Ashland Courses   

This course is designed for students who have taken the Absolute Beginners Pickleball class or who have a rudimentary knowledge of the game. It will be taught by seasoned instructors who are experienced players and have taught before. Expect to build on the basic game to include advanced strategy in play. We will meet for 1½ hours at Lithia Park courts for five consecutive days. There will be an emphasis on sportsmanship and safety. This skills-building course will focus on different types of serves, lobs, third-shot drops or drop shots, drives, partner communication, stacking, and different types of scoring. We will introduce Nasty Nelson, Bert, and Erne. The last day will be a FUN Round-Robin whereby players will rotate play with all players. The instructors will be from Ashland Oregon Pickleball Club.

NOTE: If you have mobility issues, this course may not be for you. A waiver must be signed prior to the first class. Students are expected to have their own paddle, know the basic game, have court shoes, and a hat or visor. Safety glasses are recommended. Bring a hydrating drink and snack. If inclement weather occurs, class will be canceled.

This course is designed for anyone with little or no knowledge of maintaining and repairing a home. Class members will learn how water, gas, and electricity come into a home and how to shut them off, how to change the filter in a furnace and clean the coils on a refrigerator, and why they should. We’ll talk about paint, how to replace a light switch or plug, fix a stuck door, what is a good set of tools, and what you should watch for outside the home such as clogged gutters, water leaks, siding damage, invasive vegetation, and more. We’ll talk about the advantages and disadvantages of buying through big box stores vs. independent merchants and how to choose a contractor if needed. Above all, we will talk about what the class members want to know about maintenance and repairs to the building that keeps them safe and comfortable. You will learn to take care of your home, so your home can take care of you!

NOTE: Each term of this previously taught course is different, as there are new issues brought to class. If you have taken the class before, you will likely gain knowledge in something not previously discussed or that you didn’t quite understand the first time. There is no class on Monday, January 20, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

We know we should have an up-to-date Advance Directive so that loved ones will know what healthcare we want if serious illness leaves us unable to make our own decisions. Still, you may not have one or yours may be outdated. This course will enable you to complete the revised 2021 OR AD to capture what will be important to you in the future. We’ll focus on selecting and preparing your all-important Health Care Representative and defining your wishes for prolonged care in nuanced cases of dementia and chronic disease, as well as for future end-of-life care. You’ll be able to complete the form and create addenda that may expand its value to you and your loved ones. Besides your engagement in class, you will need to devote time between our meetings to clarify your thinking and talk with your HCR. Are you ready to take advantage of this guidance to finally complete your AD? Your loved ones will be grateful! 

NOTE: If you have a valid, legally executed AD that accurately reflects your wishes, you do not need to complete the 2021 version. If your current AD needs to be updated, you must use the revised 2021 form to do that. Your choice and preparation of a health care rep will be your first and most important work in developing your AD. Prepare for class by thinking about who you’d like to have speak for you. There are two in-person sections of this course offered. 

We know we should have an up-to-date Advance Directive so that loved ones will know what healthcare we want if serious illness leaves us unable to make our own decisions. Still, you may not have one or yours may be outdated. This course will enable you to complete the revised 2021 OR AD to capture what will be important to you in the future. We’ll focus on selecting and preparing your all-important Health Care Representative and defining your wishes for prolonged care in nuanced cases of dementia and chronic disease, as well as for future end-of-life care. You’ll be able to complete the form and create addenda that may expand its value to you and your loved ones. Besides your engagement in class, you will need to devote time between our meetings to clarify your thinking and talk with your HCR. Are you ready to take advantage of this guidance to finally complete your AD? Your loved ones will be grateful! 

NOTE: If you have a valid, legally executed AD that accurately reflects your wishes, you do not need to complete the 2021 version. If your current AD needs to be updated, you must use the revised 2021 form to do that. Your choice and preparation of a health care rep will be your first and most important work in developing your AD. Prepare for class by thinking about who you’d like to have speak for you. There are two in-person sections of this course offered. 

Learn how to work smarter rather than harder in furthering your acting career. Actors must concentrate their marketing efforts on roles for which they are best suited. The terms “leading man, leading lady, ingenue” are almost never mentioned in casting notices; however, gender, age, ethnicity, and occupation are nearly always specified. People’s jobs determine much of their lifestyle, wardrobe choices, and often their friends. In the first session, students will learn how to conduct a market survey to assess how others see them in order to determine their acting type, as well as to concentrate on auditioning for the roles for which they are best suited. In the second class, they will share the results of their market surveys with other class members, which will also serve as a networking event with other actors. In addition, students will learn where to get headshots taken and where to have them reproduced for marketing purposes.

