Gulf Park Courses

 

 

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Spring 2023 Courses

ARTS

This course is a continuation of Watercolor for the Absolute Beginner (new students are welcome too!). Participants will explore watercolor techniques and create a new project in an informal, relaxed environ-ment each week. Supply List: Watercolor paints, watercolor paper, pencil and masking tape. Dr. Tammy Gragg paints botanical and nature studies in oil, watercolor and acrylic. Her work has been exhibited locally, in California and Oregon. She studied art at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, New York Academy of Art and University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, and is an alumna of the Medical College of Georgia and Arizona State University.

Students will learn to play the guitar with chords, strumming and picking methods, from simple folk songs to more complex renditions toward the end of the class. Students must provide an instrument and tuning mechanism. Pat Noonan is a retired nurse practitioner who graduated from Touro Infirmary School of Nursing in New Orleans, from USM Gulf Park with a BS in psychology and from the University of South Alabama with a certified clinical nurse specialist and master’s degree in nursing. Pat also earned nurse practitioner certification in adult health and psychiatric mental health and taught in the BS nursing and online psychiatric nurse practitioner program at the University of South Alabama.

Break out the old bags of beads and let's make something fun! We will learn simple methods to make a wreath, a tray and a conical tree. After seeing some fun projects that can be made with your parade bounty, we will work to complete at least one of the projects. Supply List: Assorted Mardi Gras beads, glue gun (optional), wreath form, conical tree form or a simple wooden tray. Dr. Christi Magrath is a scientist who also enjoys arts and crafts. 

Enjoy a guided walking tour through downtown Biloxi exploring how the Biloxi Public Arts Program has played a crucial role in the rebirth of the Main Street District. Corey Christy is a native Biloxian. He returned to Biloxi after college, in 2013, to begin following his passion for his hometown through his grassroots activities with various volunteer positions, boards and local organizations. Corey is the past president of the Biloxi Main Street, where he founded the Biloxi Public Arts Program. He is the recipient of several awards for his volunteer efforts at the state and local levels.

Explore the basics of cross stitch, including basic stitches. Learn types of fabric, thread, needles and how to read a pattern. Finishing techniques will also be demonstrated. We will begin to stitch together, and everyone can finish their projects independently. Supply List: Beginner's cross stitch kit (thread, fabric, needles and pattern.) Michelle Magrath-Greene is an avid crafter who loves needlework and beading. She lives in Alabama but calls Mississippi home and enjoys sharing her excitement for arts and crafts. 

HEALTH AND FITNESS

This class will teach traditional physical meditative practice. It is designed to build strength, improve health and flexibility, reduce stress and increase energy flow. It is for newcomers to learn and for experienced Tai Chi followers to enhance their skills. Susie Pham has practiced Tai Chi for years and was trained by Grand Master Shi DeRu, 31st generation descendant of the Shaolin Temple.

This class will teach traditional physical meditative practice. It is designed to build strength, improve health and flexibility, reduce stress and increase energy flow. This class is for those who have previously taken Tai Chi for the Beginner. Susie Pham has practiced Tai Chi for years and was trained by Grand Master Shi DeRu, 31st generation descendant of the Shaolin Temple.

This two-part course will suggest how to recognize common warning signs of Alzheimer's and dementia and compare them to typical age-related changes; present tips for approaching someone about memory concerns; explain the importance of early detection and benefits of diagnosis; and identify possible tests and assessments for the diagnostic process. Part Two will explain the communication changes that take place throughout the course of the disease; decode the verbal and behavioral messages delivered by someone living with dementia and respond in ways that are helpful to the person and identify strategies to help you connect and communicate at each stage of the disease. Kristen White is a licensed social worker who received her master's degree in social work from the University of Alabama. Kristen has experience working with people with Alzheimer's and their caregivers in nursing homes and hospital settings. She has been the program coordinator for the Alzheimer's Association since 2019, educating caregivers and the public about this disease.

This class will show pictures of the eyes of clients and explain how health can be observed via the iris and sclera. Participants will learn and practice "muscle testing" to show how one can self-test energetically. Prepare to ask questions and participate in the fun! Betty Sue O'Brian holds a master's degree from USM and is a retired instructor. She became a traditional naturopath and iridologist after retirement. She presents worldwide on topics relating to natural health and wellness. If you would like to know more about her, check out her websites, www.bettysueobrian.com and www.iridologyacademy.org.

