Fun Facts   

As American as apple pie? How about as American as beer? Much better.

Indigenous people were brewing beer long before the pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock. Oh, and why did the pilgrims land there? Beer. Actually, the impending lack thereof caused a bit of a detour to the original plan.

Our country is a melting pot of nationalities, ethnicities, and cultures, and our food and drink reflects this wide-ranging composition. We'll explore the development of beer as it weaves through the history of America, and, of course, there will be samples.

Note: Students must 21 or older. All registered participants are fully aware alcohol will be distributed in the classroom for possible consumption and will accept full responsibility for transportation to and from the classroom.

Discover the remarkable evolution of U.S. military small arms during the First and Second World Wars. This course will explore how the United States became the "Arsenal of Democracy," supplying not only its own forces but also those of its allies through industrial innovation and mass production.

You'll learn about the design, function, and history of the weapons that helped shape the modern battlefield—from bolt-action rifles and semi-automatic pistols to revolvers and carbines. Topics include:

 

• Weapon types and their intended battlefield roles
• Caliber, dimensions, and technical specifications
• Manufacturing origins, including production years and facilities
• Distribution to various military branches and theaters of war
• Total production numbers and historical context

The instructor will present a curated selection of original U.S. small arms from the era. At the conclusion of the class, participants will have the unique opportunity to view—and carefully handle—some of these authentic historical artifacts.

Whether you're a military history enthusiast, collector, or simply curious, this course offers an unforgettable hands-on journey through America's wartime armament legacy.

Hollywood and the motion picture industry looms large in our lives. We've seen great movies, mediocre movies and flat out bad ones. Jerry Colen will be with us not to discuss any movie, but to talk with us about some of the sex, scandals and murders with which some of our famous, or is it infamous movie stars have been involved. Jerry says that this lecture will be a bitter-sweet, perhaps, funny and always entertaining look at the "other side" of the camera.

Tourism has been an integral part of Florida's identity and economy since it became part of the US in 1821.  This presentation delves into the variety of Florida tourist attractions throughout the state's history, looking at how natural Florida was marketed to visitors. It examines how things changed dramatically in October 1971 with the opening of Walt Disney World and how tourism affects the state today. 

Hear the 'back-story' concerning movie studios, the stars they created, and the murders, mysteries and mayhem of Hollywood's Golden Age.