NOTE: There are two in-person sections of this course offered, both on Thursdays. The first starts the first week of the term; the second starts the first week of February.

Learn how to work smarter rather than harder in furthering your acting career. Actors must concentrate their marketing efforts on roles for which they are best suited. The terms “leading man, leading lady, ingenue” are almost never mentioned in casting notices; however, gender, age, ethnicity, and occupation are nearly always specified. People’s jobs determine much of their lifestyle, wardrobe choices, and often their friends. In the first session, students will learn how to conduct a market survey to assess how others see them in order to determine their acting type, as well as to concentrate on auditioning for the roles for which they are best suited. In the second class, they will share the results of their market surveys with other class members, which will also serve as a networking event with other actors. In addition, students will learn where to get headshots taken and where to have them reproduced for marketing purposes.

NOTE: There are two in-person sections of this course offered, both on Thursdays. The first starts the first week of the term; the second starts the first week of February.

From lyrical to lively, silly to sublime, English country dance dates from the 1600s. Discover dances of Jane Austen’s time as well as newly composed dances. Learn about the cultural aspects and history of this joyful living tradition as you enjoy moving to beautiful music. This is an "on-your-feet" and social class. No partner necessary.  

NOTE: Please bring clean-soled, non-marking shoes and a water bottle. A waiver must be signed prior to the first class. 

This course will be taught in-person and offer a general knowledge of the basics of trusts, wills, powers of attorney, advanced health care directives, the probate process, and trust administration. In addition, it will touch on guardianships and conservatorships as well as some elder law. By the end of the course, students will have a deeper understanding of the law, particularly as it might pertain to their individual legal needs, thus greatly increasing their capacity to make wiser decisions for themselves and their families. Participants come with their own unique situation, and they should think honestly about what their goals are and what they would like to accomplish by the end. Understanding the estate planning process is the most effective way to navigate the direction of their legal needs comfortably, completely, and with a deeper understanding of how their goals align with the law. Students do not need to have any prior knowledge of the topic.

NOTE: There are two in-person sections of this course offered, both on Fridays. The first starts the first week of the term; the second starts the third week of February.

This course will be taught in-person and offer a general knowledge of the basics of trusts, wills, powers of attorney, advanced health care directives, the probate process, and trust administration. In addition, it will touch on guardianships and conservatorships as well as some elder law. By the end of the course, students will have a deeper understanding of the law, particularly as it might pertain to their individual legal needs, thus greatly increasing their capacity to make wiser decisions for themselves and their families. Participants come with their own unique situation, and they should think honestly about what their goals are and what they would like to accomplish by the end. Understanding the estate planning process is the most effective way to navigate the direction of their legal needs comfortably, completely, and with a deeper understanding of how their goals align with the law. Students do not need to have any prior knowledge of the topic.

NOTE: There are two in-person sections of this course offered, both on Fridays. The first starts the first week of the term; the second starts the third week of February.

Explore nearby winter trails with Moondance Forest, an avid cross-country skier. The group will meet at a Sno-Park close to Ashland each week. The first class will be at the Campbell Center. We’ll assess everyone’s understanding, check all gear, and get logistics for meeting on the mountain. This is not a beginner course, and students must be familiar with the activity and be aware of their physical abilities. Students must have their own gear or secure rentals. Slowing down will be encouraged, along with enjoying the scenery, breathing, releasing ambition, and always reducing effort. We’ll practice getting up and down from the ground, discuss the “buddy system,” and learn from each participant. Cross-country skiing is a wonderful way to feel your entire being while breathing the crisp mountain air and viewing Mount McLaughlin in the distance. If snow or weather conditions are unfavorable, we’ll hike the ski trail or reschedule.

NOTE: A seasonal Sno-Park pass for a car is $25 for November to April. A waiver must be signed at the first class for continued participation. The first session of this course on Wednesday, January 15, will be at the Campbell Center in Room B.

