Click here to download a .pdf of the Spring/Summer 2024 line-up of classes.
Click here to download a copy of the parking brochure for the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library.
Spring/Summer 2024
Eau Claire
51. From Binghamton to the Battlefield: The Civil War Letters of Rollin B. Truesdell
From Binghamton to the Battlefield: The Civil War Letters of Rollin B. Truesdell traces the experiences of author Truesdell’s great-great-grandfather from the time he rushed from the family farm to answer President Lincoln’s first call for volunteers until he mustered out of the Union Army. Using the 100+ letters Rollin penned as a guide, Truesdell will share the arc of Rollin’s trek through the Civil War as he transitioned from eager recruit to battle-weary veteran. Co-sponsored by L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library.
Presenter: Amy Truesdell
Coordinator: Elizabeth Fischer (715) 874-5633
Friday: March 8 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, Riverview Room, Third Floor,
400 Eau Claire Street
To watch the recording, click here.
52. Gichigami: The Great Lake Superior
Gichigami is an Ojibwe word meaning, “a sea, a large lake.” It is also the Ojibwe name for Lake Superior. Patty and Jeff Henry have explored Lake Superior country for 50 years – camping, hiking, canoeing, cross-country skiing, skating, and snowshoeing. They will present gorgeous images from their journeys during the past decade. The photographs will be accompanied by recorded instrumental music for a wonderful multi-media experience. Co-sponsored by the L. E. Phillips Memorial Library.
Presenter: Patty and Jeff Henry
Coordinator: Amy Alpine (917) 446-5983
Tuesday: March 12 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, Riverview Room, Third Floor,
400 Eau Claire Street
Bio: Patty and Jeff’s photographs have been displayed in “Wisconsin ArtsWest” at the L.E. Phillips Memorial Library; “Confluence of Art” at the Pablo Center; and the 2016 “National Parks Centennial Exhibit” at the Heyde Center for the Arts. They have given photographic presentations locally and regionally since the 1980s – going back to the distant “Slide Era.”
53. Storytime with Steve & Micah…& Bea, & Cara, & Lexie, & Birdie, & Fernandina, & Sylvie
The Eau Claire creative team of Micah Davis and Steve Betchkal has been nominated for 7 Emmys. Between them they’ve been nominated 30 times and have won 6 Emmys. No one in Eau Claire history has been nominated for more! How do they do it? The eight of us will show you! Co-sponsored by the L. E. Phillips Memorial Library.
Presenter: Steve Betchkal
Coordinator: Kathie Fahrman (715) 563-5116
Tuesday: March 12 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, Riverview Room, Third Floor,
400 Eau Claire Street
To view the recording, click here.
54. What’s New in Plants?
Tropical plants for inside and outside your home have new interest. Angie will share what’s new for indoor and outdoor living spaces. Create your very own oasis to enjoy this summer. Give your home a new look for the new spring/summer season. Angie will also cover your plant care questions and maintenance, whether they are new or not!
Presenter: Angie Reit, May’s Floral
Coordinator: Elizabeth Fischer (715) 874-5633
Thursday: March 14 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
May’s Floral, 3424 Jeffers Road
55. The Bald Eagle: Our National Emblem
Take a photographic journey to learn about the development of eaglets from egg to flight. View eagles during the process of nest-building, food gathering, and follow the fledglings’ progress as they learn to fly. Bald Eagle identification, diet, habitat, and range will also be discussed. Don will share the challenges, skills, and equipment needed to take pictures of this majestic symbol of America.Co-sponsored by L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library.
Presenter: Don Larson
Coordinator: Kathy Campbell (715) 559-4149
Thursday: March 14 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
L.E. Phillips Senior Center, 1616 Bellinger Street, Conference Rooms A & B, lower level.
To view the recording, click here.
