Learning in Retirement at Iona University

LIRIC is run by a group of dedicated, creative volunteers. We govern ourselves through an executive board and formulate our own by-laws, policies and procedures. The LIRIC board is made up of the officers and the chairs of our standing committees. Our curriculum committee designs our programs and arranges for presenters from among our members, Iona faculty and the community at large. All members of LIRIC are encouraged to suggest courses, speakers and presenters and to assist in arranging for them. Our Hospitality committee provides us with daily coffee and cookies, and arranges several luncheons each year, some of which are free. Other volunteers edit or write articles for our newsletter, collect membership checks, arrange trips and special events, even stuff envelopes for mailings. LIRIC also has a paid director who is our liaison with Iona University and oversees daily operations.

Director

• Maureen Arnold

Board Members

• President: Linda Levine 
• Vice Presidents: Chris McCormick
• Secretary: Lannie Spalding
• Treasurer: Martha Johnson
• Comptroller: Lois Lovisolo
• Member Liaison: Beth Hofstetter & Dawn Vetrano

Committee Chairs

• Curriculum: Linda Whetzel
• Hospitality: Gail Apfel
• Membership: Lorraine Rosano
• Newsletter Editor: Monica Grey
• Special Events: Kathy Sheldon
• Trip Coordinator: Dianne Heim

Representatives at Large

• Jeanne de Saint Ouen
• Kevin Morris
• Jim Fauvell

Course Descriptions: Monday

Chair Yoga

7 sessions
October 5, 19, 26;
November 2, 9, 16, 30.
9 – 10 a.m.

Pre-registration and an additional fee of $56.00 are required for this class. The registration form is at the back of this catalog.

Chair yoga is a gentle practice performed while seated and/or with the support of a chair. It is suitable for all levels and is especially beneficial for those seeking to improve flexibility, strength, balance, and body awareness. Standing poses may be included with the chair used for support, and classes often incorporate breathing techniques and meditation to enhance focus, relaxation, and mental clarity.

Instructor: Shannon DiNota, a former professional dancer and dance teacher, is a certified yoga teacher and chair yoga instructor who has worked closely with Yoga 4 Cancer, a leading program in specialized oncology yoga.

Newsworthy Topics

7 sessions
October 5, 19, 26;
November 2, 9, 16, 30.
10:30 – 11:45 a.m.

Each session will delve into timely topics such as world and political events, medicine, science, the digital world, and human rights. We encourage your active participation in this current events course and will leave plenty of time for civil discourse and a lively, informative, cordial discussion.

• October 5: Science w/Joyce Kent
• October 19: Avoiding E-Scams and Digital Deception w/Rob Kissner
• October 26: Medicine w/Adrienne Weiss-Harrison
• November 2: Demystifying Chat GPT and AI: Part ll w/Rob Kissner
• November 9: Lawyers for the Rule of Law w/Roger Stavis
• November 16: Human Rights in Today’s World w/Robert Bernstein
• November 30: The US-Canada Relationship: What’s at Stake? w/Fred Towers

Class Representative: Joyce Kent

Canasta: Supervised Play

7 sessions
October 5, 19, 26;
November 2, 9, 16, 30.
10:30 – 11:45 a.m.
Meets in the small Lapidus room.

This class is open only to those who took Canasta last year or who play at an intermediate level. There’s no need to register with Lori Blumenfeld, the instructor. Simply show up, ready to play and hone your existing skills.

Classical Music’s Greatest Orchestral Works—Series 3

7 sessions
October 5, 19, 26;
November 2, 9, 16, 30.
12:30 – 1:45 p.m.

Gregory Koster, who has been a student of classical music since the early ‘60s, continues his LIRIC presentation of The 30 Greatest Orchestral Works. We will begin each week with a presentation by Prof. Robert Greenberg of The Great Courses, and then watch performances of other similar works. This third series will cover seven works by Tchaikovsky, Smetana, Dvořák, Rimsky-Korsakov, Richard Strauss, and Mahler – as we move into the High Romantic period. It just keeps getting better!

Play-Reading

7 sessions
October 5, 19, 26;
November 2, 9, 16, 30.
2 – 3:15 p.m.

In Play-Reading, one of LIRIC's most enduring course offerings, participants do "Table-Reads" of plays by (mostly) well-known American and European authors, exploring the dialogue, character dynamics and overall flow of the stories. Everyone gets a chance to participate, and no formal acting experience is required. A fun time is guaranteed! 

In keeping with LIRIC's fall theme of France, Play-Reading will offer two comedic farces by Jean-Baptiste Moliere, "Tartuffe" and "The Imaginary Invalid."

Following last semester's first-ever collaboration with Iona University's Theater Ensemble, we will also be reading George Bernard Shaw's "The Widowers' Houses," which will be produced in mid-November. Members will be encouraged to attend one of the four performances at Iona's Doorley Hall, followed by a "Talk-Back" discussion with the cast and Director.