In his 1950 Nobel Prize acceptance speech, William Faulkner spoke about the writer’s duty and privilege to remind us of “courage and honor and hope and pride and compassion and pity and sacrifice.” From the iconic “A Rose for Emily” to the lesser known “Two Soldiers” to the challenging “The Bear,” we will read a dozen of Faulkner’s stories and discuss how they make these abstractions concrete. Some of the stories may make us laugh, some may make us cry, some may make us uncomfortable with how they capture the racism that was endemic in Faulkner’s South. This class will challenge us to understand Faulkner’s attitudes about race in the context of his fiction that exposes racism and its complicated legacy.

NOTE: Required: “Faulkner: Stories” (Library of America, ed. Theresa M. Towner, 2023). This edition is available only in hardcover. It is also the only one that contains all the pieces we’ll discuss. You can order a copy at Bloomsbury Books or a new or used copy from online sources.

In this course, we will explore the structure and primary movements of the feet, ankles, toes, and legs and how they are connected to the entire skeleton. Each class features an exercise, or “lesson,” involving gentle movements done slowly with minimal effort, while paying attention to one’s own personal experience. Students will determine how big, how fast, or how “well” they do the exercises as they are guided through enjoyable sequences, exploring and discovering ways of moving with spontaneity and awareness. These exercises are safe, fun puzzles for the nervous system and brain, designed to help students remember, learn, and create new patterns of behavior. This course is ideal for all ages and abilities and participants will be involved in their own process of learning. Students will increase their balance, turn more easily, and reduce tension as they adjust and move with more comfort and ease. It is beneficial to repeat this course. 

NOTE: A waiver must be signed prior to the first class. There is no class on Monday, January 20, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

In 2020, the average U.S. consumer spent seven hours and 50 minutes consuming media daily, up 15 minutes from 2019, with 58% of respondents saying that their total media consumption had grown. Most people know very little about the history of media or its economic and societal impacts. Over eight 60-minute classes, students will learn about the evolution of media from the invention of the printing press to everyone having a world of information in the palm of their hand. No prior knowledge is required. No assignments outside of class. No required reading. Topics to be covered include: the origins of print, radio, TV, social media and the size of their audiences; how different types of media generate income; how media is or is not regulated; news vs. journalism; commercial vs. noncommercial media; an attempt to forecast what might be in the future for media. Discussion and interaction will be encouraged, but the course will not be about blame, anger, grievance, opinions, or entertainment.

NOTE: There is no class on Monday, January 20, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day; there is no class on Monday, February 17, in observance of Presidents Day.

Learn a more truthful version of American history with open primary historical sources, including settler violence against indigenous people in the 1637 Pequot genocide; Wounded Knee in 1890; militarist imperialism and the killing of brown skinned Morro (Muslim) women and children on the Island of Jolo in the Philippines in 1906; and My Lai, Vietnam, in 1968. Art; first-person testimony; prose and poetry by Mark Twain, Rudyard Kipling, and Daniel Ellsberg; as well as vintage photography reveal the dark side of our glorious national story. A small class size will allow for thoughtful discussion.

NOTE: This course covers sensitive material that some may find disturbing.

In this beginning ceramics course, students will be introduced to the beauty of clay. They will learn and explore coil building, slab construction, pinching, and basic wheel-throwing techniques. Using this know-how, students will create functional and decorative clay pieces while exploring the various ways to form and manipulate clay. Instructors will focus on different building techniques each week. The course will likely be divided into two weeks of hand-building and two weeks of wheel-throwing. A variety of glazing and surface decoration techniques will be introduced as well. By the end of this course, students will be able to independently create pieces. Specific techniques and lessons will vary, depending on student interest.

NOTE: There is a fee of $20 materials cost per student.

Students will learn foundational design basics, create their own designs, and then make designs come to life in the studio. This may include screen printing, laser engraving, and sticker decals. Participants will start with the design process and move to digital graphics applications as they advance their skills. This course covers all the basics, from design process to printing. Students will get hands-on experience with producing their own custom designs using different techniques, guided by Talent Maker City instructors. This is a safe and supportive environment for individuals to learn and advance their creative skills. The goal is to build relationships and collaborate, experiment, value unexpected challenges, and problem-solve. Most important, the goal is to keep learning, growing, improving, and celebrating success.

NOTE: There is a fee of $20 materials cost per student.