56. Pollinator Power Hour
Natural resource experts will provide information to assist rural and urban landowners to reduce erosion, protect water, and solve other resource problems. Learn how to create beneficial pollinator habitat for species such as Monarch and Karner Blue butterflies. Receive ideas to improve biodiversity by including native plants and site preparation. Learn of funding opportunities. Co-sponsored by L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library.
Presenter: Myha Ewoldt, FSA Conservation Reserve Program Key Program Technician; Jamie Kraklow, NRCS Resource Conservationist; and Morgan Kramschuster, Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Biologist
Coordinator: Kathy Campbell (715) 559-4149
Monday: March 18 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, Riverview Room, Third Floor,
400 Eau Claire Street
To view the recording, click here.
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57. Common Threads
Eau Claire Women in Theater (ecWIT) have created another original presentation, and we are privileged to offer you the opportunity to enjoy it! Based on real and imagined stories, ECWIT explores the memories, meaning, and feelings ascribed to articles of clothing worn in our different phases of life. Common Threads will have you taking a whole new look at your closet.The performance will be followed by a delicious lunch at The Florian Gardens.
Presenters: ecWIT – Eau Claire Women in Theater
Coordinator: Elizabeth Fischer (715) 874-5633
Thursday: March 23 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
The Florian Gardens, 2340 Lorch Avenue
Cost: $35
58. Reflection of Eau Claire: 1873-1998 (A New Book Invites Us to View the Places of Yesterday)
Take a walk back in time through historical pictures of Eau Claire. A decade before the City of Eau Claire was formed, there were 2274 people living in the three communities of West Eau Claire, North Eau Claire and the Village of Eau Claire. Since March 19, 1872, Eau Claire has continued to transform itself into a city. Reflections of Eau Claire 1873-1998 focuses on that transformation. Limit 40
Presenters: Jody Kiffmeyer and Diana Peterson (CVM’s archivist and editor/assistant curator, respectively)
Coordinator: Claudeen Oebser (715) 874-6054
Tuesday: March 26 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Chippewa Valley Museum, 1204 E Half Moon Drive
To view the recording, click here.
59. Toward Appreciating Religions of the World
Moving beyond often-cited differences and beyond divisive “we’re right and you’re wrong” beliefs, this presentation will focus instead on the many overlooked similarities that can be found between Hinduism, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and the Baha’i Faith, with particular emphasis on the parallel lives of the Founders of faith and on the vital role religion must play in a unified and ever-advancing world civilization.
Presenter: Timothey Nyseth, retired school psychologist
Coordinator: Elizabeth Fischer (715) 874-5633
Thursday: March 28 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
L.E. Phillips Senior Center, 1616 Bellinger Street, Conference Rooms A & B, lower level.
To view the recording, click here.
60. Create a Fused Glass “Crazy Bird” Garden Stake
Design a unique Fused-Glass “Crazy Bird” garden stake. Choose a color for the base and add various embellishments to create colorful, weatherproof garden art. The bird is approximately 8”across and will be securely mounted on a 3” round piece of steel. Limit 18 per session. Pick-up is on April 23, 1:30-2:00 p.m. at L.E. Phillips Senior Center in
the Thompson Room. Limit 18 Sign up for one session only.
Presenter: Jean Romanshek
Tuesday: April 2 A 1:30 – 3:00 p.m
Tuesday: April 9 B 1:30 – 3:00 p.m
L.E. Phillips Senior Center, 1616 Bellinger Street, Thompson Room
Cost: $30
61. Eau Claire Menomonie Market Tour
Tour the new Eau Claire Menomonie Market Food Cooperative with its general manager. Learn about the history of the Co-op. Find out about the work the Menomonie Market Food Coop does to address food access, support local food and agricultural development, and work towards healthy communities. Limit 25
Presenter: Crystal Halvorson, Menomonie Market Food Cooperative General Manager
Coordinators: Holly Hart (715) 456-6811
Amy Alpine (917) 446-5983
Tuesday: April 9 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Menomonie Market Food Cooperative, 206 N. Barstow
Bio: Crystal Halvorson’s 20 years of MMFC General leadership has transformed the co-op from a small niche store to a multi-location operation where there is something for everyone. During her tenure, the cooperative has won several local, state, and national awards for excellence and has provided grants to further its work supporting local growers and fighting food insecurity. During the successful 2015 expansion of the Menomonie location, she served as project manager and oversaw everything from financing to store design. In the years since the new store opened its doors, both sales and member owners in Menomonie have more than doubled. In 2021, she oversaw the merger of two independent cooperatives into one, and then jumped right in as project manager for the expansion of the Eau Claire location. She loves her kitchen-centered home and family, winter campfires, and being swallowed up by the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.