Presenter: Andrew Harrison, a retired trial lawyer and longtime theater enthusiast, will lead the class, assisted by other Member-Presenters, who each volunteer to read one of the plays in advance, offering insights about that play as we embark on the Reading.

Mah Jongg

7 sessions
October 5, 19, 26;
November 2, 9, 16, 30.
2 – 3:15 p.m.
Meets in the small Lapidus room.

Mah Jongg, a tile-based game thought to have originated in China several hundred years ago, spread throughout the world during the twentieth century. While it involves a degree of chance, it is a game of skill, strategy and calculation – all of which you will learn in this class which is open not only to beginners who want to learn the fundamentals but also to those who already know how to play. You will need a 2026 Mah Jongg card, which can be purchased from Amazon, the Mah Jongg League, or at a local store.

Instructor: Linda Levine

Course Descriptions: Tuesday

NOTE: Tuesday classes do not begin until October 21.

Elections, AI, and the Battle for Your Brain: Media Literacy in 2026

6 sessions
October 6, 13, 20, 27;
November 3, 10.
10:30 – 11:45 a.m.

Ever feel like the news is trying to mess with your head? It is — and this course shows you exactly how. This six-week in-person presentation pulls back the curtain on how TV, newspapers, podcasts, social media, and AI are all competing to shape what you think about the 2026 elections. And trust me — it's a fight worth understanding.

Over five pre-election weeks, we'll demystify AI platforms, decode the most sensational cable segments from Fox and CNN, dissect how The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal can spin the exact same political story in completely different directions, and explore how deepfake videos, AI-generated ads, and charismatic podcasters can quietly tilt public opinion before you even realize it's happening.

Presenter: Jim Fauvell taught at New York Institute of Technology for 39 years and was chair of their Communication Arts Department for 15 years.

Exploring Islam

2 sessions
November 17;
December 1.
10:30 – 11:45 a.m.

Join Sister Ola Nosseir, founder of Our Common Beliefs, as she gives us a crash course on Islam 101: An Introduction to the Core Beliefs and Practices of Islam on November 17. The following week Professor Rachana Umashankar, Chair of Iona’s Department of Religious Studies, will speak about her scholarly focus, Sufism: The Spiritual and Mystical Dimension of Islam.

Canasta for Beginners

8 sessions
October 6, 13, 20, 27;
November 3, 10, 17;
December 1.
10:30 – 11:45 a.m.
Meets in the small Lapidus room.

Canasta, a card game in the rummy family, originated in Uruguay and is the Spanish word for “basket” (you gather a “basket-full” of 7 cards for a canasta!). Popular in the US in the early 1950s, it is enjoying a revival as card players discover/rediscover it. Enmeshed in melding, freezing, baiting and signaling, Canasta engages cognitive activity to analyze, strategize and plan tactical moves - all well rewarded when you “go” Canasta!

Since there will be no beginner class in the Spring, join now to learn.

Instructor: Lori Blumenfeld played Canasta in the ‘50s as a teenager and loved the game. She took a refresher course several years ago and discovered that not only did she still love it, but she made new friends with whom she continues to play weekly.

Fall Cornucopia

8 sessions
October 6, 13, 20, 27;
November 3, 10, 17;
December 1.
12:30 – 1:45 p.m.

As always, this series of unrelated single talks offers an eclectic mix of topics — something for everyone!

• October 6: How to Include Technology in Your Talk: Sharing Your Stories an Ideas Using Google Slides
  Presenter: Syd Schneider
• October 13: La Belle Vie: French White Wines — and Cheeses Too A Wine and Cheese Tasting
  Presenters: Greg Koster and Viviane Ponslet
• October 20: AI Andalusia — The Golden Age of Spain through 1492
  Presenter: Robert Damast, historian
• October 27: 107 Days at Sea: The Journey That Changed Everything
  Presenter: Jill Chalsty, Author, Founder of Overcoming Obstacles
  (Download her book in advance at www.packetsofhope.com)
• November 3: Want to Play? The Story of Chess and Other Games
  Presenter: Jo-Anne Weinberg
• November 10: The Making of the National Parks: An American Idea (Part I)
  Presenter: Dianne Heim
• November 17: An Overview of Heart Disease
  Presenter: Dr. Ralph D’Angelo
• December 1: The Facts About Organ, Eye, and Tissue Donation
  Presenter: Stacy Connell, Director Volunteer Services, LiveOnNY

Basic Spanish and Beyond

8 sessions
October 6, 13, 20, 27;
November 3, 10, 17;
December 1.
1:50 – 3 p.m.
Meets in the small Lapidus room.

This is a multi-level Spanish language acquisition course highlighting pronunciation, conversation, grammar, readings on varied subjects, and – songs. If you can’t say it, you can sing it!

Instructor: Rosalie Hollingsworth taught Spanish and bilingual subjects in New York City for some 35 years. Afterwards she taught Spanish classes to retired teachers at the UFT. She brings her expertise in both language and music to LIRIC with this class.

