Publications & Sites 
Upcoming Harper College programs
Updated: March 11, 2013 3:15PM
Harper College’s Continuing Education Department offers courses for adults 55+ through the Lifelong Learning Institute (LLI). Courses are available to members and non-members. Fees vary by course and are listed with the individual course descriptions. Classes are held on Harper campuses in Palatine and Prospect Heights and at partner sites in Barrington, Wheeling, Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Palatine and Schaumburg. Seating is limited. Registration is required.
Short Story Treasures
Edith Maynard will lead discussions about selected short stories by Ernest Hemingway, Dorothy Parker, E.B. White, Elizabeth Bishop and more. Participants will read and discuss the short stories and analyze them for theme, form, relationship to your own life and a reflection of various cultures. The offerings are from Best American Short Stories of the Century, edited by John Updike and Katrina Kenison, and The Fifty Funniest American Short Story Writers by Andy Borowitz. The books are at local libraries or can be purchased online. Free, The Garlands in Barrington, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. March 4 to April 29.
Plato, Aristotle, Heidegger and Buddha
Harper professor John Garcia will provide a fascinating look at four transformative ideas by Plato, Aristotle, Martin Heidegger and the Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) that helped shape the intellectual history of the world. Each of these four philosophers offers a unique way to think about what it is to be human and how you can live a meaningful human life.
Fee: $25, Harper College in Palatine, from 4 to 6 p.m. March 7.
Early Chicago TV
The Chicago school of low-key, personality-based early TV was defined by the likes of Don McNeill, Dave Garroway, Studs Terkle, Frazier Thomas and Marlin Perkins. Burr Tillstrom, with his beloved Kukla, Fran and Ollie, led a parade of programs for children. Michael Delaney will lead the reverie of those wonderful days. Black-and-white kinescopes may not match up to the quality or technology of today, but the sheer talent, content and sincerity of the entertainers continues to shine 60 years later. Fee: $10, Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Arlington Heights, from 10 a.m. to noon March 7.
A Historical Look at Illinois
Did you know that the original capital of Illinois (Kaskaskia) is now at the bottom of the Mississippi River? Join Harper professor Jim Edstrom for an engaging look at Illinois history. Learn more about Kaskaskia as well as other fascinating facets of Illinois history from the time before the arrival of Europeans to the present day. Learn about the first aerial gang war in history and the first European settlers, Indian trails, slavery in Illinois and more. Fee: $20, Addolorata Villa in Wheeling, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. March 9 to March 16.
Marilyn Monroe: Norma Jeane to Movie Queen
Norma Jeane Mortensen Baker was a lonely, isolated child who believed that no one saw her. She was raised in a series of foster homes after her mother was institutionalized. Susan Benjamin will share with you how Norma, through desire, talent and perseverance, transformed herself into one of the most visible stars in the world, Marilyn Monroe. Through stories and film clips, you will see her transformation from solitary child to movie goddess. Fee: $15, Harper College Northeast Center in Prospect Heights, to 2:30 p.m. March 13.
‘Show Boat’
Unanimously acclaimed as the first great American musical, this 1927 show was so far ahead of its time that there would be no comparable achievement for nearly two decades. Charles Troy will discuss how composer Jerome Kern and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II adapted the sprawling contemporary novel “Show Boat” by Edna Ferber into a masterpiece that has spawned numerous film versions, revivals and recordings, all of which have contributed to its legendary status. Fee: $10, from 1 to 2 p.m. March 20; from 1 to 2:30 p.m. March 15.
Chicago River
Chicago prides itself on its beautiful lakefront, beaches and parks. But as you move westward away from Lake Michigan, the Chicago River looms as a mirror of the city, gritty and industrial. To view the river is to catch a glimpse inside Chicago. Hy Speck will discuss how the Chicago River has been reshaped and reinvented over time in response to socioeconomic and cultural forces. Fee: $10, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. March 1; from 10 a.m. to noon March 15.
Piano Revival Continued
As a continuation of Piano Revival, Lavonne Mrozinski’s class will cover mastering basic piano skills of technique, musicianship and repertoire in an informal and relaxed atmosphere. The class is limited to eight students to ensure plenty of personal attention. If you have not taken Piano Revival, you may enroll in this class with instructor approval. Fee: $70, Arlington Heights Senior Center in Arlington Heights, from 9:15 to 10:05 a.m. March 15 to May 10.