62. Overview and Tour of the Children’s Museum
Explore the Children’s Museum’s inaugural year in its new facility. Discover achievements, challenges, and get a glimpse into the future plans with programming, exhibits, and community outreach. Join us for a tour to conclude the presentation and experience the space firsthand. Limit 25
Presenter: Mike Lee, Children’s Museum Interim CEO
Coordinators: Holly Hart (715) 456-6811
Marilyn Hempel (715) 559-6884
Wednesday: April 10 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Children’s Museum, 126 North Barstow
Cost: $10
63. Bad Girls: Career Women Who Defied Societal Conventions to Achieve Greatly
Deb will introduce several nineteenth-century women who defied the societal constraints defining gender, race, and class to assume careers ordinarily off-limits for women. Asserting their courage, ambition, and skills as gunfighters, business entrepreneurs, published authors, political activists, and journalists, they made their own living on their own terms. The late nineteenth century and early twentieth century produced more than modern innovations. This era launched the role models, forebearers of the modern woman, who strove for personal independence and achievement. Co-sponsored by L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library.
Presenter: Deb Barker
Coordinator: Mike Hilger (715) 832-8823
Monday: April 15 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, Riverview Room, Third Floor,
400 Eau Claire Street
64. Soul’s Journey: Remembering Who We Are
Dr. Bob Salt will read selections from his new book Soul’s Journey: Remembering Who We Are, followed by discussion. In the book he shared his thirty-year journey exploring spiritual phenomena and stories which support that we are eternal souls. His book also touches on how we can understand life viewed from the perspective of the soul focusing on spiritual values along with mystical, near-death, and out-of-body experiences, death-bed visions, communication with deceased souls, and past-life memories.
Presenter: Dr. Bob Salt
Coordinator: Joyce Robbins (715) 931-7611
Monday: April 15 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
L.E. Phillips Senior Center, 1616 Bellinger Street, Conference Rooms A &B, lower level.
65. Hawaii Five-OH!
Hawaii – “The Aloha State” – is a tropical paradise…but even paradise is fragile, and the last US state is saying “goodbye” to organisms that call it home. Ornithologist and ecologist Steve Betchkal has birded every US state plus DC and Puerto Rico. Hawaii was his fiftieth. Join him as he discusses the wonder and status of Hawaii’s native birds. Co-sponsored by the L. E. Phillips Memorial Library.
Presenter: Steve Betchkal
Coordinator: Kathie Fahrman (715) 563-5116
Tuesday: April 16 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, Riverview Room, Third Floor,
400 Eau Claire Street
66. Experience Alaska through Jim Backus’s Lens
Experience Alaska through the lens of Magoo Nature Photography. You will visit Lake Clark, home of the coastal grizzly bears; the sea life around Homer; glaciers & whales who make the Seward area their home; and the Chilkat Eagle Reserve in Haines. Hope to see you there!
Presenter: Jim Backus, Magoo Nature Photography
Coordinator: Jim Urness (715) 832-5670
Thursday: April 18 10:00 – 11:30 a.m
Peace Lutheran Church, 501 E Fillmore Ave. Enter on Nimitz St.side
68. Eau Claire Renaissance: Old Buildings, New Uses
One element in the revitalization of downtown Eau Claire ls the remodeling of existing buildings from one kind of use to another—from manufacturing to housing for one example. Architects call this process “Adaptive Reuse,” and Eau Claire has dozens of successful examples. During this program, we will look at some of them, both as they were before, and how they are now. We will consider the criteria and the process used for Adaptive Reuse decisions. Co-sponsored by L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library.