Writers’ Workshop

6 sessions
October 6, 13, 20;
November 10, 17;
December 1.
2 – 3:15 p.m.

Please Note: There are no writing classes on October 27 or November 3.

For those of you who don't get the "writers itch" until later in the day, the Writers' Workshop is for you. Unleash your dormant Tolstoy and Hemingway in a relaxed informal setting. There is a writer within all of us.

Facilitator: Chuck Miller, the facilitator of the Writers' Workshop, is an educator with five decades of experience. He enjoys writing and creating an environment in which others are encouraged to re-engage with their writing talent.

Let’s Get Moving!

2 sessions
October 27;
November 3.
2 – 3:15 p.m.

These two classes, one on Chair Pilates and one on Dancing to the Tunes of the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s, have one goal in mind: teaching you how to safely move your body so you can use it for whatever makes you happy! Pilates builds core strength, improves balance, and enhances flexibility, and dancing gives you a sound workout and a rollicking good time!

Please wear clothing you can move in comfortably, including socks for the Pilates class and sneakers (if possible!) for the dance class.

Instructor: Melanie Kraut is a professional performing artist who has worked as an actor/singer/dancer on stage and television. She is also a certified Pilates instructor working with a wide range of clients in Larchmont.

Course Descriptions: Wednesday

Wednesdays are special at LIRIC. Classes are suspended that day to allow for additional intellectual and artistic pursuits off site. The familiar is intertwined with the new in often off-beat adventures to expose our members to things and places that enrich and feed the mind as well as the soul.

This fall we have one trip in the planning stage – to the New York Botanical Garden – and one already set! On November 11, join Barbara Davis, New Rochelle City Historian and Executive Director of the Westchester County Historical Society, for a bus trip through New Rochelle, and back into the 17th and 18th centuries. As she puts it, “Traces of New Rochelle’s early settlement by the French Huguenots can still be seen today,” and you’ll see them before stopping for lunch at Encore Bistro in Larchmont. Vive la France!

Trip planner Dianne Heim likes to travel far and near. With so many things to see in this world, Dianne would like to share with you some of those in our own backyard.

Course Descriptions: Thursday

A Memoir Writing Workshop

8 sessions
October 8, 15, 22, 29;
November 5, 12, 19;
December 3.
9 – 10:15 a.m.

Right now, you can begin to re-experience, and reflect on, the work of your life – the exciting, wonderful, and even the unhappy events. Your grandmother’s cookies. The house that nurtured you for years and years. A special and meaningful person. A dear friend. A diving catch at a Little League baseball game. A crocheted afghan made with Mom, Grandma or Aunt Bea.

In this class, we sit and recall events that to others might mean little, but to ourselves, are filled with richness. Through recollection, reflection, creation, you can return to a special day, a week, a year --- experiences that you are invited to remember and put on paper via memoir writing.

Instructor: Bill Wertheim has taught both memoir writing and poetry workshops throughout Westchester for over ten years. His BA degree in English Literature is from Columbia University; he holds an MA degree from SUNY at Stony Brook, an MSW degree in Social Work from Hunter College, and is currently at work producing a volume of his poetry and writing his own memoirs.

New York City Neighborhoods: All Around the Town

4 sessions
October 8, 15, 22, 29.
10:30 – 11:45 a.m.

This four-session class will take us all around the town, from Manhattan's Lower East Side, Alphabet City and East Village to Brooklyn's Prospect Park and Greenwood Cemetery and then from Staten Island to Queens with its history and diversity.

Presenter: Lois Lovisolo, who generally gives us informative classes on the history and geography of countries of the world, brings us home to New York.

An Edible History of Humanity

4 sessions
November 5, 12, 19;
December 3.
10:30 – 11:45 a.m.

The history of mankind can be a narrative of kings and queens, of the rise and fall of empires, of political, philosophical or technological advancements. In this 4-session course (based on the book by Tom Standage), we'll look at the role of food in human history. Food represents more than the nutrition we need to survive and we’ll look at how food production, food availability, and food trade have driven some of the key events in history and influenced the world socially, economically, and politically.

Presenter: After teaching in the NYC public schools for more than 38 years, Shirley Radcliffe ended her pre-retirement at Manhattanville College. She then brought her considerable talents to LIRIC where she's offered a variety of courses, among them: classical and modern Art, pre-Columbian History, the Development of the English Language, American English, the History of Greece, Happiness, Nordic Mythology, and more.

Women of France

4 sessions
October 8, 15, 22, 29.
12:30 – 1:45 p.m.

This series of four lectures will cover the stories – personal, political, and otherwise – of famous, and sometimes forgotten, women of France (even if not always French) from the 1100s to the 1900s. Each made her mark on history in a different, and dramatic, way.