HUMANITIES  

How do we come to understand the Buddhist belief that "Everything in life and the universe is in an endless process of impermanence, change and decay?" The life of the Buddha explains his process of understanding impermanence. Join us in this seminar as we explore the life of Siddhartha Gautama and his enlightenment as The Buddha. His history and teachings convey the richness of the philosophy and the religious practice of Buddhism. Victoria Hippard, MSW, LCSW, PhD has taught as an adjunct professor in social work at Tulane and religious studies at Loyola in New Orleans. She enjoys exploring the ways in which people find meaning in their worlds. She now lives in Whitehouse, Texas.

The death of Queen Elizabeth II has sparked renewed interest in the House of Windsor, the governing royal house of Great Britain and its commonwealth. This two-part seminar will examine the origins of the House of Windsor, which began after the reign of Queen Victoria and was so-named in 1917 by King George V because there was so much anti-German feeling in Britain. Come learn about the reigns of George V, Edward VIII (Duke of Windsor), George VI, Elizabeth II and the beginning of the reign of Charles III. Rev. Jon Caridad is a retired Episcopal priest with extensive experience in education, ancient history and biblical studies.

There are five major religions being practiced in the world today with many variations and expressions. This course is an overview of the five major religious faiths, the texts which each tradition uses and what the Higher Power is for each tradition. Rev. Jon Caridad is a retired Episcopal priest with extensive experience in education, ancient history and biblical studies.

Learn about the exciting history of Mardi Gras in Coastal Mississippi! For the first week we will discuss the historical origins of Carnival, how it came to the Americas and the unique history of Mardi Gras in Coastal Mississippi. The second week will meet at the Coastal Mississippi Mardi Gras Museum to explore the collection and learn of krewes and clubs in Mississippi. Anna Harris is the Executive Director at the Coastal Mississippi Mardi Gras Museum in Biloxi, where she has worked for over two years. She holds a BA in art history from Hollins University in Roanoke, VA and a MA in art history from Boston University. Anna has extensive curatorial experience in museums and galleries, as well as six years teaching The History of Art at William Carey University. 

The Stewards of Children training empowers adults to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse through awareness, education and stigma reduction. For every person trained in this curriculum, ten children are protected from becoming victims of child sexual abuse. Lauren Saucier is the Lead Advocate Supervisor for Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) of Hancock County. She has been with CASA for 9 years in a supervisory capacity and has been teaching Stewards of Children, Darkness to Light curriculum for 2 years. Cynthia Chauvin is Executive Director of the CASA Program of Hancock County. Cynthia has expanded the CASA organization in Hancock County from 26 volunteers to over 100 and the organization is currently serving 100% of the county's foster care population and is piloting an expansion project to utilize CASA volunteers on in-home cases. 

This course will be a review of the Ocean Springs Davis Bayou. We will discuss how it started out as the Magnolia State Park and what goes on at the visitor's center and the bayou within the park. We will also discuss the Civilian Conservation Corps camp and the crash boat base. Patrick Alford is a retired educator who studied at The University of Southern Mississippi.

In its over 300-year history, Biloxi and the MS Coast have been home to some wonderful characters who have fascinating stories to tell. This tour of the Old Biloxi Cemetery will include narratives and graveside portrayals of musicians, singers and bands throughout the Gulf Coast's long and storied past. The stories of the Coast artists include jazz legends, band leaders, opera singers and even a Hollywood starlet. The historic cemetery is rich in history, stories and beautiful tributes to the departed. Lauri Quave Rosetti is an administrator for Preserve Biloxi and organizes the Annual Biloxi Cemetery Tour. 

LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

The planning, writing, editing, and finishing of this session's OLLI Expressions is starting. Come find out how this particular sausage is made. Have you seen the three volumes of USM's OLLI writers' collected works? Come find out more about contributing to the next volume. (No, we don't know when that will be yet.) Bring questions. Dallas Gorbett is a lazy lay-about and sometimes writer, sometimes poet, sometimes photographer who really enjoys the OLLI community. Only a past president of the OLLI Advisory Board can get away with this self-deprecating humor in a bio and an equally witty course description. Enjoy the learning and laughter in this course!

