Green Burial: the Way to Go

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Curious about green burial? Join us for a 90-minute course exploring eco-friendly end-of-life choices and their benefits for people and the planet. We’ll look at burial and funeral traditions through history and how practices have evolved. Delve into green burial and other alternative options as meaningful ways to align end-of-life decisions with personal, cultural, and environmental values. Explore end-of-life planning with tools to help you envision your wishes and create a meaningful ceremony. This thought-provoking course provides the opportunity to reflect on our finite lives and break the taboo of discussing death and dying in a supportive and open environment.

Participants: Min 10

The Old Mill, a focal point of McConnells Mill State Park, was in operation from 1854-1928. The grist mill processed wheat, buckwheat, corn, and oats. This program shares a photo tour of the Old Mill to learn about each grain, and the machinery used to turn the grain into flour, corn meal, and animal feed. We’ll also “meet” the people who operated the mill, and how power was harnessed from the Slippery Rock Creek to operate the machinery.

Participants: Min 5

Want to retire, but not sure how to ensure you are adequately covering your healthcare needs without breaking the bank? Learn the basics of options after you retire and before you become Medicare eligible. This event is only for educational purposes; no plan specific benefits or details will be shared. 

Our calendars are full of holidays and days of remembrance. Most of them are based on past people or events. So, where do they come from and what do they represent? In this program we will discuss ten holidays from Independence Day - July 4th to the New Years Day - January 1st. Some are more well known than others, but they all have a unique and fascinating history.

Participants: Min 3

Photos of a trip to Iceland and general information about traveling there. 

An introduction to Canine Companions and its mission: to enhance the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained service dogs at no cost to the recipient. It will be followed by a short demonstration of some of the skills by a puppy in training.

Participants: Min 10

Take charge of your financial legacy today. A certified financial planner will discuss how YOU can support those people and causes that you care about through strategic gifting such as direct giving, donating appreciated assets, donor advised funds and others. It is never too soon to plan and implement your giving legacy!

I've been asked by ILR members if I could present a class on possible one day trips for our members. I'm employed by Anderson Coach and Travel, Greenville, PA and they provide a variety of interesting local one day trips. This would not be a fundraiser. Rather, it would be a way for our membership to identify and take a local day trip together to promote friendship and a fun experience! Sign up and we'll discuss the possibilities.

Participants: Min 10

Learn to play mahjong. Mahjong is a tile-based game of skill, strategy, and luck that originated in China in the 19th century. Typically played by four people with a set of 144 intricately designed tiles, it is similar in concept to card games like Gin Rummy. Each participant needs a card ($13.00) from the National Mahjong League. 

Class Fee: $13.00/participant, payable to the ILR at the time of registration.

Participants: Min 4, Max 8

Confused by Medicare? What is Part A, B, C, D? What is the difference between a Medicare Supplement and a Medicare Advantage Plan? When can I make changes? Learn the basics of Medicare eligible health insurance options in retirement. This event is only for educational purposes; no plan specific benefits or details will be shared. 

Want to have fun playing mobility friendly games? Then this class is for you. We will use items that you can find around your home so that you can play them later. One game will use a parachute. Be prepared to laugh, have fun and engage in gentle movements.

This presentation provides an overview of the field of music therapy, including its historical development and current clinical applications. Attendees will explore how music therapists use music intentionally to support health, wellness, and therapeutic goals across diverse populations. Participants will also have the opportunity to experience how music affects the body and brain by scanning brainwaves using EEG and using various physiological sensors. Attendees will gain practical insights into how music can be used intentionally to promote well-being in everyday life. 

Would you like to have a better understanding of all the dots and lines on a sheet of music? This is the class for you! During three sessions, you will learn the basics of reading a new written language: music. Each class will build on the prior class. 

 Critical to understanding American literature and history in this 250th anniversary year of our nation is a study of New England’s Nathaniel Hawthorne. Steeped in Massachusetts and its post Puritan times in Boston, Salem, and Concord, this classic author combined his heritage with his deeply reflective literary talents. Whether short story or novel, the author developed settings, characters, and plots that intrigue the reader and create both timeless examinations and fascinating debate. With the short story Young Goodman Brown and Hester Prynne of Scarlet Letter - both important to pursue, reading and discussion time should be wonderfully rewarding. 

Come learn about the fundamentals of nutrition. During this session we will cover label reading, reducing fat, salt and sugar as well as how to create a balanced plate. We base our lesson on the American Heart Association guidelines. Class will include a healthy food tasting.

Participants: Min 10, Max 35

Join a spectacular trip to the Pacific Northwest to California. The journey begins in Seattle’s lively Public Market, Space Needle, and Chihuly Glass Garden. Taking a Ferry across Puget Sound, we head to Portland, Oregon, with stops at Mount St. Helens, Rose Gardens, and Multnomah Falls. The rugged rocky Pacific Coast awaits us with cormorants, sea lions, and wonders of nature. Along the way to San Francisco, we visit California State/National Parks full of giant ancient Redwoods and coastal forests. In the city we watch out for WAYMOS, visit the Japanese Gardens, Fisherman’s Wharf air show, and Chinatown. 

Pennsylvania has had many notable wildlife restoration successes including whitetail deer, elk, bald eagles, ospreys, river otters, and fishers. How these species were brought back to thrive today will be presented.

This class introduces practical strategies for reducing residential burglary risk by examining how burglars evaluate potential targets. Drawing on interviews with incarcerated burglars and research on target selection, the session explains how features such as occupancy cues, visibility, and accessibility influence burglary decisions. Participants will learn common mistakes residents make when assessing their own home security. The class emphasizes simple, realistic prevention steps that can make a home less attractive, less accessible, and riskier for burglars to target.

Participants: Min 10