities in the Bay Area of San Francisco. Fatima uses her natural storytelling abilities to engage Spanish and English-speaking audiences of all ages in entertaining and interactive experiences that help them gain a new love and respect for their national parks.
LLI Coordinator: David Pace
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Our Neighborhood
F22-101, A Land of Field and Farms
October 12, 2022, 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Manassas Park Community Center, 99 Adams St., Manassas Park, VA 20111 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 100
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Mary Helen Dellinger
Description: Manassas is known as many things: a railroad town, Civil War battlefield, suburb of Washington D.C. or even a small southern town. While all of those descriptions fit in one way or another, this town has deep roots as a farming community. The first people to come here were drawn by the land and settled here to farm. Agriculture underpinned the local economy in its earliest years and was a mainstay of life for many people through the mid-20th century. This presentation will look at the history of farming in Manassas, sharing the stories of some local farms and families and tracing the path from staple crops to dairy farms. As an extra treat, the curator will bring objects and images from the Manassas Museum collection to share with participants.
Biography: Mary Helen Dellinger is a native of Manassas Park, Virginia. She attended public schools there before going on to Mary Washington College, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in American History. She also holds a master’s in history from George Mason University. From 1990 to 2011 she worked as the curator of the Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center. In 2012 she was named the curator of the Manassas Museum System, the position she still holds today. In her role as curator, Dellinger is responsible for the care of the museum’s extensive collection of objects on area history, managing the exhibition program, working with student interns and volunteers, and overseeing the care of seven other historic properties owned by the City of Manassas. She is an active member of the Virginia Association of Museums, Christ Lutheran Church, and the University of Mary Washington Alumni Association.
LLI Coordinator: Nancy Osborne
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F22-102, National Museum of the Marine Corps
October 14, 2022, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Location: National Museum of the Marine Corps, 18900 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Triangle, VA 22172 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: no maximum
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Volunteer docents and hospitality ambassadors
Description: The National Museum of the Marine Corps is a lasting tribute to U.S. Marines–past, present, and future.
LLI members will be on their own to explore the various galleries, where museum volunteers are stationed to enhance the visitor’s experience
These include Legacy Walk, which provides a quick introduction to more than two centuries of Marine Corps history.
Making Marines follows new recruits from their induction through the 12 weeks of boot camp. In this gallery, visitors can experience a motivational speech from a Drill Instructor, heft a fully loaded pack, and test their aim on the M-16 Laser Rifle Range.
American Revolution explores the first century of the Marine Corps from the creation of the Marine Corps at a tavern in Philadelphia by members of the Continental Congress through the combat actions of Marines on both sides of the American Civil War.
Global Expeditionary Force follows the Marines into Latin America and across the Pacific to the Far East as part of the expansion of American interests.
Four exhibits, World War I, World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam, deliver stories about combat operations, significant contributions to the war, individual Marines, special units, morale, and air support.
Tickets for an optional viewing of the museum’s 38 minute signature film We. The Marines are available for $9.00.
Biography: N/A
LLI Coordinator: Valerie Kenyon Gaffney
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Religion & Philosophy
F22-111, The First 100 Years of Christianity
September 22, 2022, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Additional dates: Nov 17
Location: Zoom
Maximum class size: 300
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: The Rev. James Hughes
Description: In this series Father Jim is examining the role of history, literature and culture in the development of Christianity, explaining how it flourished as it did. “Early Christianity as an Independent Movement” will be presented in the first of the two classes this semester. The final class of this series will be on November 17th covering “The Transition to the Ancient Church” and “Fifteen Reasons for the Success of Early Christianity.”
Biography: The Rev. James Hughes holds bachelor’s degrees in both philosophy and the classics from St. Charles Seminary, Philadelphia. He holds master’s degrees in both biblical studies and systematic theology from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. He was ordained a priest in the Roman Catholic Church in 1982. More recently he studied at the Virginia Theological Seminary, which led to being received as an Episcopal priest in December of 2016. Currently he serves as an associate priest at Trinity Episcopal Church in Manassas. Father Jim has taught 15 classes for LLI-Manassas. His first two classes were about the Library of Congress, where he worked for 23 years in the Visitor Services Office. Since then he has taught classes on the Book of Job, Biblical Inspiration, Inerrancy and Canonicity, and a variety of Preacher Stories and Biblical Portraits. LLI– Manassas is very fortunate to have Father Jim always willing to teach those of us eager to learn from him.
LLI Coordinator: Nancy Osborne
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F22-112, Getting to Know the Different Faiths in Our Community: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
October 3, 2022, 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 8001 Barrett Drive, Manassas 20109 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 100
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Bishop Stephen Johns
Description: This class is a continuation of the series started several years ago. The instructors for each faith are asked to cover their history, their concept of God, the texts that they use, their worship service , their mission in the community, the role of women and their religious holidays. A guided tour of the facility will follow.