Presenter: Tim Hirsch
Coordinator: Mike Hilger (715) 832-8823
Monday: April 22 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, Riverview Room, Third Floor,
400 Eau Claire Street
69. Intention and Attention: Cultivating Awareness to Help You Focus on What Matters
Curious about the practice of mindfulness? This experiential session explores mindfulness tools that cultivate present-moment awareness to support focusing attention, managing stress, and growing our capacity for care and compassion. Research indicates that mindfulness practice is helpful in working with emotions and physical pain, as well as improving our relationships with others. You will have the opportunity to try different mindfulness tools and ask questions about beginning a mindfulness practice Limit 40 Note different time frame.
Presenter: Ann Brand, PhD
Coordinator: Amy Alpine (917) 446-5983
Tuesday: April 30 10:30 – Noon
Unity of Eau Claire, 1808 Folsom Street
Cost: $5.00
Bio: Ann Brand, PhD is an Associate Lecturer in the School of Education at The University of Wisconsin-Stout and Program Specialist for Mindfulness Training for Arts Integration Menomonie (AIM). She holds a doctorate in psychology from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill with an emphasis on child development and families. Ann is an accredited mindfulness teacher through The Mindfulness Training Institute (MTI) and a member of the International Mindfulness Teachers Association.
70. Patent Medicine Companies of Western Wisconsin
Throughout the 19th century and into the 20th, few regulations existed on making and advertising medicines. A dizzying array of cures, elixirs, balms, and bitters were widely marketed for man and beast. On the national scale well-known companies offered their famous concoctions such as Dr. Kilmer’s Swamp Root Kidney Cure” and “Swaim’s Panacea.” In Western Wisconsin on a smaller scale patent medicine companies sold outrageous nostrums with astonishing claims. Meet local snake oil salesmen and learn surprising stories of local history. Co-sponsored by L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library.
Presenter: Tim Wolter
Coordinator: Mike Hilger (715) 832-8823
Tuesday: April 30 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, Riverview Room, Third Floor,
400 Eau Claire Street
71. Lewy Body Dementia: Two Shared Journeys
Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) affects every aspect of a couple’s life. The main symptoms of Lewy Body Dementia are described, as well as its apparent cause and treatment. The carepartners of their LBD-diagnosed spouses describe their journeys, partly through readings from a journal (“Lewy Body Dialogue”) one of the couples created together. One important message is that it’s possible to maintain and even deepen love on this journey. Co-sponsored by L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library.
Presenters: Ron Potter-Efron, MSW, Ph.D. and Susan Shea, RN
Coordinator: Kathy Campbell (715) 559-4149
Wednesday: May 1 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, Riverview Room, Third Floor,
400 Eau Claire Street
Bios: Ronald Potter-Efron:
Ron Potter-Efron, MSW, Ph.D is a retired counselor and former co-owner of First Things First Counseling Center. He is author or co-author of many books, including Angry All the Time; Letting Go of Shame; and Lewy Body Dialogue. Ron also publishes a weekly blog,
www.lewybodydialogue,com, in which he now describes his experiences as a widower.
Sue Shea: Sue Shea is a retired Registered Nurse, having worked in multiple areas at Mayo in Eau Claire for 41 years, most recently in Infection Prevention.
72. A Helping Hand to Wild Ones
Are you wondering how wild animals survive, what they eat, and where they live? The most interesting question of all is what happens to a wild animal if it becomes injured or orphaned. A Chippewa Valley Wildlife Rehabilitation volunteer will share how they care for sick, injured, and orphaned animals. Find out what can you do if you do find a wild animal in need of help. Co-sponsored by the L. E. Phillips Memorial Public Library.