Learn a complete tai chi form for health and longevity that you can do anywhere and that is adaptable for all ages, body types, and abilities. No previous experience is necessary. Reduce pain and stress, improve balance, gain focus/concentration, find comfortable ways to move, and gain benefits from a 3,000-year-old Chinese movement form, tai chi. When students finish the six-week course, they will have three tools for dealing with change, transition, and life in general. Students will have the tai chi 17 form including movements from a Yang Short Form, so they will be prepared to study further if they wish. Students will have learned a sequence called Finished the Form, which they can use alone as a practice or as a warmup or cool-down for other practices. A basic knowledge of tai chi/martial arts and how to promote health and mind/body awareness will be obtained. Each time students take this previously offered course a deeper understanding of this lifelong practice is gained. 

NOTE: A waiver must be signed prior to the first class. There is no class on Monday, January 20, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Shakespeare’s characters, conflicts, and themes are as relevant to America today as they were to 17th-century England. Far from the boring slog so many of us recall from 10th grade, this play brilliantly poses deep moral questions of contemporary import — about leadership, power, idealism, pragmatism, egotism, and honor. It crackles with brilliant rhetoric used to shape public opinion in a bitterly divided country. The author examines the fine lines between facts and assumptions, duty and ambition, and confidence and arrogance. The personal tragedies of the main characters mirror the dilemma of their society in the moment of transformation from the remnants of a republic to an oligarchy. At the end of the play, we are left to decide whether the end justifies the means, whether political violence can ever make Rome — or anywhere else — great again. Through lecture and discussion, the class will examine these questions in a study of the text and a variety of productions.

NOTE: No previous knowledge of Shakespeare is required, but students should have access to a copy of the play. Two separate sections of this course are offered: one is held at the Campbell Center on Wednesdays; the other is held online on Thursdays.

This class is for right- or left-handed absolute beginners, those who have tried knitting before but struggled with technique and tension, or for crocheters ready to try knitting. Starting from the basics, this class will teach a method for continental style knitting, also called German, European, or left-hand knitting. Students will learn to cast on, knit, purl, tink, frog, and bind off while knitting a series of beginner-level coasters or dishcloths.

NOTE: Materials: Knitting needles and other tools will be available to use for the duration of the class, and yarn used for the beginner projects will be provided.

In 1845, the northern boundary of Mexico lay just a dozen miles from today’s SOU campus. In the Mexican-American War, the United States conquered roughly half of Mexico, moving the border more than 600 miles to the south. Ever since then, both countries have lived with a muddled memory of this experience. The border has moved over people, and people have moved across the border. In fact, the two countries’ populations, economies, and political histories are so closely interrelated that we may meaningfully ask, “Where does one country end and the other begin?” This course is a lecture series (with extended time for discussion) presented by SOU faculty who have explored this historical and cultural middle ground from a wide range of academic perspectives. It brings together Chicano literature, Spanish literature, history, and anthropology professors to examine the complex relationships between the U.S. and Mexico and among the people and places that belong to both worlds.

NOTE: The faculty presenters are: Alma Rosa Álvarez, “The History and Politics of Chicano Identity”; Enrique Chacón, “Ambiguous Border: The Representations of the U.S.-Mexico in Film”; Sean McEnroe, “The Imagined Communities of the Mexican-American War”; Mark Axel Tveskov, “The Archaeology of the Battle of Buena, 1847: La Angostura and the Construction of Manifest Destiny.”

This course is designed to help participants take, organize, store, edit, and share digital photos and videos. Emphasis will be on using Apple Photos on the iPhone, Mac, and iCloud. Participants will learn to manage iCloud settings; store and share photos and videos; perform basic edits; play and modify memories; set up albums and slideshows; search and organize photos by person, location, and activities; trim live photos, bursts, and videos; and remove duplicate photos. Privacy and security issues will also be discussed. Participants should be able to use Zoom for video conferencing and have a basic comfort taking digital photos, accessing the web, and using online applications.

NOTE: Two separate sections of this course are offered: one is held at the Campbell Center of Fridays; one is held online on Thursdays. 

Let your personality show with a custom hand-braided dog collar or dog leash or craft a survival bracelet that allows you to wear your emergency rope. Paracord is used in parachutes but has evolved into a variety of colors that can be braided with various techniques that we’ll explore in this course. Students must provide their own cord and buckets for their project, and registered students will be sent a supply list prior to the first class. The cost will depend on the project you choose to make.

NOTE: There are two in-person sections of this course being offered, both on Wednesdays. The first starts the first week of the term; the second starts the last week of January.

