Writing, Genealogy, Archaeology, Ridgefield History, World History, Art History, Speaking - Keep Scrolling Down!


History and Archaeology


Chinese History Appreciation
The history of China is the only continuous human history spanning 5000 years uninterrupted, and the written history of China dates back to the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BC), over 3,000 years ago. In the last 40 years, the success of China’s economic policies and the manner of their implementation has resulted in immense changes in Chinese society. Your instructor, Rita Kwan,a native of China, has traveled throughout China to many places. She will continue to share with you more interesting topics about China in history and how they still influence today’s Chinese society. She has many years of experience teaching and overseeing college language and culture programs in China for American students. She recently moderated a book club, “Exploring China through Historical Novels“ at the Pound Ridge Library in New York.

The first two topics in this cultural series are below:

Terracotta Army of the First Emperor
Platoons of clay soldiers were buried with China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang Di, to accompany him during his eternal rest. You will see the amazing discovery in 1974 that stunned the world. Rita Kwan, a native of China, has many years of teaching and overseeing college language and culture programs in China for American students. She recently moderated a book club, “Exploring China through Historical Novels“ at the Pound Ridge Library in New York.

1 Session $ 31 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $ 24)
Mon., 4/29 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.; Annex

Ancient Chinese Musical Instruments
Ancient Chinese believed that the music could purify people’s minds. Come to listen to the sound of music in China thousand of years ago and have an hands-on experiences with two ancient Chinese musical instruments. Rita Kwan, a native of China, has many years of teaching and overseeing college language and culture programs in China for American students. She recently moderated a book club, “Exploring China through Historical Novels“ at the Pound Ridge Library in New York.

1 Session $ 31 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $ 24)
Mon., 5/6 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.; Annex


10,000 Years of Life in Ridgefield
We know people have lived here for 10,000 years because they left things behind. These items give us an idea of how they spent their time. For example, 10,000 years ago someone lost a knife and drill at Richardson Park. 5,000 years ago people were at Parks and Rec. cleaning and butchering the animals they had killed in the Great Swamp. We can even tell you what brand of toothpaste was used on the Richardson Estate. This course will discuss the people of Ridgefield and how we know what they did, when they did it and what tools they used to do it. Instructor Lynn-Marie Wieland is a lithic archaeologist specializing in Southern New England prehistory with an emphasis on the Indians of Ridgefield, whose territory covered from Ward Pound Ridge Reservation in Pound Ridge, New York to the Norwalk River. She has just finished excavating a site in Ridgefield that covered at least 9,000 years of occupation. Her specialty is the study of the manufacturing and use of stone tools.

3 Sessions $ 72 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $ 58)
Tue., 4/30; 5/7 & 14 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon; Annex

The Roosevelt’s of The Hudson Valley:A Tale of Two Presidents & a First Lady
They descend from the early Dutch settlers of the 1600’s. Learn how Theodore, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt had an impact on the history of our nation. Instructor Leon DiMartino is an Adjunct Professor at Westchester Community College who loves teaching topics in American History, Folktales and Authors.

2 Session $ 49 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $ 39)
Mon., 4/1 & 8 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.; Annex


History: Disability in the Ancient World
This two-part class explores the acceptance of disability in ancient cultures. While not often discussed in exhibitions on the ancient world, there are numerous artworks, texts, and skeletal evidence that illuminate the lives of the ancient disabled. In ancient Egypt and Greece, disability seems to have been common, accepted, and an expected part of life. Accommodations and adjustments were made, and individuals with a wide variety of physical and mental disabilities participated in all levels of society in multiple capacities. Sometimes these individuals rose to the highest levels within that society, while others remained nameless, but were nevertheless represented in different capacities in ancient Egyptian and Greek society. Session one will focus on Egypt, and session two will focus on the classical world. Instructor Alexandra Morris holds an M.A. in Museum Studies from NYU, an M.A. in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from the U of Pennsylvania, and a B.A. in Archaeological Studies, Art History, and Anthropology with minors in Classics and History from SUNY Potsdam. Her research on disability in the ancient world is original and ground breaking.

2 Session $ 49 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $ 39)
Wed., 4/3 & 10 from 7 to 9 p.m.; East Ridge Middle School


Writing and Speaking


Life Sketches
Explore different life stages and sharpen your focus in this creative non-fiction writing program. New and experienced writers will be inspired in this fun introduction to writing narrative non-fiction (memoir, personal essays). Instructor Kim Kovach teaches fiction and non-fiction writing for adults in CT and NY. The author of six fiction books, Kim writes a weekly column for Halston Media and lifestyles articles for Westchester Senior Voice and Westchester Wellness.

6 Sessions $ 103 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $ 82)
Wed., 4/24; 5/1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon; Annex


Art-Inspired Writing
We will be inspired by paintings from America’s most famous artists including Edward Hopper, Andrew Wyeth and John Singer Sargent. Each work of art will inspire fresh ideas for story writing with a little art history as a bonus! Instructor Kim Kovach teaches fiction and non-fiction writing for adults in CT and NY. The author of six fiction books, Kim writes a weekly column for Halston Media and lifestyles articles for Westchester Senior Voice and Westchester Wellness.

4 Sessions $ 72 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $ 58) NOTE: class is 4 sessions
Thur., 7/11, 18, 25 & 8/1 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.; Annex


Speak in Front of an Audience without Fear
Do you fidget, tremble, perspire, mumble, hide behind the podium when speaking in front of an audience? Are you anxious when you are the center of attention? Many people are uncomfortable speaking to an audience – whether it’s one-on-one with a superior or standing in front of a large crowd. Ken Oxman will help you, young or older, get past this fear – help you develop a more outgoing personality so you will not fear being center of attention, so that you can speak in a controlled and relaxed manner to anyone, anywhere, no matter how large an audience. Instructor Kenneth Oxman is a professional broadcaster, director, author, actor, and teacher who has given workshops in public speaking in the UK and USA. He has also published a novel, “Reluctant Assassin”.

6 Sessions $ 128 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $ 102)
Thur., 2/7, 21, 28; 3/7, 14 & 21 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Veterans Park School


Genealogy


Genealogy for Beginners
The primary goal of this two-part class is for you to learn how to organize your family facts into a tree and to learn much more by using mostly free sites on the internet.  Various topics will be studied including the United States census, military, land, and immigration records.  A brief introduction to finding records outside the USA and about how DNA is used in genealogy will be included. Instructor Eileen Burton has been involved in genealogy as a serious hobby for over 10 years. Her research led to a trip to Germany to visit the villages of her ancestors. Class Limit 7.

2 Sessions $ 49 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $ 39)
Wed., 3/27 & 4/3 from 7 to 9 p.m.; East Ridge Middle School