Presenter: Mark D. Fichtel, raconteur extraordinaire, who has given us classes on Lesser-Known Presidents, the Papacy, and Imperial Russia, returns to give us more tales.

Academically Speaking

3 sessions
November 5, 12, 19.
12:30 – 1:45 p.m.

Join these Iona faculty members as they discuss their passions, projects, and books.

• November 5: Alcohol, Stress, and Cognitive Control: Impacts on Executive Function
  Presenter: Dr. Mary Jane Skelly, Assistant Chair, Psychology and Neuroscience Department
• November 12: Revisiting David Riesman’s “The Lonely Crowd” in Contemporary American Politics and Culture
  Presenter: Dr. Marcus Aldredge, Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology
• November 19: Banking on Beauty: Commissioning Mid-Century Modern Architecture in California and Beyond
  Presenter: Dr. Adam Arenson, Institute for Thomas Paine Studies
  (You can purchase Dr. Arenson’s book, for $45.)

Literary Discussion

7 sessions
October 8, 15, 22, 29;
November 5, 12, 19.
2 – 3:15 p.m.

Read with us some of the famed literature of France, starting with the classic novel Madame Bovary by Flaubert, the subject of an obscenity trial after publication! Week 4 we look at the 20th century novel Suite Française by Némirovsky. The setting is the early days of occupied France, and the author completed 2 of 5 parts before her arrest and subsequent death in Auschwitz.

You might want to read both parts, but we will be discussing only Part II, "Dolce". Our final week, we will read the sweet and quirky Fresh Water for Flowers by Perrin, a French and international bestseller. It's long but engaging so we suggest some summer reading! We’ll round out our sessions with short works written by some of France’s greatest authors. The Westchester Library System owns many copies of the full-length books including some eBook and audiobook versions. Paper copies of short works will be distributed the week before they will be discussed. We encourage all attendees to read the works but it is not required. All are welcome!

• October 8: Madame Bovary, by Gustave Flaubert
  Presenter: Linda Whetzel
• October 15: Stories by Guy de Maupassant
  Presenter: Kobie Thakar
  (Paper copies will be distributed October 8)
• October 22: Stories by Zola and Balzac
  Presenter: Barbara Hickey
  (Paper copies will be distributed October 15)
• October 29: Suite Française, Part II, Dolce, by Irène Némirovsky
  Presenter: Debby Rubin
• November 5: Stories by Camus, Sartre, de Beauvoir
  Presenter: Beth Hofstetter
  (Paper copies will be distributed October 29)
• November 12: Stories by Modiano, Sagan, and Aymé
  Presenter: Elizabeth Ward
  (Paper copies will be distributed November 5)
• November 19: Fresh Water for Flowers, by Valérie Perrin
  Presenter: Kathleen Townley

Class Representative: Beth Hofstetter

Art: Feelin’ A Bit Sketchy

7 sessions
October 8, 15, 22, 29;
November 5, 12, 19.
1:50 – 3 p.m.
Meets in the small Lapidus room.

Pre-registration is required as class size is limited. Please contact the instructor at jccuddy@gmail.com by September 21 for a fuller course description and to pre-register. 

During the fall semester, the LIRIC art class will explore the art of sketching with graphic pencils, charcoal, colored pencils, and other dry media.

• Weeks One and Two: Portraiture. The class will delve into the basics of creating a good portrait using dry media only.
• Week Three: Police Sketch Artist. Building upon the first two sessions, we will each assume the role of police sketch artist.
• Week Four: Landscape. The class will explore the rich wealth of Asian traditional arts to create a landscape or small village scene.
• Weeks Five and Six: Forgery for fun and profit. We will attempt to “forge” the work of a famous painter, creating a scene that is in that artist’s style but not actually copying the artist’s work.
• Week Seven: Urban Sketching. The class will tackle sketching a local urban area.

Instructor: The class will be led by John Cuddy, who is a member of LIRIC and a local artist who works primarily in watercolors and pen & wash.

Course Descriptions: Friday

Note: Friday classes begin on October 23 and meet in the Henry Auditorium in the LaPenta School of Business building on Iona’s New Rochelle campus.

Lecture Series: Vive la France!

6 sessions
October 23, 30;
November 6, 13, 20;
December 4.
1 – 2:15 p.m.

Our Friday lecture series explores the long history of French influence on culture, philosophy, and political traditions throughout the world. As America’s semi quincentennial year comes to a close, our last Friday lecture will describe our first international partnership: the military, diplomatic, and financial support our fledging nation received from France.