Let your personality show with a custom hand-braided dog collar or dog leash or craft a survival bracelet that allows you to wear your emergency rope. Paracord is used in parachutes but has evolved into a variety of colors that can be braided with various techniques that we’ll explore in this course. Students must provide their own cord and buckets for their project, and registered students will be sent a supply list prior to the first class. The cost will depend on the project you choose to make.

NOTE: There are two in-person sections of this course being offered, both on Wednesdays. The first starts the first week of the term; the second starts the last week of January.

This fun and active class is designed for pickleball players who understand and play the game. There will be two classes of three hours each at Lithia Park’s four upper courts. The round-robin is a structured form of pickleball play organized by skill level. Players will learn format, partnering, stacking (when and how to), what hand signals mean and when to use them, types of scoring, and byes. Different types of rally scoring will be introduced versus traditional scoring, along with when you may utilize each and why. We will cover the different types of pickleballs and details of timing used in round-robin events. Players will experience the application of the information learned as they participate in the round-robin and connect with their fellow players. We will play a minimum of six games and take a break between games at each class meeting.

NOTE: If you have mobility issues, this class may not be for you. There is a $3 charge for pickleballs payable to the instructor on the first day of class. All participants must sign a waiver on the first day of class. Plan to wear court shoes and a hat or visor and bring a hydrating drink. Protective eyewear is recommended. Class will be canceled if there is inclement weather.

Want to expand your creativity and have fun? Join us to experience joyful, easy art projects. Bring your imagination, an open mind, and a willingness to explore possibilities. You may be surprised by what you produce in this four-session course. We will offer new ideas and techniques that are different from what was presented in the course Playful Art for Everyone I. Together, we’ll complete exercises in: abstracts, all over composition, collage, and word art. We will provide a sketchbook for each student; cardstock paper; watercolor paper; and some pens, pencils, markers, and magazines for use during class. No experience is needed, and participation in the course Playful Art for Everyone I is not a prerequisite.

NOTE: A contribution of $5 is due at the first class to offset our costs for the sketchbook, paper, copies, and other supplies. Students will be asked to bring some basic supplies. That information will be outlined for registered students in the pre-course email.

This course will view and discuss Raoul Peck’s video series, “Exterminate All the Brutes.” This series has been called a “revisionist” history of Western Civilization. Peck was interviewed on “Democracy Now” when the series was first released. He is also the director of “I Am Not Your Negro,” a documentary on James Baldwin. Participants will be expected to watch each episode in class, followed by guided, civil discussion. No prior knowledge or outside reading is required. The content to be discussed is primarily the question of the origin, history, and continuity of genocidal practices in the West, and the suppression of those practices in official historical narratives. At the present time “revisionist” histories have come under attack. It is hoped that in this class students will come to see why such “revisionist” histories are an essential part of our education. As James Baldwin said, “Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

NOTE: This course covers controversial material that some may find disturbing.

This course explores the history of Homo sapiens as our species emerged from the Middle Ages and embarked on the age of science, exploration, and conquest of the New World (about 1500). We end up with sapiens in the world of AI and biotech. We consider: Where have sapiens been? Where are we going? What is our place in the cosmic setting? This course is a continuation of the course in the fall, which brought the story through the hunter-gatherer period and the invention of agriculture, but attendance at the earlier course is not a prerequisite. The course is conceived as a deep dive into history involving archaeology, economics, astrophysics, and philosophy. To make the subject manageable, there will be a template, “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind,” by the Israeli historian Yuval Noah Harari. To help us along, we will hear directly from noted scholars, scientists, and thinkers. The predominant mode of presentation in this lecture course will be PowerPoint and videos. 

NOTE: Students should have a copy of Harari’s book, as critical weekly readings will be assigned. 

This course will introduce you to the new social art known as generative scribing: a collaborative group art activity with no artistic background requirements. New on the scene, it is quickly building a reputation as a compassionate form of self-expression through listening without judgment and putting pen and artwork onto paper. Generative scribing invites true cognitive potential that includes broad-perspective viewing, expanded insight, and new realization possibility. These deeper states of self-awareness can support self-healing and encourage interpersonal relationship bonding. Sequence of activities in generative scribing include group grounding, optional prompts, time frames for scribing and drawing, and engaging in sharing each individual’s expressive art piece. Come join in this unique cutting-edge artist group activity!

