You can learn from the beginning or get help with a project. Bring practice yarn and needles or hook to the first class. The instructor, an accomplished artist, has taught knitting and crocheting for more than 30 years. Call 512-364-3147 or email pat@tittizer.us with questions. Limit 15.

Pat Tittizer
Course Starts Thursday, Sept. 17
Knitters 9:30—11:30 A.M.
Crocheters 10:00—Noon
United Christian Church
3500 W. Parmer Lane (78727)

Do you love poetry? For many people, poetry provides a new means of seeing the world, speaking to and for us in a meaningful way. This is an opportunity to meet with other poetry lovers to share and talk about verse in a non-academic setting, and encounter poems and poets that are new to you. This is not a poetry-writing class. Participants will bring one or two favorite published poems to read aloud and share with the group. Discussion will be along the lines of why a poem speaks to the person who brought it, or why this is a favorite poet. Prior to each meeting, participants will be notified how many will be in class so they can bring hard copies of their selections for those coming to that session, if possible (or at least one copy for the facilitator). The week after each meeting, everyone will receive digital copies of the poems. Limit 12.

Bronwyn Bowen, Facilitator
10:00—Noon Thursday, Starts Sept. 17
The Church at Highland Park, Burchette Room
5206 Balcones Drive (78731)

This class works at the end of A1/Beginning A2 level according to the CEFR. This means you can already apply quite a few standing phrases, start basic communication, and write more complicated sentences. You already have a solid understanding of the cases (nominative, accusative and dative), can form the conversational past, and start building dependent clauses. A lot of explanations can already be done in German. If not sure this class is right for you, try this placement test https://learngerman.dw.com/en/placement-test-a2/l-36697405. Limit 16.

Henrike Belz
10:00—11:30 A.M. Thursday, Starts Sept. 17
Violet Crown City Church
1300 Morrow Street (78757)

We begin by reviewing how to do science, then the basics of astronomy that you will need to better appreciate what follows. To contemplate life in the Universe, we first explore the origin and evolution of life on Earth. After a (thus far unsuccessful) search for life in our Solar System, we head out to the stars, convincing ourselves that there exist many planets with many opportunities for life. Finally, if life seems likely, where are the aliens? 6 Classes. Limit 50.

G. Fritz Benedict
10:00—Noon Thursday, Starts Sept. 17
The Village at the Triangle
4517 Triangle Avenue (78751)

The Austin area is a great place to bird. We will have four classroom sessions and four field trips in the immediate Austin area. Classroom sessions will introduce students to the birds that live in Central Texas year-around as well as those that pass through during migration and those that summer here. Other topics will include equipment, bird identification tips, how to attract birds to your yard and places to bird in the Austin area. Although the class is geared toward the beginning birder, all skill levels are welcome. The classroom sessions will be from 10:00—Noon on Thursdays; field trips will be 8:00—10:00 A.M. Participants can expect to walk up to a mile and a half on mainly level surfaces that may not be paved. Our very popular instructor has been birding for more than 40 years and is a Master Birder and Master Naturalist. Note: No class Sept. 24; course extends to Nov. 12. Limit 20.

Chris Gunter
10:00—Noon Thursday, Starts Sept. 17
Triumphant Love Lutheran Church, Upper Room
9508 Great Hills Trail (78759)

What do people across cultures truly need to experience lasting happiness and inner peace? Research—and timeless wisdom—show it’s not wealth, youth, or success, but the cultivation of certain attitudes, actions, and qualities of the heart. Based on the newly expanded 2nd edition of The Secrets of True Happiness, co-authored by Farnaz Masumian, our instructor, this course offers practical tools for finding authentic joy in everyday life. New activities focusing on mindfulness, gratitude and positivity help participants apply these principles in daily life. The updated edition also adds an inspiring new section, “Seven Days: Cultivating a Spiritual Attitude Toward Life,” with daily practices designed to integrate joy, gratitude, and peace into your daily routine. Whether you’re returning to deepen your journey or discovering these teachings for the first time, this course offers a warm and engaging path to greater happiness, meaning, and inner calm. Note: No class on October 15; course extends 1 week to October 29. 6 Classes. Limit 25.

Farnaz Masumian
10:00—Noon Thursday, Starts Sept. 17
Westover Hills Church of Christ, Room 201
8332 Mesa Drive (78759)

This class offers practical, down-to-earth guidance to help you identify, clarify, and communicate your end-of-life wishes with understanding and ease. We will discuss topics including, but not limited to, funeral home prices, prepaid funeral contracts, natural/green burial, options like Donate Life Texas, hospice care, and death doulas. You’ll also be encouraged to complete or update your healthcare advance directives, including the Texas Living Will. (Customizing these documents to express your wishes and priorities may require some homework.) Please bring $10 for plentiful handouts to our first class meeting. Limit 16.

Alex Casas, FCACT
10:00—Noon Thursday, Starts Sept. 17
Dittmar Recreation Center, Rm. AB
1009 West Dittmar Road (78745)

This course presents a general overview of important aspects of the civil rights history and struggle in Texas, including good and bad, of which many people are not aware. It also lays out salient themes that have arisen or re-arisen during the last few decades and are currently at play. These include:

• overview of the push for civil rights in the Mexican American and African American communities in Texas,

• farm worker organizing,

• police oppression,

• privacy rights,

• immigration and violence against women,

• poor people and access to the courts,

• disability rights, and

• free speech and assembly.

There is no textbook, but a bibliography will supplement class discussions. For each class, students will be expected to do readings, which are available on the internet or provided by the instructor. Discussion and critical thinking are valued. No written papers. Our instructor is the retired founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project, past Director of the South Texas Project in the Rio Grande Valley, and former Legal Director of the Texas Civil Liberties Union. A leading civil rights attorney nationally and former university and law school professor, he served the Texas farm workers movement as attorney for 18 years. His recent memoir published by U.T. Press, The Texas Civil Rights Project: How We Built a Social Justice Movement, will provide the framework for the class. Note: Course starts one week late. 6 Classes. Limit 40.

Jim Harrington
10:00—Noon Thursday, Starts Sept. 24
Lamar Senior Activity Center
2874 Shoal Crest Avenue (78705)