Lifelong Learning members fill their plates with refreshments in the Robert C. Byrd Center foyer, following the course preview on Tuesday night. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — In spite of the rainy weather, community members gathered together in-person and over Zoom to fill the auditorium of the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education on Tuesday evening, eager to hear about the Lifelong Learning courses and events being held this coming fall.

According to Shepherd University Director of Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning Karen Rice, many participants don’t make final decisions on their Lifelong Learning course plans, until after the Lifelong Learning Course Preview has taken place.

“We really want to hear from all of the instructors, to tell us all about the courses,” Rice said. “Oftentimes, our members wait to hear what you (the instructors) have to say, before signing up for classes.”

In between instructors discussing their courses, Rice took a few minutes to remind attendees of ongoing events, such as the continuing Zoom meetings of the Cafe Society; the FASTEnER Labs; the Brown Bag Luncheon Lectures, which each feature a lecture by a special speaker; and the Shepherdstown Film Society, which was brought under the Lifelong Learning umbrella last year.

“Lifelong Learning has taken over the Shepherdstown Film Society. It’s now part of the Lifelong Learning program. We’re starting [the fall film season] by cohosting with the Appalachian Heritage [Festival, by showing the film] ‘Dark Waters’ — it’s going to be here, which is usually not where film society meets,” Rice said of the Sept. 23, 7 p.m. event, which will be followed by three more films this semester. “Afterwards, Dr. Peter Villa will be giving a post-film discussion.”

Frank McCluskey introduces his Lifelong Learning fall 2022 course, "Sherlock Holmes: Reason, Emotion and Empire," in the Robert C. Byrd Center on Tuesday night. Tabitha Johnston

The course topics ranged everywhere, from over-the-counter medication to politics.

“What I’m really looking for, is a lively conversation about politics,” said “Decoding the November Elections: How the Sausage is Made” instructor Daryl Glenney, who devoted her 50-year career to running political candidate campaigns. “I really hope you will not hesitate to speak up! This is a free space, safe space, within Shepherd’s concentration on civil political conversations. But I will be the first to admit I am prone to hyperbole, because I write campaign material. Feel free to say, ‘I disagree’ or ‘That’s not true!'”

Some of the courses were about history or current events, while others were art-focused, such as a book binding class, a pen-and-ink drawing class and a Baltimore-style window screen painting class.

“Feel free to look up online Baltimore’s painted window screens — you will see tons of different styles!” said “Traditional Baltimore-Style Window Screen Painting” instructor Clare Chesavage. “We only have a handful of artists left, that do this type of painting. It’s a dying art. Become one of the artists! I think you’ll really have a good time with it.”

Several writing courses were introduced at the preview, including a memoir seminar writing class and a poetry writing class. And, for those who prefer to read, rather than to write, there was more than one course geared toward that interest.

Daryl Glenney talks about her Lifelong Learning course, "Decoding the November Elections: How the Sausage is Made," in the Robert C. Byrd Center Tuesday night. Tabitha Johnston

“I hope that it will be a class that will be both entertaining and educational for us,” said “Sherlock Holmes: Reason, Emotion and Empire” instructor Frank McCluskey. “We’ll talk about what they did, what we heard and where we’re going from it.”

To learn more about the Lifelong Learning program, visit https://www.shepherd.edu/lifelonglearning or contact Rice at krice@shepherd.edu or 304-876-5135.

Shepherdstown resident Jim Surkamp discusses the Lifelong Learning course he will be teaching this fall, in the Robert C. Byrd Center Tuesday night. Tabitha Johnston

Artist Clare Chesavage holds up a window screen painting for her audience to see, as she discusses her fall 2022 Lifelong Learning course, "Traditional Baltimore-Style Window Screen Painting," in the Robert C. Byrd Center on Tuesday night. Tabitha Johnston