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Knowing Margaret Bonds: A Legacy Recovered
with Dr. Michael Cooper
Monday, June 3     9:00-10:00 a.m.
San Gabriel Presbyterian Church    5404 Williams Dr., Georgetown
In Person and On Demand Recording

Life in the Circus, Literally
with Dr. Michelle Schmith
Monday, June 3  10:30-11:30 a.m.
San Gabriel Presbyterian Church    5404 Williams Dr., Georgetown
In Person Only

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages – you are invited to hear about the history, challenges, and makeover of today’s circus. Meet “Roberto” and learn about his 30 years of life with the circus, where he along with numerous family members performed circus acts such as aerialists, animal acts, motorcycle feats and much more. Learn what day to day life was like for Roberto.

Dr. Schmith’s career spanned 35 years in various capacities supporting the United States Federal Government including executive positions at the Department of Navy, Office of Management and Budget, and the Air Force in performance management, strategic planning, information technology, and operational security and processes for the warfighters after 911. She is the author of two books: The Congress and DOD Management Process: Space Acquisition, a Critique and Evaluation, and Do We Make Interoperability a High Enough Priority Today? She met Roberto Chimal when she hired him to help her set up her new home here in Georgetown.

The Power of Live Theater
Tuesday,  June 4       9:00-10:00 a.m.
San Gabriel Presbyterian Church    5404 Williams Dr., Georgetown
In Person Only

Six venues in Williamson County provide top notch live theater performances that enrich our community in a variety of ways.  Join Linda as she shares her own experiences in learning to appreciate and participating in this wonderful art form, both as an actress and reviewer. This will include a few historical references and examples showing how live theater celebrates diversity with stories from different cultures and gives voice to underrepresented groups.

Linda Dwyer reviews local theater for the Williamson Sun Newspaper in a column called PLAY TIME. She also writes the weekly food column TASTES OF THE TOWN. Linda and her husband raised four children in Texas and now enjoy being grandparents to four boys and three girls.

Igniting the Powerful Practice of Gratitude
with Kris Hooks
Tuesday, June 4       10:30-11:30 a.m.
San Gabriel Presbyterian Church    5404 Williams Dr., Georgetown
In Person, Zoom and On-Demand Recording

According to research, people who practice gratitude show significantly higher levels of happiness and psychological well-being. They are less depressed, anxious, stressed and report having less symptoms of physical pain. They have more meaning and satisfaction in life. They have healthier relationships, too. If you would like practical strategies for igniting the practice of gratitude in your life, this session is for you.

Kris Hooks has over 35 years of experience in behavioral health. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Health and Well Being Coach, and a Sun City resident. Kris is passionate about helping people live their best life possible.

Wild Williamson
Wednesday, June 5  9:00-10:00 a,m.
San Gabriel Presbyterian Church    5404 Williams Dr., Georgetown
In Person, Zoom, and On-Demand Recording

The 1880s were a different time for Williamson County, hear stories from around the county about the wild west antics that took place during the time of cattle drives and cowboys.

Ann Evans is the Adult Services Librarian at the Georgetown Public Library. She is a longtime resident of Georgetown and served as the Curator of the Williamson Museum prior to working at the library. Her love of local history began on a third grade walking tour of downtown. She currently lives in Georgetown with her husband, son, two dogs, and a hamster named Feisty.

Expertise and U.S. Democracy: Are they Compatible?
with Dr. John Ray
Wednesday, June 5       10:30-11:30 a.m.
San Gabriel Presbyterian Church    5404 Williams Dr., Georgetown
In Person and  Zoom

Public issues/problems which government must address today are tremendously complex, infused with a scientific and/or technological dimension. Democratic decision-making demands public participation in the making of public policy, but the average citizen is not trained in science, technology or engineering. What is the role of experts in democratic decision making? To what extent is our Constitutional system of government knowledge based? What is behind the current mistrust of experts and expert knowledge and what are the causes of this phenomenon?

Dr. Ray received his PhD in political science from the University of Wisconsin and taught courses in political science and philosophy at Montana Technological University in Butte for 48 years, retiring as a full professor in May 2023. He was active in environmental issue work particularly in the area of environmental justice and gave numerous community presentations and taught free classes on politics, political theory and philosophy. His research activity focused on political theory and ethics.

Pandemic in the Library: Season 2
with Adam Samuels
Thursday, June 6      9:00-10:00  a.m.
San Gabriel Presbyterian Church    5404 Williams Dr., Georgetown
In Person, Zoom, On-Demand Recording

We went to the moon 50 years ago, yet some new killer disease pops up every few years? Why? How do infectious diseases, normally limited to a single animal species, “suddenly” mutate and begin infecting people, seemingly out of nowhere? Is there anything we can do to stop this spillover cycle? This class introduces two of my favorite books on the history and science of man’s fight with our oldest enemy, infectious disease. We will highlight two great books: SPILLOVER, by David Quammen and DEMON IN THE FREEZER, by Richard Preston.

Adam Samuels is a former US Naval Officer. From 2011-2015, Adam was assigned to the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s (DTRA) Cooperative Biological Engagement Program (CBEP), partnering with CDC, USDA, and the State Dept to improve the biosafety, biosecurity, and bio-surveillance of partner countries around the globe. Adam earned a BS from Texas A&M and an MA in National Security from the US Naval War College. He currently works as a Strategic Planner at the Texas Office of Homeland Security.

Pride and Prejudice….and the Pill
with Dr. Guy Guidici
Friday, June 7      9:00-10:00 a.m.
San Gabriel Presbyterian Church    5404 Williams Dr., Georgetown
In Person, Zoom and  On Demand Recording

Why does Jane Austen’s 1813 novel Pride and Prejudice still matter so much today? Why the many adaptations, endless pages of fan fiction, and legions of devoted “Janeites”? We’ll introduce ideas and questions about this cultural obsession in this one-hour lecture and then explore each in more detail in a six-week course this fall.

Once upon a time, Dr. Guy Guidici taught literature to some of the state’s most inspiring university students in a marvelous cross-disciplinary curriculum. Today, he writes, edits, and develops educational materials for students across the globe. Lately, he’s also enjoyed teaching a series of Adult Electives at First Presbyterian Church on historical topics ranging from the Christian Call to Hospitality to Living Through the Reformation, managing to work Hamlet into practically every course.

Is The Aging Process Inevitable?
with Dr. Stephen Benold
Friday, June 7         10:30-11:30 a.m.
San Gabriel Presbyterian Church    5404 Williams Dr., Georgetown
In Person, Zoom and On Demand Recording 

It is well known that “healthy living,” such as low body weight, eating a vegetarian diet and avoiding alcohol and smoking, will prolong life. It is also promising that the degenerative diseases such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease as well as cancer may soon be curable. We will  also discuss recent advances in genetic studies that show a possibility to retard the aging process itself.

Dr. Stephen Benold has been teaching economics and various other courses for Lifelong Learners GTX since 1999. His undergraduate degree was in economics from Rice University where he was the Hayden Honor Scholar in economics, He retired as the medical director of the Williamson County EMS, but he maintains a private financial practice.