• October 23: A Brief History of Paris: from Tribal Island Fortress to City of Lights
  Presenter: Robert Henrey
• October 30: What is the School of Paris? Matisse, Modigliani, Chagall, and Beyond 
  Presenter: Beth Gersh-Nesic, Art Historian
• November 6: Foundational Figures of French Philosophy: A Progress\ion of Paradox
  Presenter: Dr. Alex Eodice, Profession Emeritus of Philosophy, lona University
• November 13: Napoleon at War: Strategy, Soldiers, and Sex
  Presenter: Dr. Michael Hughes, Associate Professor of Modern European History, lona University
• November 20: The Rise of the French Far-Right, the Future for France and the Future for Europe
  Presenter: Dr. Charles Battaglini, Adjunct Professor of Political Science, lona University
• December 4: The French Connection and American Independence
  Presenter: Alice Grant, Teacher of History

Class Representative: Lois Lovisolo

Film Course: French Films, Ooh la la, Voila!

6 sessions
October 23, 30;
November 6, 13, 20;
December 4.
2:30 – 4:45 p.m.

France is the birthplace of cinema, transitioning the medium from a passing scientific novelty into an imaginative art form. In Paris in 1895, the Lumière brothers screened their first film, but dismissed this “moving picture” as a fad. It would take Georges Méliès a magician and theater impresario, to recognize the new medium’s potential and effectively applying the principles of stage illusion to cinematic story-telling and establishing one of the world’s first movie theaters. 

France has remained one of the leaders of cinematic innovations, elevating film to an art form and honoring filmmaking with world-renowned celebrations like the Cannes Film Festival.

• October 23: The Grand Illusion, 1937, 1 hour 54 minutes
  Considered by many to be one of the greatest films ever made and a prototype for prison-escape films.
• October 30: The 400 Blows, 1950, 1 hour 39 minutes
  The story of a boy rebelling against his contemptuous parents, this is a key example of the French New Wave.
• November 6: The Two of Us: Le Vieil Homme et l’Enfant, 1967, 1 hour 26 minutes
  To protect their young son from the Nazis, a Jewish couple sends him to live with an elderly Catholic couple where he has to hide his Jewishness.
• November 13: La Vie en Rose, 2007, 2 hours 20 minutes
  Starring Marion Cotillard, who won an Oscar for her performance, this is a musical rendition of the life of Edith Piaf.
• November 20: Amour, 2012, 2 hours 7 minutes
  The lives of retired music teachers Georges and Anne are changed when Anne has a stroke. Winner of both the Palm D’Or and an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
• December 6: The Triplettes of Belleville, 2003, 1 hour 20 minutes
  A satirical animated film about an elderly French woman whose grandson is kidnapped. She joins her dog Bruno and an old dance team to rescue him.

Instructor: Film enthusiast Cheryl Passavanti lectures on contemporary topics using film as text. In New Rochelle, she taught middle school language arts, film courses for teachers, and adult ed classes. She also presents at LIRIC and lectures at the Scarsdale Senior group.

Class Representative: Lorraine Rosano

Four Tuesdays: June 2, 9, 16, 23

All Classes Meet At:
Temple Israel of New Rochelle
1000 Pinebrook Boulevard
New Rochelle, NY

YESTERDAY AND TODAY

11 a.m. — 12:15 p.m.

LUNCH

12:15 p.m. — 1 p.m.

A SUMMER SAMPLING

1 p.m. — 2:15 p.m.

Yesterday AND Today

11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

These history-oriented classes cover the centuries — and the globe.

June 2 - Securing the Rights Won in the American Revolution: "A Republic If You Can Keep it" (Benjamin Franklin)

Presenter: Alice Grant, Teacher of American History

June 9 - My Name is Stefan

Presenter: Leah Rozenfeld Sills

June 16 - American Muslim Family Life: An Immigrant Story

Presenter: Ola Nosseir, Founder of Our Common Beliefs

June 23 - Denmark and its Self-Governing Islands — Greenland and Faroe

Presenter: Lois Lovisolo

A Summer Sampling

1 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

An electric mix that will teach and entertain — something for everyone!

June 2 - Everyday Improvisation

Presenter: Mike Amori, Teacher and Improviser

June 9 - John Singer Sargent, and Society Portraiture

Presenter: Beth Gersh-Nesic Art Historian, Director, New York Arts Exchange

June 16 - What is an Attitude of Respect?

Presenter: Galen Barry, Iona University Philosophy Department

June 23 - Performance: A Bird in the Hand

Presenter: Actress Michèle LaRue returns with stories from The Gilded Age

Monday

Chair Yoga

8 sessions

March 2, 9, 16, 23

April 6, 13, 20, 27.

9:00 – 10:00 a.m.

Pre-registration and an additional fee of $65.00 are required for this class. The registration form is at the end of this catalog.
Chair yoga is a gentle practice performed while seated and/or with the support of a chair. It is suitable for all levels and is especially beneficial for those seeking to improve flexibility, strength, balance, and body awareness. Standing poses may be included with the chair used for support, and classes often incorporate breathing
techniques and meditation to enhance focus, relaxation, and mental clarity.

Instructor: Shannon DiNota, a former professional dancer and dance teacher, is a certified yoga teacher and chair yoga instructor who has worked closely with Yoga 4 Cancer, a leading program in specialized oncology yoga.