Presenter: Amy Peck, Education Volunteer Chippewa Valley Wildlife Rehabilitation
Coordinator: Amy Alpine (917) 446-5983
Thursday: May 2 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, Riverview Room, Third Floor,
400 Eau Claire Street
Bio: Amy Peck has been part of the Chippewa Valley Wildlife Rehabilitation for the past four years. Children and adults enjoy learning from her and can see her passion for our woodland friends. Cottontail rabbits fill Amy’s foster room from spring through autumn. She syringe feeds them a specialty milk that helps them grow strong so that they can be released back into the wild. Amy has multiple sclerosis so caring for the animals from her home is a great benefit to her as well. She lives in the Chippewa Valley with her husband Michael, two cats, and a dog.
73. What Is an Ebike? A Fast, Affordable, Eco-friendly Mode of Transportation
Are they worth the cost, how are they different from regular bikes, how do ebikes work, what is the best ebike for individual ability, what are the benefits of owning an ebike, how far can an ebike travel on a charge? Pat will address these questions and more. As older people want to engage in healthier lifestyles, ebikes have become a relaxing and pleasant mode of transportation.
Presenters: Pat Rolbiecki, owner of Riverside Bike and Skate
Coordinator: Marilyn Hagen (715) 210-0073
Wednesday: May 8 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
L.E. Phillips Senior Center, 1616 Bellinger Street, Conference Rooms A &B, lower level.
74. Become an AmeriCorps Foster Grandparent
Two local AmeriCorps Seniors programs provide support for seniors 55 and older to engage in volunteer opportunities. Mary Byrns, Director of CESA 10’s Foster Grandparent Program, and Kristin Walukas, Director of Western Dairyland’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, will provide information about their respective programs. Learn about these AmeriCorps Seniors Programs and how you can make a difference by volunteering in local schools and non-profit organizations.
Presenters: Mary Byrns and Kristin Walukas
Coordinator: Marilyn Hagen (715) 210-0073
Wednesday: May 15 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
L.E. Phillips Senior Center, 1616 Bellinger Street, Conference Rooms
A &B, lower level.
75. ‘All Aboard’ for a Trolley Tour of Historic Eau Claire
Enjoy this unique experience riding on a vintage-style trolley through some of Eau Claire’s most beautiful and iconic neighborhoods and historic sites. Tour guide, George House, will share stories of historic Eau Claire. The tour includes two opportunities to exit the trolley and enjoy beautiful rivers from historic bridges, with the trolley picking you up on the other side. Appropriate clothing layers for temperature or cool breezes are recommended. Trolley is not wheelchair accessible. (More information at CVLR.org)
Limit 22 per session. Sign up for one session only.
Presenter: George House
Coordinator: Sally Felling (715) 704-0937
Friday: May 17 A 10:00 – 11:30 a.m
Friday: May 17 B 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Friday: May 24 C 10:00 – 11:30 a.m
Friday: May 24 D 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Departs from The Local Store, 205 N. Dewey St., Eau Claire
Cost: $25
Bio: The Chippewa River Trolley is inspired by the trolleys that once rumbled along the streets of Eau Claire. Back in 1879, Eau Claire became the third city in Wisconsin to have regular horse-drawn streetcar service. Ten years later, those streetcars were electrified, and Eau Claire became only the fourth city in the nation to have an electric trolley system!
Eventually trolleys connected Eau Claire with Chippewa Falls and points in between. That “interurban” route ended in 1926, and Eau Claire’s trolley traveled the streets for the last time in 1932 — until now.See more information about the Chippewa River Trolley Company at: https://chippewarivertrolley.org
76. Sustainable Bargain Center Tour at Hope Gospel Mission
Tour one of western Wisconsin’s biggest recycling and reuse centers – Hope Gospel Mission Bargain Center. Get a unique behind-the-scenes look at where millions of pounds of unwanted items are recycled, reused, repurposed, and resold with the purpose of helping those struggling with addiction, mental health needs, and homelessness. Find out how generous community members promote sustainability and provide life changing programs by donating and shopping at the four area Hope Bargain Center stores at Hope Gospel Mission.