NOTE: Students supply their own art paper and pencil/pen/markers in a variety of colors. "Your Brain on Art" by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross is optional reading.

This course will teach about the development of sexual organs in humans and the known factors that can influence that development. It will identify human conditions known to affect the appearance of the external sexual organs at birth and at puberty. The genetics of sexual presentation will be discussed, as well as maternal conditions and environmental factors that can affect the presentation at birth. Embryological development will also be presented. The implications of this information will be discussed and some of the fallacies of current political thought will be noted. Students will be encouraged to ask questions and share information. The instructional method will be lecture with a PowerPoint presentation. Citations from medical literature will be available. A basic understanding of biology and genetics at high school level will be assumed for students.

Add life to your years and years to your life! Enjoy small group personal training (no more than 12 in a class) that helps prevent and reverse physical declines associated with aging. Designed for active seniors, this two-session program focuses on muscle, cardio and bone health, brain health, and body awareness. This course will be presented twice this term with 12 people in each session. Each movement is modified (personalized) to accommodate movement limitations. The instructor will assess students, teach safe movement patterns, and provide each student with a personalized plan for continuing their training at home or the gym.

NOTE: All levels are welcome. However, participants must be able to get up off the floor unassisted. This course is not designed for students who already have significant balance challenges such as a history of falls or dizziness. Equipment will be provided. A waiver and a brief, confidential medical history must be signed prior to the first class. Class sessions are in a shoes-off facility. There are two in-person sections of this course offered, both on Mondays. The first starts the first week of the term; the second starts the last week of January.

Add life to your years and years to your life! Enjoy small group personal training (no more than 12 in a class) that helps prevent and reverse physical declines associated with aging. Designed for active seniors, this two-session program focuses on muscle, cardio and bone health, brain health, and body awareness. This course will be presented twice this term with 12 people in each session. Each movement is modified (personalized) to accommodate movement limitations. The instructor will assess students, teach safe movement patterns, and provide each student with a personalized plan for continuing their training at home or the gym.

NOTE: All levels are welcome. However, participants must be able to get up off the floor unassisted. This course is not designed for students who already have significant balance challenges such as a history of falls or dizziness. Equipment will be provided. A waiver and a brief, confidential medical history must be signed prior to the first class. Class sessions are in a shoes-off facility. There are two in-person sections of this course offered, both on Mondays. The first starts the first week of the term; the second starts the last week of January.

Recognizing that most of us have few (if any) opportunities to talk — really talk — about dying, this course may be a remedy. Sensitive conversation will consume most of our time together. The instructor will invite students to suggest topics of interest before the course starts. Discussions will be framed with materials provided before each class meeting. We are likely to examine such topics as: death’s timing, quality of life, meaning and value, getting the care we prefer, aging, dementia, legacy, and our beliefs about death. TED Talks, articles, and books like “Being Mortal” may be used. The instructor’s intent is to prompt us to talk freely and meaningfully about this experience that is part of all our lives. All students will be expected to talk. Those interested in joining in these important, personal discussions need to commit to attend every one of our six meetings so that our conversations can deepen over our time together.

NOTE: Conversations in this in-person course will be deeply personal and confidential. This is best achieved, and the quality and content of discussions built upon, with consistent and reliable attendance. Students who know they will need to miss even one class should not enroll now. This course may be offered again in the future. There is no class on Monday, January 20, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

This course will show 10 classic musical films, starting with “The Blue Angel,” with Marlene Dietrich (1930) and concluding with “The King and I,” with Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner (1956). The other eight are “Love Me Tonight,” “Gold Diggers of 1933,” “A Night at the Opera,” “Show Boat,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Meet Me in St. Louis,” “A Star Is Born,” and “Guys and Dolls.” A handout for each film will be made available the week before the showing of the film, except for the first film, for which the handout will be made available on the first day. The instructor will mention anything special to be noticed about each film just before it is shown, and students may offer comments or questions at that time. A guided discussion will follow the end of the film. Students need bring nothing more than a desire to see these special musical films that are true classics and still enjoyable no matter how many times one views them.

NOTE: There is no class on Monday, January 20, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The 47th president will be inaugurated on January 20, and two weeks earlier the 119th Congress will have been sworn in. The country could have a president and Congress of one political party, a president and a Congress of different parties, or a Congress with divided party majorities in the House and Senate. We will have lots to talk about, beginning with the results of the November election, the new president’s formation of a government leadership team, and the makeup and leaders of the House and Senate. Articles I and II of the Constitution will be reviewed, along with how those provisions have evolved over the past two centuries. Current issues will also be discussed. Students should have opinions to be shared and a respect for the views of others.

