L.I.F.E. (Learning Is ForEver) is an organization dedicated to providing high-quality, low-cost, and enjoyable adult-education experiences. The Macomb L.I.F.E. program is affiliated with the national organization, Road Scholar: Elderhostel Institute Network (EIN). It is independently administered by area residents who develop the courses, select the teachers, establish the fees, and promote the curriculum.
Visit www.wiu.edu/sao/ outreach/adult_learning_ op/LIFEmacomb.php Mark your calenders for the Fall Fling! Tuesday, October 14 from 4 - 6 p.m. in the Brattain Lounge, 1st floor WIU Union. Appetizers served. Cash bar.
RSVP - es-roberts@wiu. edu or call 309.298.1911 Outsmarting Garden Pests: Deer, Racoons, Squirrels, and More We are not the only ones that find our garden tasty. Several animal species can be a garden nuisance and destructive to our landscapes. Join Chris Enroth as he gives tips on dealing with wildlife in the home garden and landscape.
Instructor: Chris Enroth is a horticulture educator with University of Illinois Extension serving Henderson, Knox, McDonough, and Warren Counties.
Date: Monday, Sept. 22 from 10 – 11 a.m.
Place: Sandburg Lounge in the basement of the WIU Union. A no-ticket request will be made for this class so you can park in the parking lots on either side of the Union. If you use a metered space, you are not eligible for the no-ticket request.
Parking: See above Maximum Enrollment: 40 Cost: $5 MDH President and CEO Session Bill Murdock will discuss the services offered at MDH, including the new MDH Community Pharmacy. He will provide updates on insurance, provider recruitment efforts, MDH statistics, and other things. He will also take questions.
Instructor: Bill Murdock joined MDH as CFO in 2019 and was appointed President/CEO in 2024. He has thirty years’ experience in healthcare systems.
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 23 Time: 10 – 11 a.m. Place: Spoon River College Community Outreach Center, 2500 E. Jackson St.
Parking: At the site Maximum Enrollment: 35 Cost: $5
Create a Ceramic Autumn Bread Tray Celebrate the arrival of autumn at the Macomb Park District Ceramics Studio as we create a memorable and beautiful tray that you can enjoy using year after year! In this course, we’ll combine slab rolling and impressed textures to create a useful tray perfect for your autumn table and favorite seasonal bread. Be sure to wear clothes that can get a little messy. We can’t wait to welcome you to the studio for a morning in clay.
Instructor: Natalie Shelly is an artist and educator. She is the ceramics coordinator and naturalist educator at the Macomb Park District.
Date: Thursday, Sept. 25 from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Place: Macomb Park District Ceramics Studio, 1406 N. Randolph St.
Parking: At the site Maximum Enrollment: 16 Cost: $19
Armchair Traveler
Thursday, Sept. 25: Laurie Black and Suzan Nash traveled to Iceland, along with other Macomb area residents, on this YMCA sponsored trip. They will share their adventures as they searched for the Northern Lights on this beautiful island of fire and ice in the North Atlantic.
Thursday, Oct. 2: Timothy Collins and Shannon L. Price traveled with their son Daniel on a three-week trip to Germany, Czech Republic, and Austria. They traveled to Lauterbach and Dresden in Germany, Prague in the Czech Republic, Vienna and Salzburg in Austria, and Ismaning in Germany. Their adventure included historical venues, spectacular train rides, magnificent scenery, artistic activities, incredible dining, and unique accommodations, along with a few unplanned events that required patience and flexibility during their travels.
Thursday, October 9: Join Steve Hopper as he describes cruising the Rhone and the Seine rivers in France last summer. Some of the highlights include Provence, Lyon, Paris and Normandy.
Thursday, October 23: In 2012, God definitely took a chance on the Gilliland family who founded (unexpectedly for them) a school in the heart of Kampala, Uganda. Todd and Wendy invite you to join their journey as they share the experiences of living in Uganda. From 23 students and 6 staff, 12 years later the school has 300 plus students and 57 staff strong. It continues to be a labor of love which they are very thankful to still be an integral part of.
Thursday, November 13: Travel with Sandy Shearer and David Leath as they describe their 12- day Pharaohs and Pyramids Tour in Egypt on the Viking Osiris. You will begin with 3 days of exploring Cairo and then sail down the Nile. On the way you will see archeological treasures around Aswan and Luxor, hot air balloons over the Valley of the Kings, visit Queen Nefertari’s Tomb in the Valley of Queens, see the Sphinx staring at a blue sky and much more.
Coordinator: Steve Hopper has coordinated the LIFE Armchair Traveler program for several years, and he has traveled to all 7 continents.
Date: Thursdays, Sept. 25, Oct. 2, 9, 23, and Nov. 13 from 1:30 – 3 p.m.
Place: Spoon River College Community Outreach Center, 2500 E. Jackson St.
Parking: At the site Maximum Enrollment: 35 Cost: $15 Pontoon Ride on Spring Lake Enjoy a relaxing pontoon ride around beautiful Spring Lake. As you look for local wildlife, you can ask questions about fish, plants, and birds, as well as about services that the Spring Lake facility offers.
Instructor: Ryan Hansen is the president of Spring Lake Management, Inc.
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 1 or (rain date) Thursday, Oct. 2 from 11 a.m. - noon Place: Spring Lake Park, 620 Spring Lake Park Rd.
Parking: At the bottom of the hill by the bait shop Maximum Enrollment: 12 Cost: $5 Vaccines for Adults There is a lot of conflicting information concerning vaccines. We will discuss how vaccines work, age recommendations for certain vaccines, where to get them and coverage for them.
Instructor: Jennifer Plate is the Community Health Director for McDonough County Health Department with 23 years of public health experience and 28 years in nursing.
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 1 from 2 - 3 p.m.
Place: McDonough County Health Department, 505 E. Jackson St.
Parking: At the site Maximum Enrollment: 20 Cost: $5 WIU Buildings - Cradle to Grave and Everything in Between This class will discuss the status of buildings on the WIU campus. You will see behind-the-scenes photos, learn about the construction of some buildings, the upkeep and maintenance, renovation and finally the decision-making process to demolish them.
Instructor: Ted Renner is the Deputy Director of Facilities Management over Facilities Planning and Construction at Western Illinois University.
Date: Thursday, Oct. 2 from 6 - 7 p.m.
Place: Sandburg Lounge in the basement of the WIU Union. A no-ticket request will be made for this class so you can park in the parking lots on either side of the Union. If you use a metered space, you are not eligible for the no-ticket request.
Maximum Enrollment: 25 Cost: $5 Paying Without Cash – Mobile Payments In this class you will learn to use cash apps to transfer cash or pay for items on your phone. Apps discussed will be Venmo, PayPal, Apple Pay, and QR Code. Also, you will learn the dangers and pitfalls of using the different apps. You need to bring your cell phone to class.
Instructor: Julie-Anne Pickett is a wealth advisor at IPI Wealth Management, Inc.
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 7 from 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Place: Sandburg Lounge in the basement of the WIU Union. A no-ticket request will be made for this class so you can park in the parking lots on either side of the Union. If you use a metered space, you are not eligible for the no-ticket request.
Maximum Enrollment: 20 Cost: $5
Watch upcoming issues of the Community News Brief for additional classes or visit www.wiu.edu/sao/outreach/ adult_learning_op/ LIFEmacomb.php