John Grisham's latest novel is set in Biloxi and surrounding areas. The book looks back at Biloxi in the early days of "the strip" and is a somewhat fictional account of efforts to clean up the coast. The storyline pits two old friends who grew up in Biloxi against each other in the cleanup battle. Join a discussion of the book that will include personal recollections of the city and events that are "fictionally" depicted in the book.  Bring your own recollections to the roundtable discussion and share more about Biloxi in the "old days." Dr. Lorraine Magrath is Director of the Troy University Carr School of Accountancy. She received her under-graduate and master's degrees from The University of Southern Mississippi and her PhD from the University of Alabama. She loves coding and crafting and sitting in the sun with her dog Splash.

The Arabian Nights, also known as 1001 Nights, has thrilled readers for generations with its tales of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Aladdin and the voyages of Sinbad the Sailor. At the heart of the story is an account of a king who became a murderous monster after his wife betrayed him and how the great storyteller Shahrazad taught him to love again, to see women as human once again and finally to regain his own humanity. Dr. Richard Scott Nokes is a professor of medieval literature at Troy University. In fan circles, he's known as Professor Awesome, PhD. His most recent scholarly book is Beowulf in Comic Books and Graphic Novels.

Helen Spence grew up with the river people on the White River in Arkansas. In 1931, she killed the bully who murdered her father and beat her mother; her distinct brand of justice landed her in and out of prison. Helen's life, the river culture, her brutal treatment from prison officials and her senseless death make her story truly unique. Leah Holmes holds advanced degrees in literature and English. A retired high-school teacher and USM English Instructor, she's now intrigued by strange and thought-provoking true crime. stories. Leah is currently the host of "True Crime Mondays" at the Bay St. Louis Public Library, where she also serves as Branch Manager. 

Gather ‘round for the incredible story of Michael Malloy, survivor of sixty-seven attempts on his life, mostly while he was heavily intoxicated! The target of a life insurance scam, Malloy survived sardines full of shrapnel, poisoned oysters and other creative efforts during the early 1930s. With regular insurance payments due, killing Malloy became a costly endeavor. Leah Holmes holds advanced degrees in literature and English. A retired high-school teacher and USM English instructor, she's now intrigued by strange and thought-provoking true crime stories. Leah is currently the host of "True Crime Mondays" at the Bay St. Louis Public Library, where she also serves as Branch Manager. 

PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

In this seminar we will discuss getting your garden ready for spring. We will also talk about vegetable varieties and production recommendations. Dr. Christine Coker has been with the Mississippi State University's Coastal Research and Extension Center for 21 years. She is Research and Extension Professor of Urban Horticulture and Research Leader of the Beaumont Horticultural Unit in Perry County. Passionate about feeding people, her research and service activities intersect at the dining table with a focus on food security from production to consumption.  

This seminar will look at housing options for seniors. A panel will discuss the many options available to seniors on the MS Gulf Coast. Options include affordable housing, income-based housing, independent living senior housing, assisted living, memory care living and skilled nursing home. The panel will explain the differences in the types of housing, as well as the pros and cons of each type. As a Coast native, Lee Ann Newman has become very involved in the senior activities in south Mississippi. For the last 9.5 years, she worked for a local hospice as the Volunteer Coordinator and Community Outreach Coordinator. Recently, Lee Ann became the publisher of the Seniors Blue Book of Southern Mississippi.

Join us to examine the past events in the rise of the craft, how it has evolved and how it survives today. We will examine the tools and practice and compare it to other religions. Connie Rainey is a paranormal investigator with 13 years’ experience. She has researched the occult in many forms, voodoo, witchcraft, ufo, cryptids and many religions. These skills are needed to approach clients and spirits when investigating.

