All presentations will be held at San Gabriel Presbyterian Church, 5404 Williams Drive, Georgetown.
MONDAY, JUNE 2, 9:00-10:00 a.m.
A Humorous Review of Texas Law
Howard Wilson
In-Person Only
This is a continuation of the very entertaining and humorous presentation Howard Wilson previously gave highlighting some of the strange and sometimes bizarre laws and cases Texas has had over the last 100 years or so.
Howard Wilson practiced as a criminal defense attorney or prosecutor in Dallas, Texas for almost 40 years.
MONDAY, JUNE 2, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Lost Food Memories
Linda Dwyer
In-Person Only
Food is an integral part of our memories but sometimes foods we remember are no longer available. Whether they were eaten to extinction or succumbed to other factors, there are foods from history you can no longer eat. Some are taboo. Others never quite caught on. Join me for stories of foods you may or may not miss.
Linda Dwyer writes a food column called Taste of the Town for the Williamson Sun Newspaper.
TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 9:00-10:00 a.m.
Building Community through Specialty Coffee
Mirian Diop
In-Person Only
Mirian Diop will describe her journey from Ghana to a coffee roastery in Georgetown. Her presentation will include a virtual tour of the roastery, describe how they transform raw/green coffee to roasted coffee beans, and will share professional tips you can use. Lastly, she will share her heart’s desire to use Kati Coffee as a means of building community.
Mirian Diop has a PhD in chemical engineering and is the founder of Kati Coffee. After a 10-yr career at ExxonMobil, she left in 2024 to build Kati Coffee.
TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Residential Recycling
Debbie Bruner
In-person/On-demand
Are you confused or skeptical about recycling? Learn about residential “best practices” promoted by the City of Georgetown, Williamson County, and Texas Disposal Systems. Debbie will describe how individuals and communities working together can structure a recycle program that answers the question of how to properly dispose of (almost!) everything.
Debbie Bruner has lived in Sun City for 15 years. Debbie has a passion for recycling and is currently the Program Manager of Sun City Recycles.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 9:00-10:00 a.m.
Poisons, Cures, and Murder
Dr. Lilly Naley
In-person/On-demand
Did you ever wonder why “Law and Order” has been so captivating? The science of murder investigations has continued to evolve over the last 50 years so that it’s harder to “get away with murder.” The advent of DNA forensics has actually reduced the murder rate. This lecture explores how homicide investigations have evolved in response to the evolution of the science of forensics.
Dr. Naley has a master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and a medical degree from Rutgers University.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Dr. Seuss Goes to War and Before!
Gregg Philipson
In-person/On-demand
The presentation explores Theodore Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, in his early years as a cartoonist working for Life and Judge Magazines, Esso Oil and others. It concludes in 1948 shortly after his service as a Major in the U.S. Army during WWII. It includes his work as a screen writer and his propaganda art. It is a fascinating look at the side of Dr. Seuss that is seldom seen.
Gregg Philipson lectures internationally on the Holocaust and other Jewish related subjects including Jewish Military History and propaganda art. The “Gregg and Michelle Philipson Collection and Archive” is regularly exhibited at major museums, universities, colleges, schools as well as U.S. military installations.
THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 9:00-10:00
Reviving Women’s Role in the Forge: A Past, Present, and Future of Female Blacksmiths
Dr. Jennifer Cochran Anderson
In Person/On-Demand
From medieval Europe through colonial America and up to today, women played significant roles in blacksmithing throughout history. Notable figures include Katherine Le Fevre, who became the master blacksmith at the Tower of London in 1346 and Betsy Hagar who used her blacksmithing skills in service of the American Revolution, as well as many others. This talk explores the often-overlooked history of female blacksmiths and how the forge at Pioneer Farms is illuminating this legacy and forging a more inclusive roster of blacksmiths.
Dr. Jennifer Cochran Anderson is an art historian specializing in late medieval Europe as well as a blacksmithing instructor at Pioneer Farms Living History Museum in Austin, Texas. Dr. Cochran Anderson was the first woman in the state of Texas to earn the national certification as an Artist-Blacksmith.
THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Ignorance As a Social Problem
Dr. John Ray
Format: In-person/On-demand
Supposedly, we live in a knowledge society where public knowledge is valued. Yet widespread ignorance persists and is actually intensifying in many fields, leading to numerous societal problems. This presentation examines the exact meaning of social ignorance, its pervasiveness and harms, and the institutional, systemic and cultural causes of ignorance through history.
John taught courses in political science and philosophy at Montana Technological University in Butte for 48 years, retiring as a professor emeritus in May 2023.
FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 9:00-10:00 a.m.
Hidden Herstories: Women who made Wilco better!
Helen Cordes
In-person Only
Meet some wonderful women of Wilco! Journalist Helen Cordes went digging for Wilco herstories and found amazing females who made life better in lots of Wilco towns. From Buttercup to Weir, these ladies—from pioneering doctors to suffragists to tough cowgals to business queenpins—inspired future generations and contributed mightily to our county.
A lifelong journalist, Ms. Cordes has worked as an editor and writer at newspapers, magazines, and web publications. Women’s history is a passion and she loves sharing her discoveries of women who’ve done awesome deeds.
FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Live Better Longer: The Secrets to Healthy Aging
Duncan Rinehart
In-person/On-demand
While you may know what to do to be healthier as you age, like exercising and losing weight for example, many seniors struggle to make and continue such changes. In this talk, I will give you the secrets to making lasting changes in your lifestyle so that you will be happier and enjoy better health as you age.
Duncan is a board-certified well-being coach and a certified personal trainer who is 73 and practices what he teaches.