Great Decisions
 

8 sessions

March 2, 9, 16, 23;

April 6, 13, 20, 27.

10:30 – 11:45 a.m.

Great Decisions is a course sponsored by the Foreign Policy Association that encourages people to learn about and discuss U.S. foreign policy. Each session includes a 30-minute video for background and then a discussion led by LIRIC members. Although it is not required, participants who wish to get the most from the course should purchase a copy of the Great Decisions Briefing Book ($35.00 + shipping) and do the readings for each class. Copies may be ordered directly from The Foreign Policy Association by calling 1-800-477-5836 between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, or by ordering online at www.fpa.org/great_decisions.

• Facilitators and dates for the following topics will be announced.
• America and the World: Trump 2.0 Foreign Policy
• Trump Tariffs and the Future of the World Economy U.S.-China Relations
• Ruptured Alliances and the Risk of Nuclear Proliferation
• Ukraine and the Future of European Security
• Multilateral Institutions in a Changing World U.S. Engagement of Africa

• The Future of Human Rights and International Law
   

  Coordinator/Class Representative: Linda Creary

Canasta: Supervised Play
 

8 sessions

March 2, 9, 16, 23;

April 6, 13, 20, 27.

10:30 – 11:45 a.m.

This class is limited to 30 participants and is open only to those who took Canasta in the fall or who play at an intermediate level. A class for beginners will be offered in the fall.

To register: Please email instructor Lori Blumenfeld at lorib1940@gmail.com or call her at 914-776-1789 (home) or 914-589-0713 (cell).

Classical Music’s Greatest Orchestral Works – Series 2
 

8 sessions

March 2, 9, 16, 23;

April 6, 13, 20, 27.

12:30 – 1:45 p.m.

Gregory Koster, who has been a student of classical music since the early ‘60s, continues his LIRIC presentation of The 30 Greatest Orchestral Works. We will begin each week with a presentation by Prof. Robert Greenberg of The Great Courses, and then watch performances of similar works. This second series will cover eight works by Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Brahms, and Tchaikovsky – as we move from the Late Classical period to the Early and High Romantic. It just keeps getting better!

Play-Reading
 

8 sessions

March 2, 9, 16, 23;

April 6, 13, 20, 27.

2:00 – 3:15 p.m.

Play-Reading will continue our long-standing practice of doing "Table-Reads" of plays by (mostly) well-known American and European authors, exploring the dialogue, character dynamics and overall flow of the stories. Everyone gets a chance to participate and no formal acting experience is required. A fun time is guaranteed!
 

We will begin the Spring semester with a serious multi-layered drama, "Ghosts," by Henrik Ibsen. In a "first" for LIRIC, all will be able to attend a local performance of the play, by the Iona University Theater Ensemble, on Sunday afternoon April 26, 2026, at Iona's Doorley Hall, followed by a "Talk-Back" discussion with the cast!
 

Leavening the seriousness of "Ghosts," we will follow with two full-length comedies: "The Philadelphia Story," by Philip Barry, and "You Can't Take It With You," by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, and a one-act comedy, "Why Cupid Came to Earl's Court," by Cosmo Hamilton.

Presenters:

Andrew Harrison, a long-time member of the Play-Reading class, and Alan Dindas, a former teacher of English who directed student productions, will lead the class.

Studio Lessons in Art

8 sessions

March 2, 9, 16, 23;

April 6, 13, 20, 27.

2:00 – 3:15 p.m.

This course will teach you both drawing and painting, using the supplies you bring to class. Because of the room size, it is limited to 24 students (with a waiting list), so if you’re a budding artist – or wish to become one -- sign up quickly! To register contact the instructor: patmsuth@optonline.net.

Bring a drawing pad, a 2B charcoal pencil, and a kneaded eraser to the first two

Bring a canvas board (any size) and acrylic paints or watercolors to the remaining
sessions

Instructor: Patricia M. Sutherland was a founding member of The Reilly League of Artists, and its president for ten years. A full time artist, she has her studio in New Rochelle. For further information log onto: patmsuth.smugmug.com

Tuesday

Science Corner
 

7 sessions

March 10, 17, 24;

April 7, 14, 21, 28.

10:30 – 11:45 a.m.

Join us for a diverse group of presentations that explore the future, present, and past in the world of science.

Class Representative:

Joyce Kent, who coordinated this series, is the retired chairperson of Science at New Rochelle High School where she introduced a course on Bioethics.

Spring Salmagundi

7 sessions

March 10, 17, 24;

April 7, 14, 21, 28.

12:30 – 1:45 p.m.

This series of unrelated single talks, interrupted on March 24th for a Special Event –Just Desserts – offers an eclectic mix of topics.

Basic Spanish and Beyond

6 sessions

March 10, 17;

April 7, 14, 21, 28.

1:50 – 3:00 p.m

This is a multi-level Spanish language acquisition course highlighting pronunciation, conversation, grammar, readings on varied subjects, and – songs. If you can’t say it, you can sing it!

