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Ventura County Astronomical Society

And the Moorpark College Foundation

Present: Comet Man Charles S. Morris

Charles S. Morris has seen over 300 comets. He’ll talk about how to visually observe comets, the pros and cons of digital imaging, and what the average person can contribute to science. Throughout his talk he’ll show stunning images of the comets he’s observed then wrap up his talk with a look ahead to significant comets in 2023.

Go to the Moorpark College Forum (applied Arts Bldg)

Before Solomon and before the First Temple, there was The City of David. What have the centuries left behind to tell us of this king and his kingdom? Archaeologists have worked tirelessly to reveal the secrets of life held in the layered rocks of Jerusalem and in the city that bears his name today.

Christine Maasdam is pleased to share her most recent experience at the dig site in Israel. This lecture will outline the topography of early Jerusalem and provide an overview of the wars and cultures that have left physical objects embedded in the landscape to bear witness to their historical presence. What mysteries are revealed in the latest finds? Join us as we delve into the traces left by ancient scribes, the hidden stashes of wealth, the remnants of long ago meals, mosaic floors walked upon or the mikvah ritual baths all demonstrating the richness and complexity of The City of David.

Christine Maasdam holds a Master in Humanities and a B.A. in Cultural Geography. Her art studies include The Courtauld Institute of Art in London, The Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center in D.C. and Post Graduate studies in Antiquities Trafficking and Art Crime at the University of Glasgow. She is a graduate of the Art Crime Investigation Seminar led by Robert Wittman, founder of the FBI's National Art Crime Team. Christine is a member of the International Foundation for Cultural Property Protection and holds a certificate from Trident Manor on Protection of Cultural Venues. Christine received Sotheby’s certification on Determining Value: An Appraiser’s Perspective. She has spent over a decade as a LACMA docent and is an active volunteer at the City of David archaeological dig in Israel.

Fifty and Better was designed to offer university-level courses and lectures (no tests, no homework) taught by experts in the field, and to host social engagement activities for individuals age 50 and older.

The dramatic and theatrical Baroque style of the 17th century rapidly travels through Europe and evolves with its geographic regions and patronage. Originally emerging as part of the Catholic Counter-Reformation, when it reaches the northern Protestant regions, it expands to accommodate a growing open art market. Flanked by Peter Paul Rubens and Rembrandt van Rijn, these two artists, along with all of the artists that they inspire and influence, define the Northern Baroque tradition.

Katherine E. Zoraster is an Art Historian and a Professor of Art History at several local colleges specializing in Western art from the Renaissance to the 20th century. She graduated with a double major in English Literature and Art History from the University of California, Los Angeles. Following her undergraduate degree, she received a Master’s Degree with Distinction in Art History from the California State University at Northridge.

In addition to the courses Katherine teaches for other lifelong learning programs, she also works as an Adjunct Professor of Art History at Moorpark College and an Art History Instructor for the full-time program at the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Arts. Katherine also serves as a commissioner for the Burbank Cultural Arts Commission and volunteers at the Burbank Animal Shelter. In her free time, Katherine is an avid runner and travels extensively.

Fifty and Better was designed to offer university-level courses and lectures (no tests, no homework) taught by experts in the field, and to host social engagement activities for individuals age 50 and older.

This course will cover the entire history of Universal Studios including its early embrace of television, which turned the studio into a giant television production factory. We will discuss Carl Laemmle – an innovative pioneer who built the studio and was responsible for some of the early, ground-breaking decisions (including opening up to the public for tours). We will also talk about Lon Chaney – Universal’s first great star – and other big names in the silent era.

We will continue through the 1930s discussing some of the early “talkie” hits, including “All Quiet on the Western Front,” “Dracula,” and “Frankenstein.” Although they were successful, poor decision-making led to Laemmle’s ouster. Into the 1940s and 1950s, lots of changes turned up some popular, memorable (and yes, campy) movies. The 1960's Universal was where Alfred Hitchcock ended his career and where Steven Spielberg's began, ushering in the modern era of the Movie Blockbuster. Universal's vast TV legacy (Columbo, Law and Order, etc.) remains a dominant factor in what we watch on streaming services today.

We will also look at the Universal conglomerate which includes, among other enterprises, the music business and the hugely popular Universal Studios Tours and Theme Parks.

