2025 Fall seminars begin the week of September 15 unless otherwise noted. Please note the length of the seminar you are interested in as they vary. There are no seminar classes scheduled on Thursday, October 2 to honor Yom Kippur.
This is a group of women who meet monthly to discuss life experiences, focusing on such topics as the experience of aging and ageism, health issues, political concerns, using time wisely, gender roles, family ties, and friendship. Facilitators: Finnegan Alford-Cooper and Bonnie Strickland
Hybrid meetings: in person at the Five College Library Annex Building in N. Hatfield and on Zoom. Viewpoints is a monthly round-table discussion of current domestic and international events and issues (often, but not always, political), and other subjects not necessarily tied to the headlines of the day (such as culture wars, free speech restrictions […]
We will meet once a month on zoom to discuss short stories that we have read prior to the meeting. Members of the group will take turns choosing stories and leading the discussion. In most cases stories selected will be found on the internet. Suggestions of interesting stories will be provided by the group leader. […]
This is a book club focused on books considered to be classics of literature. Each month a new book is read, and discussed at the meeting. Facilitator: Jeanne Kaiser
We are all familiar with The Wizard of Oz from the 1939 movie starring Judy Garland. But there is much more to the original book, as well as stage and other screen productions (have you heard of the character, Imogene the Cow?) And, many believe what appears to have been a modern fairy tale for […]
Some family struggles after the death of my father, dealing with his dog, and an old New England house full of family things. An Encore! program from the Spring 2025 seminar Writing to Remember - Purple and presented by Suzette Jones.
As Smith College celebrates its sesquicentennial in 2025, learn about Sophia Smith of Hatfield, MA and the unusual circumstances that led to the founding of Smith College in 1870 and its opening in 1875. This presentation includes a reading of the picture book Tea with an Old Dragon by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Monica Vachula. […]
Irvin Yalom is a psychiatrist and author who once said, "the physicality of death destroys us, but the idea of death saves us". The wisdom of this statement is reflected in the paradox of the fragility of the human body and resiliency and life-affirming energy of the human spirit, a paradox. I witnessed often over […]