Upon his election, President Donald Trump moved a portrait of Andrew Jackson to a place of honor in the Oval Office. In 2020, rope-wielding protestors tried to pull the statue of Jackson outside the White House to the ground. Famous for his fiery temper and populism, President Andrew Jackson was both loved and despised in his time and he remains a controversial figure to this day. In his talk, Professor Ross will discuss Jackson’s presidency and explain why Jackson was, and is, such a contentious and consequential figure in the American story.

In 1792, President George Washington announced America’s first official architectural design competition – for the future U.S. Capitol Building. He rejected a series of uninspired and even bizarre proposed designs before enthusiastically embracing William Thornton’s distinctive submission. That competition effectively established an official neoclassical style for public buildings in Washington and across the country that lasted well into the 20th century, and inaugurated a practice of design competitions for public buildings and national memorials that continues to this day. In this talk, we’ll review the legacy of the Capitol competition and consider whether public competitions are still relevant.  (See related classes #403 and 423.)

(changed to online only)  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.

In 1792, President George Washington announced America’s first official architectural design competition – for the future U.S. Capitol Building. He rejected a series of uninspired and even bizarre proposed designs before enthusiastically embracing William Thornton’s distinctive submission. That competition effectively established an official neoclassical style for public buildings in Washington and across the country that lasted well into the 20th century, and inaugurated a practice of design competitions for public buildings and national memorials that continues to this day. In this talk, we’ll review the legacy of the Capitol competition and consider whether public competitions are still relevant.  (See related classes #403 and 423.)

(At the instructor's request, this class date has been changed from June 7 to June 29.) The new age of computing means we barely ever store things on our devices anymore.  Instead, we keep our beloved photos, documents, and videos in the ubiquitous "cloud." However, cloud computing takes many forms and it can become confusing to figure out how to get the most of each service. This class covers the major providers such as Microsoft, Apple and Google and the applications that are most commonly cloud-based, such as streaming, file storage and office applications.  

(At the instructor's request, this class date has been changed from June 7 to June 29.) The new age of computing means we barely ever store things on our devices anymore.  Instead, we keep our beloved photos, documents, and videos in the ubiquitous "cloud." However, cloud computing takes many forms and it can become confusing to figure out how to get the most of each service. This class covers the major providers such as Microsoft, Apple and Google and the applications that are most commonly cloud-based, such as streaming, file storage and office applications.  

Please join us for Oasis Volunteer Day at Comfort Cases. Comfort Cases serves children being placed in foster care.  Most are removed from their homes with little more than the clothes on their backs.  Through Comfort Cases, these children receive a special bag containing a cozy new pair of pajamas, a brand new warm blanket, and a new stuffed animal to hug during the traumatic transition into foster care. Volunteers will meet at the Comfort Cases National Center to help with processing donations, counting inventory, assembling Comfort Cases, and other miscellaneous tasks. Volunteers are responsible for their own transportation.  Meet no later than 2 pm at 9300 Gaither Road, Gaithersburg, MD  20877 (note new location). Please wear comfortable clothes that you can move in and closed-toe shoes for standing. Limit:  10

Ambassador Rubin will highlight challenges and opportunities to the U.S. foreign service in the modern world. He will stress the importance of strengthening U.S. diplomacy as we compete for economic and political influence on the global stage.

Ambassador Rubin will highlight challenges and opportunities to the U.S. foreign service in the modern world. He will stress the importance of strengthening U.S. diplomacy as we compete for economic and political influence on the global stage.

(changed to online only) 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.

With age, bones tend to shrink in size and density, making them weaker and more likely to fracture.   Learn about bone health during the aging process along with osteoporosis prevention and improvement.

The French Revolution inspired painter Jacques Louis David’s sublime Death of Marat and Eugene Delacroix’s heroic Liberty Leading the People. These paintings are powerful statements about the ideals, the sacrifice, and the moral conflict associated with the revolution and its aftermath. In this talk, we’ll consider how artists including David, Goya, Delacroix, and Delaroche interpreted the shifting sands of revolutionary politics and their own changing allegiances – themes that resonate today in the toppling of Confederate statues and other contested chapters of American history.

The French Revolution inspired painter Jacques Louis David’s sublime Death of Marat and Eugene Delacroix’s heroic Liberty Leading the People. These paintings are powerful statements about the ideals, the sacrifice, and the moral conflict associated with the revolution and its aftermath. In this talk, we’ll consider how artists including David, Goya, Delacroix, and Delaroche interpreted the shifting sands of revolutionary politics and their own changing allegiances – themes that resonate today in the toppling of Confederate statues and other contested chapters of American history.

“The world is never the same once a good poem has been added to it,” Dylan Thomas once remarked. By that measure, this celebrated Welsh poet changed the world many times over, becoming famous not only for his lyrical, soul-stirring poetry, but also his turbulent, hard-drinking lifestyle. Join us as we “burn and rage at close of day” in celebration of this incandescent spirit. Author Daniel Stashower explores Thomas’s life and legacy, and actor Scott Sedar offers dramatic readings of his most acclaimed poems.

Hypertension or high blood pressure is the most common of all cardiovascular diseases in the industrialized world, affecting 40 million people in the U.S. alone. It's the leading cause of stroke and the major cause of heart attacks.

Drivers who complete this course may receive a multi-year discount on their auto insurance, depending on state regulations. Exciting new content includes information on brain health, railroad and animal crossings, plus expanded information on car technology and updates on the many new laws in Maryland. A number of tips will be offered to help reduce your chances of having an accident and getting injured. The fee is due at the start of class ($20 for AARP members and $25 for non-members). You can pay by cash or check (made out to AARP). Bring your driver's license, AARP card, cash or check, and a pen. There will be a break for lunch.

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.

We will take a look at the struggle by the Irish people for freedom from 800 years of British rule. To wage their bitter war with the powerful British Empire from 1919 to 1921, Irish nationalists turned to novel tactics both military and political. George Mason University history professor Kevin Matthews discusses how this war set the standard for other independence struggles in the 20th century. He traces its development and examines how the Irish gained their freedom, but at a price: the partition of their country, leaving six northeastern counties under British rule, a legacy that is still a source of conflict to this day.