As Umbrella Academy approaches its second anniversary on June 7, it continues to deliver stimulating and varied classes to eager and enthusiastic learners of all ages. Some are engaging discussions, others are hands-on, and still others offer information that causes the mind to churn with reflection.
Classes are offered on alternating Tuesday evenings from 6:45 to 8:15 p.m., upstairs in Owego’s Coburn Free Library located at 275 Main St. in Owego unless otherwise indicated. All sessions are free and refreshments are provided.
On Tuesday, April 17, Ed Nizalowski will present on “The Ku Klux Klan in Tioga County.” The Ku Klux Klan began in the South as a reaction to the freedoms gained by African-Americans in the Reconstruction South. Its reign did not last very long but had a major revival in the 1920’s, largely in the North and West.
From late 1922 through 1927 the Klan was a very active organization in Tioga County, with Binghamton serving as the New York State headquarters. A recent book, titled The Second Coming of the Klan, gives a greater perspective on how this organization became a major force in the 1920’s, including having significant impact at the 1924 Democratic Presidential Convention.
Nizalowski will give an overview of Klan activity in Tioga County and other parts of the Southern Tier, including some personal experiences and how this relates to a recent surge in hate crimes, xenophobia and white nationalism.
On Tuesday, May 1, J. Ladd Yost, will present “The Science of Music.” Music is all, well, not entirely all, but a lot about math and science. Discover the math and science (acoustics) behind the beauty that we call music, and learn a little about those mathematicians and scientist, both ancient and modern, who have helped to make music what it is today.
Please note that this session will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, located at 117 Main St. in Owego. Yost holds a Bachelor of Music from the Crane School of Music and a Master of Arts in Teaching and Biology from Binghamton University.
On Tuesday, May 15, Dick Orth will offer “Becoming a Transformational Communicator, Part 2: A Tool for Providing Constructive Feedback and Resolving Conflict.” Being an effective leader involves the capacity to give and receive feedback and to also resolve interpersonal conflicts in a constructive manner.
We can most likely think of a person with whom we have a critical issue that we need to resolve. That is, we have a disagreement or conflict with someone where our opinions vary, the stakes are high, and our emotions run strong.
The purpose of this interactive presentation is to learn how to apply a proven six-step Constructive Conversation Process that uses a win/win approach for providing empathetic feedback, resolving conflict and producing sustainable solutions. Participants will also work on a sample case study to demonstrate the process.
Orth is a transformational facilitator, with over 39 years of experience with IBM as a change leader, facilitator, trainer, leadership coach and business analyst. He helps organizations and individuals improve their capabilities in the areas of leadership development, cultural and process transformation, collaborative problem solving and decision-making, and process facilitation. He is an IBM certified IT Specialist and also a volunteer community mediator.
On Tuesday, May 29, Collen Wolpert, naturalist and butterfly and moth enthusiast, will present on “Caterpillar Gardening: What Butterflies and Moths Need to Complete Their Life Cycle.”
Do you plant lots of showy flowers so you can see colorful wings fluttering about your yard? Gardening for butterflies and moths (i.e., leps) is more than planting nectar sources for adults.
Learn how you can assist them in all stages of their lifecycle as well as distinguish them from pests, so that all of us can enjoy these beautiful creatures in the future. Learn specific things you can do to help Monarchs and what a Woolly Bear caterpillar turns into. Learn how more caterpillars in your yard can lead to more fireflies in your yard.
There will be an opportunity to ask questions about the beautiful bugs in your yard, along with handouts and children’s activity sheets. Please note that this session will be held at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Butterfly Garden located at 56 West Main St. in Owego, unless the weather prohibits it.
On Tuesday, June 12, Cat Foreman will facilitate a discussion on “Gender Identity vs. Sexual Assignment.”
On Tuesday, June 26, George Lohmann, wildflower hobbyist, will offer another “Wildflower Walk.” Led by Lohmann last July, Umbrella Academy participants checked out what was growing at the Hickories. Then in late August, a special request was made to do the same while strolling along Owego’s River Walk, identifying the wildflowers there.
Now it’s time to see what’s growing in June. Unless a request is made about exploring a new location, this session will return to the Hickories.
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