Instructor:

Rosalie Hollingsworth taught Spanish and bilingual subjects in New York City for some 35 years. Afterwards she taught Spanish classes to retired teachers at the UFT. She brings her expertise in both language and music to LIRIC with this class.

Writers’ Workshop

4 sessions

April 7, 14, 21, 28

2:00 – 3:15 p.m.

Please Note: This class does not begin until April 7th
For those of you who don't get the "writer's itch" until later in the day, the Writers' Workshop is for you. Unleash your dormant Tolstoy and Hemingway in a relaxed informal setting. There is a writer within all of us.

Facilitator:

Chuck Miller, the facilitator of the Writers' Workshop is an educator with five decades of experience. He enjoys writing and creating an environment in which others are encouraged to re-engage with their writing talent.
 

Wednesday

Wednesdays are special at LIRIC. Classes are suspended that day to allow for additional intellectual and artistic pursuits off site. The familiar is intertwined with the new in often off-beat adventures to expose our members to things and places that enrich and feed the mind as well as the soul.

We have some exciting trips in the planning stages – a museum in March, a New Jersey sculpture ground in April, and a boat ride in June, when it will be warm again! Trip planner Dianne Heim likes to travel far and near. With so many things to see in the world, Dianne would like to share with you some of those in our own backyard.

Thursday

A Memoir Writing Workshop

8 sessions

March 5, 12, 19, 26;

April 9, 16, 23, 30.

9:00 – 10:15 a.m.

Right now, you can begin to re-experience, and reflect on, the work of your life – the exciting, wonderful, and even the unhappy events. Your grandmother’s cookies. The house that nurtured you for years and years. A special and meaningful person. A dear friend. A diving catch at a Little League baseball game. A crocheted afghan made with Mom, Grandma or Aunt Bea.

In this class, we sit and recall events that to others might mean little, but to ourselves, are filled with richness. Through recollection, reflection, creation, you can return to a special day, a week, a year — experiences that you are invited to remember and put on paper via memoir writing
 

Instructor:

Bill Wertheim has taught both memoir writing and poetry workshops throughout Westchester for over ten years. His BA degree in English Literature is from Columbia University; he holds an MA degree from SUNY at Stony Brook, an MSW degree in Social Work from Hunter College, and is currently at work producing a volume of his poetry and writing his own memoirs.

American Art from 1700 to 2020

4 sessions

March 5, 12, 19, 26.

10:30 – 11:45 a.m

In general, Art History offers a lens through which to view human history. Artists function like canaries in coal mines. They are the sensitive observers who react to the seismic shifts of their times. In this series of talks American artworks from the 1700s to the 2020s will be presented in chronological order to put them into the context of important events and topics in American history.

(Because slides are sometimes difficult to see, a list of the artworks will be provided so
you can access the art before class.)

Presenter:

Shirley Radcliffe, in addition to being LIRIC’s president, is one of our most popular presenters. After teaching in the New York City public schools for more than 38 years, and ending her pre-retirement at Manhattanville College, she brought her considerable talents to LIRIC where she’s offered courses in literature, language, dining, clothes, happiness, pre-Columbian history, art, being WEIRD, Chaucer’s Prologue to The Canterbury Tales as history, a history of the world in 6 glasses, and most recently What We Did in Bed: A Horizontal History.

What Makes it Great? Discover the Hidden Art in Television Drama and Comedy

2 sessions

April 9, 16.

10:30 – 11:45 a.m.

In this two-week, fast-paced workshop, you’ll transform the way you experience television. Participants dive into one powerful dramatic series and one sharp situation comedy to answer a deceptively simple question: What makes a television drama or comedy truly exceptional?

Have you ever finished an episode and thought, “Wow, that was brilliant—why?” This workshop pulls back the curtain on how today’s best TV is made, revealing why truly great shows are closer to fine art than to background entertainment

If you want to understand why certain series feel deeper, smarter, or more powerful and you’re curious about how media shapes beliefs, values, and public conversations this class is for you. You’ll gain practical tools to judge for yourself when a show is merely entertaining and when it genuinely rises to the level of art.

Presenter:

Jim Fauvell taught at New York Institute of Technology for 39 years and was chairperson of their Communication Arts Department for 15 years.

The French Revolution – Tale of Tragically Unintended Consequences
 

2 sessions

April 23, 30.

10:30 – 11:45 a.m.

This two-week class will first examine the causes of the revolution -- an explosive mix of fiscal profligacy, callousness, and idealism – then move on to the bloodshed, from the Estates General to Robespierre to the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte

Presenter:

Robert Henrey, an Oxford graduate whose lifelong scholarly interest lies in the fields of history and linguistics, has given LIRIC talks on both, and now returns to speak about the French Revolution.

Of Blood & Beauty: The Story of Imperial Russia, 900-1918

7 sessions

March 5, 12, 19, 26;

April 9, 16, 23.