Presenters: Brett Geboy and Staff
Coordinator: LuAnn Livingston (414) 507-7740
Tuesday: May 21 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Hope Gospel Mission Bargain Center, 2511 W Moholt Drive
77. Saving Lake Altoona and Why It Matters
Lake Altoona, a highly utilized recreational lake in Eau Claire County, is dying one grain of sand at a time. Birthed from a dam in 1938, it has been filling with sand and is expected to die in less than 30 years. 4,000 other Wisconsin lakes created by dams face the same death knell. Join us to look at the challenges, current efforts, and possible solutions to preserving Wisconsin’s lakes for future generations. Co-sponsored by the L. E. Phillips Memorial Public Library.
Presenter: Michelle Skinner and Fred Kappus
Coordinators: Holly Hart (715) 456-6811
Tuesday: May 21 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, Riverview Room, Third Floor,
400 Eau Claire Street
78. Tour the Erskine Ingram Historical Home Transformed into Immanuel Lutheran College
You are invited to the campus of Immanuel Lutheran High School, College and Seminary. The Campus was originally the home of Erskine Ingram, one of the early families of the lumbering boom in Eau Claire history. The program will begin with a 15-20 minute presentation of Eau Claire and Immanuel history, followed by a 30 minute tour of the mansion and 30 minute tour of the education biulding. The Academic
Center is handicap accessible and the lower level of the mansion can be seen with minimal stairs. Limit 30 per session Sign up for one session only.
Presenter: Lynette Roehl
Coordinator: Claudeen Oebser (715) 874-6054
Wednesday: May 22 A 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday: May 22 B 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Immanuel Lutheran College; 501 Grover Road, parking lot across from the Academic Center.
79. Exploring Poetry 2024: “What We Are Made Of.”
In 1855 Walt Whitman wrote, “I celebrate myself / I sing myself.” In the 20th century, poets continued to sing themselves—their inherited selves, whether physical or cultural, and how they have been shaped by various social and physical spaces throughout their lives. Join us in looking at poems that might open us to seeing a wider scope of humanity or suggesting new ways we can explore ourselves. See whether you agree with Whitman’s assertion: “what I assume you shall assume / For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.”
Presenter: Erna Kelly
Coordinator: Elizabeth Fischer (715) 874-5633
Fridays: June 14 and 21 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
L.E. Phillips Senior Center, 1616 Bellinger Street, Thompson Room
80. Tour the Chippewa Valley Museum Object Theater and Paul Bunyan Logging Camp
Take an adventure through an 1890s logging camp at the Paul Bunyan statue in Carson Park and wind through the big equipment shed, cook shanty, barn, blacksmith shop, and more. Stop at the newly renovated Tall Tales Room for youth and the young at heart. In CVM’s main building enjoy a special viewing of the Object Theater experience, “Have You Heard?” This delightful 21-minute show and hands-on exhibit about music will have you singing, clapping, and maybe even dancing along.Limit 30 per session. Sign up for one session only.
Presenters: Chippewa Valley Museums’ Staff
Coordinator: LuAnn Livingston (414) 507-7740
Thursday: June 27 A 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Thursday: June 27 B 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Chippewa Valley Museums, 1204 East Half Moon Drive
Cost: $16
81. Unity’s Pollinator Rain Garden – Why and How
Master Gardener Mari Jackson will share a 30-minute PowerPoint presentation where you’ll learn why Unity needed a rain garden, how they got help from Rain to Rivers of Western Wisconsin, and how well it works. Learn about the Homegrown National Park organization and eight things you can do to help increase biodiversity, including keystone species, less mowing and raking! Enjoy a walk around the pollinator rain garden area to see how it all works together. Limit 30
Presenters: Mari Jackson
Coordinator: Sally Felling (715) 704-0937
Monday: July 15 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Unity Spiritual Center of Eau Claire, 1808 Folsom Street