Matthew Weisman received his MFA in Film from Columbia University School of the Arts where he also taught classes in Cinema Studies and directed the Cinematheque film program. His undergraduate degree in English is from Boston University. A professional screenwriter and producer, he taught Graduate Screenwriting at the USC School of Cinema for fifteen years. He is a retired member of The Writers Guild of America. He has taught several continuing education courses in film and television history and appreciation both online and in the classroom.

Fifty and Better was designed to offer university-level courses and lectures (no tests, no homework) taught by experts in the field, and to host social engagement activities for individuals age 50 and older.

CIMM will host a celebration and book launch on Saturday, February 4, 2023, for the new book Coyote Saves Hawk by local author and tribal elder Alan Salazar “Puchuk Yaʼiaʼc.”

Coyote Rescues Hawk is based on a Chumash story dating back at least 300 years. Mr. Salazar brings humor and insights from twenty-five years of experience in bringing back the traditional Chumash canoe culture to a tale sure to delight readers of all ages. Mr. Salazar will be on hand for storytelling and book signing, followed by time for questions and answers from the audience.

The illustrator of Coyote Rescues Hawk, Mona Lewis, will also offer a free earth pigment class, demonstrating how she made paint from local soil for the illustrations in the new book. Participants of all ages will learn to make natural earth paint and use it to paint their own pictures.

The event will take place on Saturday, February 4, 2023, from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm. Guests will have the opportunity to meet Alan Salazar for storytelling from 1:00 pm until 2:30 pm and to also meet illustrator Mona Lewis for a natural paint class from 2:30 pm until 4:00 pm.

This event is family-friendly, appropriate for all ages, and free for the entire community.

Do not travel there now - there is danger, starvation, and horror. Yet, there remains fascination and fantasy: no country is more diverse, enigmatic and surprising. It is home to Lucy, “mother” of hominids, and to a Christianity 2000 years in the making (with the Ark of the Covenant and churches hewed into rock downwards). Amid 70% of Africa’s mountains, the source of The Blue Nile lays to the west; from beneath the surface of the earth (Danakil Depression), massive lakes of molten lava lay to the east. Beyond Addis Ababa’s skyscrapers, concentrations of unique flora (coffee’s origin) and fauna (profusion of primitive tribes) beckon. The only African country never colonized, its recent history is stunning, eruptive, and tragic. From the murder of Haile Selassie (worshipped by Rastafarians) to civil war today, few places have comingled so much change, hope and despair. As traveler, not expert, permit me introduce you to Ethiopia.

Dr. Herbert Gooch is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at California Lutheran University. He formerly served as Director of the Masters in Public Policy and Administration program and Assistant Provost for Graduate Studies at Cal Lutheran. A graduate of U.C. Berkeley in History, he holds a M.B.A in Management and both masters and doctoral degrees in Political Science from UCLA. He has written extensively and is a frequent commentator on political affairs locally and statewide. He has been at Cal Lutheran since 1987 and lives in Newbury Park with his wife. His interests include politics, film and travel.

Fifty and Better was designed to offer university-level courses and lectures (no tests, no homework) taught by experts in the field, and to host social engagement activities for individuals age 50 and older.

In this course, we will trace the roles of women in country music’s first half century, from its first interpreters in the 1920s to the 1970s.
Week 1: The 1920s & ‘30s
Women tentatively began making country records in 1924 with solo artists Roba Stanley and cowgirl singer Billie Maxwell leading the way. Others followed, although most supported male partners, including Moonshine Kate, Adelyne Hood, and Zora Layman.
Week 2: The Carter Family
Country music’s first family has featured three generations of female performers, beginning with pioneers Maybelle and Sara Carter, then Maybelle’s daughters: June, Helen, & Anita, and finally, Rosanne Cash and Carlene Carter.
Week 3: The Radio Programs
Female country performers became popular through their appearances on national radio programs like the Grand Ole Opry and the National Barn Dance in the 1930s and ‘40s. We’ll look at pioneering women artists and groups like Linda Parker, the Three Little Maids, The DeZurik Sisters, Cousin Emmy, Molly O’Day, and Kitty Wells.
Week 4: The Cowgirls
Women became more acceptable to audiences as solo performers when they donned leather fringe and ten-gallon hats. This class focuses on girl singers in western swing bands like Laura Lee Owens, Carolina Cotton, and Patsy Montana as well as songwriter Cindy Walker.
Week 5: Rockabilly Women
Women began asserting their equality in the 1950s with a series of rambunctious rockabilly singers like Wanda Jackson, Janis Martin, Lorrie Collins, and a young Patsy Cline.
Week 6: The Nashville Sound & the Outlaw Movement
Women begin to match men in record sales in the 1960s with artists like Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, and Connie Smith. In the 1970s, women joined their male counterparts in rebelling against Nashville’s curls-and-gingham image by becoming more assertive in their image, with Jessi Colter, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt combining country with other popular music forms.