NOTE: There are two sections of this course offered: one is at the Campbell Center in Ashland; the other is at the Higher Education Center in Medford.

This innovative six-week course bridges ancient wisdom with cutting-edge science, offering practical tools for enhanced well-being and life-changing skills. Learn how breathing unlocks your capacities for self-regulation, healing, and resilience. Explore calming and energizing practices, understanding their impact on your body-mind. Delve into breath’s crucial role in trauma, stress, and immune function. Discover the often-overlooked importance of nasal breathing for health. Through practice and evidence-based instruction, develop a personalized toolkit of breathing methods for various life situations, including stress relief, better sleep, improved focus, and enhanced physical performance. Join the journey to harness your breath’s potential. Emerge with a deeper understanding of your body-mind connection and practical strategies for lifelong health and resilience. No prior experience is necessary — just bring an open mind and willingness to explore.

NOTE: This is a practical course exploring the different dimensions of your breath and respiratory functions and is not a substitute for medical care of your conditions. You are responsible for your own participation, and a signed liability waiver is required.

Welcome to Part I of “The Oxford Book of French Short Stories” (in English translation). Spanning the centuries from the late 18th to the late 20th, the collection opens with a rambunctious tale from the Marquis de Sade, then proceeds to take on the masters of the 19th century, from Stendhal and Balzac to Maupassant, and reaches to Quebec, Africa, and the French Caribbean. Women writers include relatively well-known figures such as Renee Vivien, Colette, and Beauvoir, and newer writers such as Assia Djebar, Christiane Baroche, and Annie Saumont. Before each session, students will read three or four designated stories, which will then be discussed in a comfortable inclusive classroom setting. We will only be covering only the first 15 stories. The final stories, Part II, are planned to be covered in the winter of 2026. The French short story is a rich and diverse medium, but all the stories selected share a common characteristic: They will make this class exciting and fun!

NOTE: A copy of “The Oxford Book of French Short Stories,” edited by Elizabeth Fallaize, is required. New and used versions are available online with used versions priced at about $8.

The instructor is a volunteer working on Ashland’s update to its Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The purpose of the plan is to keep you safe and our community whole when wildfire affects Ashland. In this course, students will engage with community members drafting the plan and have an opportunity to improve the plan before it is finalized in April 2025. Conversations and exercises will include the following topics:

1. Assessing community risk

2. Reducing business and rental property vulnerabilities

3. Public health and safe evacuations

4. Inclusive community risk reduction

5. Maintaining Ashland forests and water supply

6. Wildfire recovery and implementing a sustainable plan

NOTE: While this course focuses on Ashland, the discussion topics have broad applicability that may be useful in any community. Participation is strongly recommended because several exercises will be done in small groups

The two short novels by Wendell Berry are “Hannah Coulter” and “The Memory of Old Jack.” The Port William Membership is a rural agricultural community in Kentucky and the stories are set in this fictional place in the early to mid-20th century. Berry conveys the essence of living simply, admirably, and resiliently in the midst of relentless change and modernization brought on in part by cataclysmic world events, as well as by the pressures of doing right by the community and the requirements of honoring the land. The issues addressed are relevant today, and the humanity and pathos of Berry’s language and insight into character are enough to make one feel like a resident of Port William. Students require no special skills or background to appreciate this class, and there will be no homework or requirements for outside activity. The course will be run as a discussion group. Expect to be engaged and to bring your own ideas and reactions to each session!

NOTE: Please try to read both novels before the first class meeting, although that is not a requirement for the class. Print editions are preferable to allow for close reading and margin notes. Copies are available through online sources.

This term’s course will introduce six new wine regions, not covered in previous “Wines of the World” offerings. Lectures using PowerPoint and multimedia will cover the geography, climate, soils, history, varietals, labeling, and regulatory structure of each region. We will taste four quality wines from that region and discuss our perceptions. No special background knowledge is required but a passion for wine is recommended.  

NOTE: A class fee will be charged to cover the cost of the premium wines we taste. The fee will be based on the cost of the wines but will not exceed $120 per student. Students are required to pay the full fee, even if they expect to miss some classes. A signed liability waiver is required.