No Session On May 25

It's almost summer and time for some lighter fare to read. The spring '26 mystery short story selection is: Shhhh ... Murder!: Cozy Crimes in Libraries.  

About the book, the editor wrote: "There are stories to inspire mirth, and stories that tug on heartstrings. We have stories from America’s heartland, and from the opposite side of the planet. Yet you will find as well, a pair of philosophical threads that run, intertwined, throughout this anthology. The first is that libraries are places of great value and should be treasured. The second message of this volume is, don’t mess with a librarian. They know things."

No prerequisites or special knowledge is needed except the ability to research an author (it's easy) and start a discussion of the work. Group members will be expected read and be ready to discuss four stories each week, averaging a total of 50 pages per week. Group members will also be asked to volunteer to lead discussions of a story or two, including researching the authors of the stories and developing study questions.

To complete the 24 stories and have adequate time for each story, this group will meet for two hours each week. All members are all invited to go out to lunch after to the session to further our discussions, with the story leaders selecting the restaurant.

Reading material(s): Shhhh ... Murder!: Cozy Crimes in Libraries, edited by Andrew MacRae, and published by Darkhouse Books in 2018.

No session on May 25.

We'll watch movies by the legendary Belgian filmmakers, Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, noted for their realistic cinematic style, and the humanistic and compassionate treatment of marginalized, impoverished and alienated people. Their films explore the ethical, social and political realities of life in today's Europe.

Films to be considered: La Promesse ('97), Rosetta ('96), Le Fils (2002), L'enfant (2005) Le Silence de Lorna (2008) La Fille Inconnue (2016), Le Jeune Ahmed (2019) Tori et Lokita (2022).

No session on May 25.

This is a study group for those interested in gardening and visiting local specialty gardens in the area. There will be three group gatherings in the classroom and three visits to local gardening sites in Champaign County. Transportation to the local gardening sites is the member's responsibility, though there may be carpooling options available with other members of the group.

Sessions will include:

• Gardening basics and sharing your experiences
• Information on native plants and the latest varieties of annuals and perennials
• Visiting a raingarden, local CSA farm, and the U of I Extensions Idea Garden

Recreational dance is a fun, social activity. It is good exercise for both the body and the brain. Come join us to try out several types of dances. 'A Dance Sampler' will include American Contra, Square Dance, International Folk Dance, English Country Dance, Scottish Country Dance, and more.

A variety of dances will be taught at each session. The specific dances selected will be guided, in part, by the interest of the participants.

This study group will watch and discuss the 12-episode BBC series “The First Churchills”—the first “Masterpiece Theatre” series, broadcast in 1971 and now available as a DVD set. Based on Winston Churchill’s biography of his famous ancestor, the first Duke of Marlborough, this is a love story and a tale of political intrigue at court and military campaigns in the field. At a time when most marriages were made for money and position, Sarah Jennings (played by Emmy-winning Susan Hampshire) and John Churchill (played by John Neville) married for love. Their long lives were spent at the center of political power at the 17th-century English court. He was a military genius who never lost a battle; she was the intimate friend of a princess who became a queen. This series follows them from their budding romance at the bawdy Restoration court of King Charles II through five decades and four monarchs of the Stuart dynasty. The group will view and discuss two hour-long episodes each week.

Optional Readings: Winston Churchill, Marlborough (1933-38, 1-vol. abridged ed. 1968); Winston Churchill, A History of the English-Speaking Peoples, vols. 2 and 3, relevant chapters. J. P. Kenyon, Stuart England (2nd ed., 1985)

This study group will watch and discuss the 12-episode BBC series “The First Churchills”—the first “Masterpiece Theatre” series, broadcast in 1971 and now available as a DVD set. Based on Winston Churchill’s biography of his famous ancestor, the first Duke of Marlborough, this is a love story and a tale of political intrigue at court and military campaigns in the field. At a time when most marriages were made for money and position, Sarah Jennings (played by Emmy-winning Susan Hampshire) and John Churchill (played by John Neville) married for love. Their long lives were spent at the center of political power at the 17th-century English court. He was a military genius who never lost a battle; she was the intimate friend of a princess who became a queen. This series follows them from their budding romance at the bawdy Restoration court of King Charles II through five decades and four monarchs of the Stuart dynasty. The group will view and discuss two hour-long episodes each week.

Optional Readings: Winston Churchill, Marlborough (1933-38, 1-vol. abridged ed. 1968); Winston Churchill, A History of the English-Speaking Peoples, vols. 2 and 3, relevant chapters. J. P. Kenyon, Stuart England (2nd ed., 1985)

What's true and what's propaganda? What's coming next? We'll try to sort that out week by week in this study group.

What's true and what's propaganda? What's coming next? We'll try to sort that out week by week in this study group.

Schedule of films and presenters for Spring 2026: 

• 4/29/2026: Being There (1979) - Presenter: Frank Modica
• 5/6/2026: Waking Ned Devine (1998) - Presenter: Janice Sherbert
• 5/13/2026: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) - Presenter: Andrea Cowper
• 5/20/2026: Babette's Feast (1987) - Presenter Paul Blobaum
• 5/27/2026: Lost in America (1985) - Presenter Bill Slough
• 6/3/2026: Beautiful Girls (1996) - Presenter Kandra Miller

Spring 2026 Topics (subject to change)

• April 30th: Electric Vehicles, Philip Krein
• May 7th: Data Centers and the Energy Demands of the Digital Age, Philip Krein
• May 14th: Why Did Tony Leggett Win the Nobel Prize in Physics?, David Ceperley 
• May 21st: Cambodian Archaeology and Ancient Water Engineering, Roy Campbell
• May 28th: Revisiting the Dangers of Artificial Intelligence, Roy Campbell 
• June 4th: The New Era of Space Exploration, Roy Campbell 

Spring 2026 Topics (subject to change):

• April 30th: Electric Vehicles, Philip Krein
• May 7th: Data Centers and the Energy Demands of the Digital Age, Philip Krein
• May 14th: Why Did Tony Leggett Win the Nobel Prize in Physics?, David Ceperley 
• May 21st: Cambodian Archaeology and Ancient Water Engineering, Roy Campbell
• May 28th: Revisiting the Dangers of Artificial Intelligence, Roy Campbell 
• June 4th: The New Era of Space Exploration, Roy Campbell