-
Black bears are a common animal throughout most of North America. That doesn’t mean we want them hanging out in our backyard! There is a lot of information out there on how to be “Bear Smart,” but what are some of the most effective tools? Learn not just about the behavior of these wonderful animals, but how to improve your behavior in order to help...Zoom - Albuquerque OasisFri, February 23 to February 23 | 11:00 AM-12:30 PM Central TimeDaryl RatajczakBlack bears are a common animal throughout most of North America. That doesn’t mean we want them hanging out in our backyard! There is a lot of information out there on how to be “Bear Smart,” but what are some of the most effective tools? Learn not just about the behavior of these wonderful animals, but how to improve your behavior in order to help make you safe around bears. Daryl Ratajczak is a wildlife biologist working for the Bureau of Land Management. He obtained his degree in wildlife management and managed a black bear rehab, research, and education facility located outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. He worked for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and served as the big game program coordinator, managing the state's deer, bear, and elk programs, eventually becoming the chief of wildlife and forestry. -
Throughout history, literature has been censored and bowdlerized for a variety of reasons: subject matter, style, intent. Most recently, books dealing with LGBTQ topics have come under fire, especially in YA works. Often these books are central to a reader’s understanding of others’ hardships and feelings of isolation. Although these are often valuable...Zoom - Syracuse OasisMon, February 26 to April 8 | No Class: 2024-03-11,2024-04-0101:00 PM-02:00 PM Central TimeWendy Davenport, MA British and American Literature, retired drama coach, high school and college English teacher and Oasis leadership team memberThroughout history, literature has been censored and bowdlerized for a variety of reasons: subject matter, style, intent. Most recently, books dealing with LGBTQ topics have come under fire, especially in YA works. Often these books are central to a reader’s understanding of others’ hardships and feelings of isolation. Although these are often valuable pieces of literature with significant themes, schools, libraries, and politicians continue to override our freedoms by outlawing such writings. Using mini-lectures and seminar discussions, we will examine five such works (in order of publication): The Color Purple by Alice Walker, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer, and Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel. (The public library has multiple copies of each, or you can purchase them from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Thriftbooks or Abebooks.com.) Note: Please read The Color Purple for the first class. No class 3/11 & 4/1.