In this class the instructors will tell us how The Church of Jesus of Christ of Latter-Day Saints is centered on Jesus Christ. They will recount the events and preparations that took place before the Church was organized on April 6, 1830, as well as what the Church teaches about God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. They will speak to the books of scriptures that the Church still uses today. The instructors will also talk about how the Church encourages its members to be active participants in their communities all over the world. Then, in addition to describing a typical Sunday worship service, they will explain the prominent role of women within the Church.
Biography: Stephen Johns, a life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, will be the lead presenter. He served as a missionary in Peru for two years and recently finished a five-year term as a bishop for the Church here in Manassas, where he has lived with his wife and four children since 2010.
Other presenters will include missionaries assigned to the Manassas Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
LLI Coordinator: Nancy Osborne
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F22-113, Like Flowing Water: An Introduction to Chinese Religions and Ethics
December 2, 2022, 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Bethel Lutheran Church, 8712 Plantation Lane, Manassas 20110 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 80
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Dr. Joel Harrison, Ph.D.
Description: How do we respond to tragic circumstances? What about when things don’t go our way? Does human suffering have any meaning? Our responses to these questions are deeply shaped by our cultural heritages and the religious traditions that underpin them. Chinese folk traditions have their own ways of addressing these questions that provide the basis for interesting and fruitful cross-cultural conversations. In this class, Dr. Joel Harrison will provide an overview of two such traditions, Confucianism and Daoism, in the context of responses to these questions.
Biography: Dr. Joel Harrison is an associate professor of religion at Northern Virginia Community College in Manassas. He holds a Ph.D. in religious studies from Northwestern University. His areas of academic interest and expertise are in social theories of religion and the relationship between religious dogma and culture. At NOVA, he teaches introductions to the academic study of religion, Eastern and Western religious traditions, American religions, and Islam.
LLI Coordinator: Jo Anne Renton
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Science & Technology & Nature
F22-121, Are You Smarter than Your Smart Phone?
September 16, 2022, 01:30 pm to 03:00 pm
Location: NVCC Parrish Hall, 10731 Campus Dr, Manassas, VA 20109 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 20
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: Makenzie Givens, President of NVCC Phi Theta Kappa Honors Club and student members
Description: Back by popular demand, “Are You Smarter Than Your Smartphone” is a workshop that aims to promote smartphone literacy of LLI-Manassas members. This workshop has been repeated over several semesters to showcase new features that smartphone manufacturers add to their devices. Participants will be put in groups that are specific to their device types and proficiency levels. The participants will have plenty of opportunity to request personalized help with any concerns about their smartphones.
NVCC instructors will guide LLI members to become competent in the functional operations on their devices. NVCC student mentors can cover such topics as establishing calendars, increasing photography skills, using apps to find a misplaced smartphone, working with apps, reading eBooks, and listening to audiobooks. LLI members should bring their fully charged cell phones and questions.
Biography: The NVCC mentors are students who are enrolled mostly in Computer Sciences and IT fields. Their club is Phi Theta Kappa or PTK and it is an honor society. The main goal of PTK is to recognize and celebrate students who have achieved academic excellence while also helping them grow to be diligent leaders for the future. With that in mind, the new club President of the Woodbridge PTK chapter, Makenzie Givens, has a goal that includes all that and creating an engaging and helpful community.
LLI Coordinator: Christina Cinalli
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Clubs
F22-141, Mah Jongg Club
September 13, 2022, 01:30 pm to 03:30 pm
Additional dates: Every Tuesday
Location: Jukebox Diner, 8637 Sudley Road, Manassas 20110. In the Canterbury Village Shopping Center, across from Novant Health UVA Prince William Medical Center (P.W. Hospital). (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 40
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: N/A
Description: Every Tuesday from 1:30-3:30 p.m., we meet for fun, laughter, and a good time. All levels of experience are welcome from beginners through master players. For more information, contact Kathy Fowler at the link “Email a question to a coordinator” below.
Biography: N/A
LLI Coordinator: Kathy Fowler
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F22-142, Book Club
September 28, 2022, 01:30 pm to 03:00 pm
Additional dates: The last Wednesday afternoon of each month.
Location: Bethel Lutheran Church, 8712 Plantation Lane, Manassas 20110 (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 100
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: A variety of individuals will lead the meeting.
Description: Books, both fiction and non-fiction, are selected by the members, usually one or two months in advance. Members are encouraged to lead a discussion. The discussions are educational, interesting and fun for all, including those who may not have finished reading the current book.
Biography: n/a
LLI Coordinator: Lianetta Ruettgers
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F22-143, Lunch Club
October 6, 2022, 12:00 pm to 02:00 pm
Additional dates: Nov 11, Dec 2
Location: Juke Box Diner, 8637 Sudley Road, Manassas 20110.
In the Canterbury Village Shopping Center, across from Novant Health UVA Prince William Medical Center (P.W. Hospital). (Google Maps link)
Maximum class size: 100
Fee: None
Speaker/Host: We all speak.
Description: The purpose of the club is for LLI members to enjoy a meal together and become better acquainted with fellow members. There is no planned program or topic–we just chat about anything that comes to mind. Participants pay for their own lunch.
In general, we meet on the first Friday of each month, but exceptions are made due to conflicts.
Biography: n/a
LLI Coordinator: Mary Foster