In honor of Presidents’ Day, town offices will be closed. These include the Town House offices, school and library. The Beede Swim & Fitness Center will be open its usual hours from 5:30 a.m., to 9 p.m. The police and fire departments, of course, never take a day off.
The public schools are also on vacation this week, which will explain all the little kids in Restaurant and, if things don’t warm up too much, on the ice rinks at Rideout and Emerson playgrounds. Hope you all have a wonderful day off.
Happy Presidents’ Day!
You may celebrate by sleeping in, stretching out a long weekend on the slopes or just catching up on the things you never get to during an ordinary week.
Why not celebrate Presidents’ Day by taking an in depth look at the Bill of Rights? I know we’re not celebrating James Madison’s birthday today, (his is next month) but we are celebrating American history. How much do you really remember about all those historical details? (High School history teachers need not respond.)
Village University in Concord, which is somewhat of an offshoot of the Concord Carlisle Community Education, is offering a six-week, thought-provoking seminar on the document that was originally referred to as the first 10 amendments of the Constitution. Nine guest speakers are scheduled, the first being Bernard Bailyn, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, on March 29.
Janet Beyer, one of my fellow Patch.com colleagues, leads this course. Based on her brief bio, she is well qualified to do so. Janet has taught a course for Village University on The U.S. Constitution and How We Elect our President and Decision Making in a Political World. Janet is also a 40-year member of the League of Women Voters and has edited the League’s statewide publication. Click here for details on Janet’s seminar.
Village University programs, which includes seminars in America’s Global Competitiveness: Perspectives on Education Today, and lyric poetry.
Elliot Ring, who leads the global competitiveness seminar, is a graduate engineer with 40+ years’ experience in aerospace and engineering management. He is a past chairman of three state sections of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, an editor of a book on rocket propulsion and a retired chief-engineer of two major aerospace companies. Attendants of this lecture will benefit from Elliot’s background. The good news, Calculus 101, is not a prerequisite! Click here for more specifics.
Dick Shohet, former department head of English for Lexington Public Schools, leads Lyric Poetry. Participants will read, and possibly compose, short lyrics. Classic British and American poets will be reviewed, including Wendell Berry, John Keats and Emily Dickinson.
Village University classes are held at Harvey Wheeler Community Center and are an excellent resource for enriching your education or curiosity. I think the best part of Village University, however, is that you don’t have to write an essay to get in. Courses are often led by retired university professors. Click here for more details.
Do you have something you would like to share? Contact me at mcb23@comcast.net and I will be happy to help spread the word.