Come learn about gardening as form of nature connection that can inspire the "active cherishing" so greatly needed to improve planetary health. This course will introduce different forms of nature therapy, share transformative moments of connection found in gardens and highlight the changing role of gardening as it relates to restoring fragmented habitats and increasing biodiversity. Discover a groundbreaking project called Homegrown National Park™. Cofounded by renowned entomologist and best-selling author, Dr. Doug Tallamy, Homegrown National Park™ is the largest cooperative conservation project ever conceived or attempted. This grassroots call to action needs small efforts by many people to achieve collective success. By joining Homegrown National Park™, contribute to "reweaving" the tapestry of life and rejuvenating biodiversity where you live. Nadine Phillips is a lifelong nature lover. She is most at home and most herself in the forest. Nadine has led Forest Therapy walks since 2018 and is a certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide, accredited by the International Nature and Forest Therapy Alliance (INFTA). All her interests revolve around nature and promoting biodiversity to support the interconnected Web of Life. Nadine is also a longtime volunteer at The Crosby Arboretum.

Come learn to select blooming colorful plants this spring while visiting Pine Hills Nursery. Polly will teach you how to coordinate and care for the best color plants that will bloom all spring. Polly Cuevas has been manager at Pine Hills Nursery since its beginning in 1986.

Want to learn some basic sewing terms and tips? Come have some fun making a wrap apron to wear and enjoy! Supply List: McCall's pattern M9890, medium weight fabric (WASH fabric before you come to class), scissors (pair for paper and pair for fabric), 1 box straight pins, 1 spool all-purpose thread, tape measure and sewing machine (only for the 2nd class, if you have one.) Terry Necaise is a retired school nutrition administrator with over twenty-four years working in Mississippi Public Schools. She received her BS in hotel and restaurant manage-ment from USM in 1983 and retired in 2010. She is also a veteran of the US Army. She taught the Mississippi Child Nutrition Managers recertification course for twenty years, is an avid seamstress and loves to share her knowledge with others.  

Ever wondered what a sportscaster does in their pregame coverage of a professional baseball game? During the 2023 Biloxi Shuckers baseball season, OLLI members will meet WXXV Sports Director Jeff Haeger at Biloxi's MGM Park to observe his live shots on the concourse with time for a Q & A session immediately following. Afterwards, attendees will enjoy a Shuckers game! Jeff Haeger is the Sports Director at WXXV-TV in Gulfport with nearly ten years of experience in the broadcast journalism field. He was named 2021 Mississippi Association of Broadcasters Small TV Sports Anchor of the Year. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at Southern Miss in Hattiesburg in 2013, graduating Summa Cum Laude from the Honors College.

The technique is simple and everything you need is already in your home. Let me show you how a few simple steps can turn a stale, overcooked cake into a soft, tender delight. Whether you use a box mix or a scratch recipe, the process is the same. With a little prior planning, it can save you time in the long run. Eloise Leffingwell is a retired independent retailer. In 1985, she signed up for a cake decorating class and, to her surprise, the first thing she learned was not decorating but a better way to bake a moist, tender cake. 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Join this seminar to learn how our three main neurological systems function and communicate between the brain and body to assist us. Discover strategies to use if you find yourself locked in unhealthy patterns. Valerie Loeschen Hale is a licensed clinical social worker who has been in private practice at Patterns Counseling Center in Laurel since 2002. Valerie received her master's in social work from the University of Kansas and completed a fellowship at the Menninger Clinic in 1995.

Join refuge staff for an overview of the refuge and learn more about how the staff manages the land to promote restoration of the original pine savanna habitat, home to many unique, rare and endangered species, like the critically endangered Mississippi Sandhill Crane. Melissa Perez has worked in resource management as a park/refuge ranger for twenty years. In her time with the Department of Interior, she has worked on islands off the Atlantic Coast to the Mojave desert of the American southwest (and many places in between.) She returned to her home, the Mississippi Gulf Coast, seven years ago and now works helping to protect and preserve the place she calls home. 

Using a curriculum developed by the National Institute of Health's National Cancer Institute, we will explore the science and biology of cancer. We will explore the ways cancer develops and spreads, the genes that promote cancerous growth and the types of cancer. Therapy and treatment will be discussed. Personal stories from cancer survivors and their friends or families can be shared, as well. Dr. Christi Magrath has a BS in Biochemistry and Microbiology from The University of Southern Mississippi and a PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology from Tulane. She was a biology professor for twenty years at Troy University in Alabama.