Cary Ginell is a Grammy-nominated writer and author of 12 books on American music. After a 30-year career in radio, he has spent the last 20 years as a public speaker, talking about music in classrooms, at conferences, and on cruise ships. Cary brings a lifelong passion for the recording industry to his work and is one of the world’s foremost authorities on his specialty, western swing. Cary previously served as President of the Association for Recorded Sound Collections, an international organization of music scholars and world-renowned institutions. He holds a master’s degree in Folklore from UCLA and a bachelor’s in Radio/TV/Film from Cal State University Northridge.

Fifty and Better was designed to offer university-level courses and lectures (no tests, no homework) taught by experts in the field, and to host social engagement activities for individuals age 50 and older.

Any account of the history of the American entertainment industry will showcase the pivotal contributions of Jewish Americans. In these accounts, most of the discussion will focus on Jewish men. Yet Jewish women also played groundbreaking roles in the development of American entertainment, from stage to radio to film. This course will focus on two Jewish women whose contributions have significantly shaped the American entertainment industry: Gertrude Berg and Barbra Streisand. First, we will explore the pathbreaking work of Gertrude Berg in both radio and television through her signature role as Molly Goldberg in the show The Goldbergs, which she created, wrote, acted in, and produced. We will devote the second part of the course to the transformative mark Barbra Streisand made on the American film industry through three pivotal films: Funny Girl, The Way We Were, and Yentl. As actress, singer, writer, director, and producer, Streisand demonstrated the power of her art to entertain, instruct, and change the "old boys club" culture of the movie industry. These three films show Streisand as an artist and innovator at work and provide but a glimpse into the creative career of one of Hollywood's masters.

Cliff Wilcox is a historian who focuses on American intellectual and cultural history. His courses concentrate on the intersection of culture, ideas, education, and religion in American society. He lectures for Cal Lutheran’s Fifty and Better Program and at other local lifelong learning programs. He holds a Ph.D. in American intellectual history from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Fifty and Better was designed to offer university-level courses and lectures (no tests, no homework) taught by experts in the field, and to host social engagement activities for individuals age 50 and older.

For years, the Holocaust was portrayed as an act of unspeakable violence by humans who acted like animals. Yet this portrayal led to an inability to understand the psychology of the perpetrators of genocide. Further, many misunderstand why many of the victims of the Holocaust did not leave Europe––imagining that they simply chose not to leave. This course will examine why and how the Nazis were able to influence and enable almost an entire continent to murder, and why many of the Jews in Europe stayed in Europe. It will focus specifically on what impact these conclusions can have on genocide prevention for today.

Jason Hensley, Ph.D., teaches religious studies at a private school in Los Angeles. He is a fellow of the Michael LaPrade Holocaust Education Institute of the Anti-Defamation League, a member of Civic Spirit's teacher education cohort, and the award-winning author of 10 books. His work has been featured in The Huffington Post as well as the BBC, and he has served as the historical advisor for a Holocaust documentary.

Fifty and Better was designed to offer university-level courses and lectures (no tests, no homework) taught by experts in the field, and to host social engagement activities for individuals age 50 and older.

The increasing wealth in Europe following the Renaissance and exploration of the New World was reflected in the sumptuous furniture, interiors, and decorative arts of English palaces and country homes. This course will focus on the popular styles and design influences during the reigns of Henry VIII through Queen Victoria, including Tudor, Jacobean, William and Mary, Queen Anne, Georgian, Regency, and Victorian styles. The extraordinary influence of designers and craftsmen such as Robert Adam, Thomas Chippendale, John Nash, and Thomas Hope will be discussed, as well as the social and political influences upon their designs. Construction techniques and types of materials including fabrics, woods, and decorative elements will also be discussed.

Eleanor Schrader is an award-winning educator, lecturer, and author. She lectures worldwide on art and architectural history, and she leads art and architecture tours throughout the world. She has been named a Distinguished Instructor at UCLA Extension, where she teaches history of architecture, interior design, furniture, and decorative arts. She is also Professor Emeritus of Art and Architectural History at Santa Monica College. She has done graduate work in fine and decorative arts at Sotheby's Institute in London and New York. She has served as a Design Review Commissioner for the City of Beverly Hills and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the John Lautner Foundation.