12:30 – 1:45 p.m.

This seven–lecture series will take you on an exploration of the dark mysteries of Imperial Russia: from its founding as a pagan kingdom in the 900s; to its conversion to Christianity; through its often brutal growth in power and prestige; to its final, tragic, and sudden end in bloodshed. Along the way, we’ll introduce its many colorful rulers and explore its cultural developments, especially its art and architecture.

Presenter

Mark D. Fichtel; raconteur extraordinaire, who has given us series onLesser-Known Presidents and The Papacy, returns to give us tales of Imperial Russia.

Class Representative:Chris McCormick

Literary Discussion: Early America

7 sessions

March 5, 12, 19, 26;

April 9, 16, 23.

2:00 – 3:15 p.m.

In his seminal work, Common Sense, Thomas Paine inspired colonists to “begin the world over again” and form a constitutional republic. Our readings for the spring semester are set in this time of upheaval as Americans rebelled against the monarchy and fought to create a new nation. We’ll explore the ways in which literature reflects and informs our shared heritage, our collective memory of the events that shaped our country.

The Westchester Library System owns many copies of the full-length books including some eBook and audio book versions. Paper copies of short works will be distributed the week before they will be discussed. Attendees are encouraged, but not required, to read the works in advance; all are welcome!

Class Representative: Beth Hofstetter

Mah Jongg

7 sessions

March 5, 12, 19, 26;

April 9, 16, 23.

2:00 – 3:15 p.m.

Meets in the small Lapidus room

Mah Jongg, a tile-based game thought to have originated in China several hundred years ago, spread throughout the world during the twentieth century. While it involves a degree of chance, it is a game of skill, strategy and calculation – all of which you will learn in this class which is open not only to beginners who want to learn the fundamentals but also to those who already know how to play. We will be using the 2025 Mah Jongg card until the 2026 card becomes available in April. Cards can be purchased from Amazon, the Mah Jongg League, or at a local store.

Friday

Lecture Series: America’s Birthday!

6 sessions

March 6, 13;

April 10, 17, 24;

May 1.

1:00 – 2:15 p.m.

Classes meet in Romita Auditorium in Ryan Library on the New Rochelle Campus

Call it the semiquincentennial or the 250th anniversary of the country’s independence, but join us to celebrate America in music and to explore social, political and historical aspects of the nation. (And be sure to view Billy Budd in the Film Course at 2:30 on April 10th so you can fully appreciate Bob Lacey’s lecture on the political questions raised by it on April 17th.)

Class Representative: Lois Lovisolo

Film Course: The Nation’s Birthday

6 sessions

March 6, 13;

April 10, 17, 24;

May 1.

2:30 – 4:45 p.m.
Classes meet in Romita Auditorium in Ryan Library on the New Rochelle Campus

As America celebrates its semiquincentennial, we are reminded that our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness come from the consent of the governed, not the whims of a monarch. Films about our struggle for independence and a fair democracy help us better understand and protect these freedoms for future generations. Several of the selections are from a 2015 History Channel miniseries called Sons of Liberty, which dramatize the spirit and values of the early days of the American Revolution.

Instructor:

Film enthusiast Cheryl Passavanti lectures on contemporary topics using film as text. In New Rochelle, she taught middle school language arts, film courses for teachers, and adult ed classes. She also presents at LIRIC and lectures at the Scarsdale Senior group.

Class Representative: Lorraine Rosano

Four Tuesdays: January 6, 13, 20, 27

All Classes Meet At:
Temple Israel of New Rochelle
1000 Pinebrook Boulevard
New Rochelle, NY

YESTERDAY AND TODAY

11 a.m. — 12:15 p.m.

LUNCH

12:15 p.m. — 1 p.m.

JANUARY JAMBOREE

1 p.m. — 2:15 p.m.

Yesterday & Today

11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

January 6 - Robert Moses: New York’s Master Builder

Presenter: Edward Condon,  Historian and Jeopardy! Winner

January 13 - Experiencing the Neutral Ground of the American Revolution: The MacDonald Interviews

Presenter: Pat Raftery, Westchester County Historical Society

January 20 - Japan: From Samurai Insularity to Ultra Modernization

Presenter: Robert Henrey

January 27 A Day of Games – Morning and Afternoon

Bring your own cards, board game  (Scrabble, Monopoly, etc.) and lunch if you plan to stay all day
Coordinator: Kathy Sheldon

January Jamboree

1 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

January 6 - When Dance Meant Romance

Presenter: Yvonne Marceau

January 13 - The History of Public Libraries

Presenter: Chris Poggiali, New Rochelle Librarian

January 20 - What Did You Say?

The Social, Emotional and Mental Effects of Hearing Loss, and New Hearing Aid Technology. Presenter: Dr. Marisa Boyle,Au.D.,CCC-A: Doctor of Audiology

January 27- Game Day

Come for the afternoon if you couldn’t make the morning