This seminar will cover bluebird mating, nesting and fledglings. Also included will be information about habitat, bluebird box placement and predators. John Lipscomb is a Master Naturalist residing on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He has been involved with birding most of his life. 

Come aboard for a 90-minute shoreline cruise on a quest for Atlantic bottle-nose dolphins. Snack bar service is available on board—no outside food or drinks are permitted. Please arrive 30 minutes before your departure time. Ship Island Excursions and the Skrmetta Family are celebrating 96 years of transporting visitors to the Mississippi Islands.

Apple wants people to create and express themselves to the world. "Everyone Can Create" is a curriculum series created by Apple to help users maximize the experience of owning an Apple product and creating content to share globally. This class will focus on utilizing the drawing functions in iPhoto to create illustrated photos and memes to share with the world. All one needs to participate is an iPhone or iPad and your imagination! Santha Walters is an Apple-trained instructional coach. She graduated from the Apple Learning Academy in Cupertino, California, in February of 2020. Now returning to the south from a life in the frigid north, Santha is excited to bring the ease of Apple tech and Apple learning to a new and exciting group at OLLI. She has also completed Apple Teacher for Swift Playgrounds (Apple's programming language) and is a certified Apple Teacher.

Apple wants people to create and express themselves to the world. "Everyone Can Create" is a curriculum series created by Apple to help users maximize the experience of owning an Apple product and creating content to share globally. In this class, we will focus on utilizing the drawing functions in "Clips" to create enhanced videos to share with the world. All one needs to participate is an Apple iPhone or iPad and your imagination! Santha Walters is an Apple-trained instructional coach. She graduated from the Apple Learning Academy in Cupertino, California, in February of 2020. Now returning to the south from a life in the frigid north, Santha is excited to bring the ease of Apple tech and Apple learning to a new and exciting group at OLLI. She has also completed Apple Teacher for Swift Playgrounds (Apple's programming language) and is a certified Apple Teacher.

From sea breezes to hurricanes, from El Nino to climate change, the ocean and atmosphere profoundly influence one another. We will explore how these two fluids interact from the smallest to the largest scales of time and space, and how these interactions help determine everything from our weather to the seafood industry to the future climate. James Rigney is an oceanographer and meteorologist who served 31 years with the Naval Oceanographic Office, retiring as Chief Scientist. He earned a BS and MS in meteorology from Florida State University with an emphasis in air-sea interaction.

This seminar will be an introduction to the night sky including constellations, planets and the formation of stars, planets and types of stars with examples visible with the naked eye. Rev. Jon Kaufman is a 1985 graduate of USM in physics with experience teaching astronomy labs. He is an amateur astronomer with a telescope and can offer an introduction to the solar system, stars and our galaxy. Jon is also a United Methodist Pastor with a master’s degree from Duke Divinity School at Duke University. He teaches courses on various subjects of the Bible, faith, ancient church history and holy land sites.

TRAVEL

As we learn to live post COVID-19 and return to a more normal life, people are starting to venture out and travel again. This class will provide information on how to plan travel and provide useful tips and tricks to make travel less stressful and more enjoyable. Dave Reed worked as a hydrologist/river forecaster for the National Weather Service for 32 years. Since his retirement, he has enjoyed traveling and pursuing his hobbies of bird watching and bird photography.

SPECIAL EVENTS

 

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS (SIGs)

 

GP Art (February - April)                                                        1st Friday at 9:30 a.m.

HB Art                                                                                        1st Friday at 1:00 p.m.

GP Coffee Chat (Resumes in February)                             2nd Friday at 9:30 a.m.

HB Knitting                                                                1st and 3rd Friday at 2:00 p.m.

HB Life Story and Poetry                                                     3rd Friday at 10:30 a.m.

HB MS Books and Authors                                                  4th Friday at 11:00 a.m. 

GP Book Club (Zoom only)                                                   3rd Friday at 1:00 p.m. 

HB Book Club                                                                      2nd Friday at 10:00 a.m.

GP Outdoors in South Mississippi                                       3rd Friday at 9:30 a.m.

Photography (Zoom)                                               1st and 3rd Fridays at 2:30 p.m.

GP Ukulele (Resumes in January)                                          Tuesdays at 2:30 p.m.

HB Ukulele                                                                                   Fridays at 2:00 p.m.