Rarely in modern military history has any unit identified so strongly with its commander as did Patton’s Third Army in the final campaigns of World War II. We will take a look at the Third Army, its commander, and its notable campaigns from the breakout from Normandy until it crossed Germany and entered Czechoslovakia. Along the way, we’ll discuss some vignettes about a few of the people in the Third Army. The Third Army was in combat only from August 1944 until May 1945 (that is, 281 days); but its contribution to the victory of the Western Allies was spectacular.

It reads like a thriller; yet the story of an almost ten-billion dollar disaster is all too true and a harbinger of times to come. Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada used to be America’s biggest foreign supplier of oil. Then came May 2016, and the usual cyclic fire in the adjacent northern-climate forest burned until August 2017. Charles Darwin credited the development of human society to both the development of language and the control of fire; in a hotter world, the control of fire is evolving. The book was a finalist for the National Book Award, was named on multiple Best Books of 2023 lists, and won the Baillie Gifford Prize. Please read the book so you can participate in our structured, facilitated, Zoom discussion. (Note: Please join the meeting at 3 pm if you would like some assistance using the features of Zoom. Otherwise, join us at 3:15 pm for the start of our discussion.)

Discover resources available at Montgomery County Public Libraries, from movie streaming to e-books and online courses, all free with your Library card. If you don't have a library card and would like one, you can sign up online for a digital card or get one at your local branch.

JCA's mission is to help older adults in the greater Washington, DC region thrive.  Learn about JCA’s information and referral programs. We provide personalized guidance on everything from housing to transportation and more.

Create a lovely, lemon hand scrub after exploring the therapeutic applications of essential oils (concentrated plant extracts) for maintaining healthy skin. These oils can address dryness, inflammation, and skin tone. We will learn about carrier oils such as jojoba, sweet almond, and coconut for diluting the essential oils and providing nourishment to the skin. Using simple, clean products can be fun and cost-effective with excellent results.  All supplies included in class fee.

Examining three major challenges our planet is facing: air pollution, water supply and climate change. Definitions, background, causes and predictions for the future, with a discussion of the potential role of engineering solutions at the institutional/educational level and the industry/commercial level.

Stress. It makes your heart pound, your breathing quicken and your forehead sweat. But while stress has been made into a public health enemy, new research suggests that stress may only be bad for you if you believe that to be the case. Psychologist Kelly McGonigal urges us to see stress as a positive and introduces us to an unsung mechanism for stress reduction: reaching out to others. We will watch this TED talk together and then engage in dialogue about it. Refreshments will be served! (See other TED Talk discussions, class #305 and 345)

Level of Difficulty: 2.5 out of 5 We'll walk along Rock Creek, look for summer wildflowers, interesting arthropods and enjoy a summer morning in the woods. Meet at the Veirs Mill Local Park, 4425 Garrett Park Road, Silver Spring, MD 20906.  Portajohns are available.  Walkers will leave promptly at 10:00 am, so plan to arrive and park before then. (See additional walks: #248, 349, 437)  

Examining four technologies that have great potential to play a major role in solving, mitigating or reversing earth’s big challenges: water desalination, carbon capture utilization and storage, and batteries for EV’s and grid energy storage. A discussion of the potential help that the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence can provide.