All York Courses   

Join us for six science fiction movies from 1997 to 2014. The movies will be the following genres within the science fiction category: Children of Men (2006, thriller), Galaxy Quest (1999, comedy), Looper (2012, fantasy), Guardians of the Galaxy (2014, action), Gattaca (1997, drama), and WALL-E (2008, animation). This variety pack has it all: laughter, tears, amazing concepts, and a lot for us to talk about. All of these films have closed captioning. 

Rich Santel will present Merrily We Go to Hell (1932), Johnny Belinda (1948), Stage Fright (1950), Gun Crazy (1950), Theodora Goes Wild (1936), and The Searchers (1956). All but Johnny Belinda and Theodora Goes Wild have closed captioning (CC). 

Let’s face it: someone is going to write your obituary — why not you? This four-week course flips the script on one of life’s final rituals. Whether you want to be remembered for your epic pie crust or your patent on space-age Velcro, this course is your chance to tell your story, your way. We’ll dive into the surprisingly rich history of obituaries, explore how modern memorials blend facts with flair, and guide you in writing a piece that’s equal parts memoir and love letter. Bonus: your descendants (and their family trees) will thank you. Please consider bringing the following to class: a notebook or device for writing; a willingness to reflect, write, and (maybe) laugh at yourself; and sample photos, family trees, or keepsakes (optional but helpful). 

What was Operation Cold Douche in November 1940? Did the Allies really build concrete ships? Find out why actor Edward G. Robinson was concerned about making a certain movie in 1939. Why was the British classification level of “Control” of concern to the Americans? Why did Comiso Airfield on the island of Sicily become of great technical importance to the Allies? Ken Weiler will discuss these and many more obscure, interesting, and fascinating facts that occurred during World War II. 

The York State Fair has served as a much-anticipated coming-together moment for York County residents for 260 years. In its early years, it was a time for farm people to meet and mingle. “A great many marriages take place by the young countrymen and girls at the time of their harvest frolics,” one history states. It has evolved from an event for the agricultural community to one that also includes top entertainment on its stage and an array of food. Over the years, the fair has changed its venues, time of year, number of days, and name to remain a top attraction for the region and state. 

Learn the basics of cooking vegetarian during this demonstration-based cooking class. You will learn shopping and storage tips, cooking techniques, and more. Our instructors will offer an educational program and show you several different recipes that you will be able to taste test. What are you waiting for? Let’s cook with Penn State Extension! 

York Art Association’s November exhibition is their most prestigious event of the year. Artists from the Northeast region apply online with images of their work. A juror preselects up to 110 nonfunctional pieces of fine art to qualify for the exhibit. A large variety of genres and mediums are exhibited, including sculpture, acrylic, oil, fabric, watercolor, pastel, pencil, charcoal, and mixed media. A private guide will provide an informational tour of this exhibit to OLLI members, including the juried exhibit process, what a judge looks for in a piece of artwork when determining prizes, discussion of all winning pieces in the exhibit, a brief history of the artists, various mediums used in 2D and 3D art and examples of each on display, and various genres of art and examples of each on display. The physical activity level for the course is one sneaker. The gallery is on one floor, has no stairs, and is accessible to those with walkers or wheelchairs. The York Art Association has a large parking lot and some street parking. 

When Franklin Roosevelt contracted polio at age 39 in 1921, most people thought his public life was over. People with disabilities were expected to stay home and out of sight. It was unheard of for people with severe disabilities to serve in politics, but FDR, who was the Democratic nominee for Vice President in 1920, changed all of that. Find out how he overcame his disability to become President, and how having polio made him a better person and politician. How did his opponents use his disability against him? How did the media treat his disability? 

In 1867, Édouard Manet wrote, “Mr. Manet has no intention of overthrowing old methods of painting or of creating new ones. He simply seeks to be himself and not someone else.” This might have seemed disingenuous to the public scandalized by Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe in 1863 or Olympia in 1865, despite both paying homage to Italian Renaissance masterpieces. Even the young artists who admired his contemporary subjects and innovative approach to color and light might have seen this comment as overly modest. This presentation will explore the revolutionary nature of Manet’s modern masterpieces. 

The Last Frontier, Seward’s Folly, and The Land of the Midnight Sun are three nicknames that embody popular notions of Alaska. But the real story of America’s biggest and wildest state is more complex. This course explores 300 years of Alaska’s fascinating history — from the first Russian fur-trading settlements, through the booming Gold Rush days, to the modern challenge of balancing natural resource development with conservation, tourism, and the preservation of native Alaskan culture. 

Directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne, The Searchers is a revered western film that has left a lasting impact on the genre. The film follows Ethan Edwards, a Civil War veteran who embarks on a perilous journey to rescue his niece from a Comanche tribe. This epic tale of revenge and redemption explores themes of racism, loyalty, and the complexities of frontier life. With its stunning cinematography and compelling narrative, The Searchers remains a powerful and influential piece of American cinema.

Learn to take full advantage of all the free, quality resources available to you from your York County Public Library system! We’ll tailor the session to meet your specific interests, whether that is delving into research databases, historical digitized photo archives, learning a new language, or finding a library program. Bring the (mobile) device you use to access the internet through wi-fi, such as your phone, tablet, or laptop. 

Maybe you’re interested in river cruises — or bicycling. Or maybe you just want to see Europe up close. For Josh Hooper, it was all three. Join us for video highlights of the bike and barge cruise he took from Bruges, Belgium to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The video follows the tour day by day. We’ll see little towns, big cities, canals, farms, bridges, ferries, monuments — and of course, windmills. Perhaps you’ll decide that this is the trip for you. Perhaps not. Either way, you’ll get to sample much of this beautiful corner of the world. 

Our Indigenous American tribes used literally thousands of different plants for food, medicine, ceremony, containers, shelter, transportation, insecticides, musical instruments, fuel, incense, soap, tools, toys, weapons, smoking, snuff, and magic. How have they acquired this encyclopedic knowledge? Part of the answer is the people have a spiritual relationship with the natural world, including plants, in a way most of us do not. In this program we will talk about those spiritual relationships and learn about two dozen plant uses that the instructor found particularly interesting. 

After hundreds of lonely years of doing what WALL-E was built for, the curious and lovable robot discovers a new purpose in life when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE. Join them in a fantastic journey across the universe. 

Why wait until spring to get your garden growing? Embrace the cold and jump-start your next garden season now with winter sowing! Join us for a hands-on, feel-good workshop that is perfect for those chilly months when your garden is hibernating. You will learn how to give your plants an early jump on spring—while keeping the gardening spirit alive through the winter. It is easy, rewarding, and, yes, downright fun! Please bring six empty containers (like milk jugs or small plastic pots) with drainage holes and two boxes to carry them home. Let us make gardening a year-round adventure! We cannot wait to see you there.

THIS LISTING IS FOR THE DECEMBER 1 CHRISTMAS TOUR OF WAREHIME-MYERS MANSION, TOUR ONLY. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE BUS TRANSPORTATION SO YOU MUST DRIVE YOURSELF THERE.

Imagine, if you will, a neo-classical mansion in the heart of a historic district decorated for Christmas. More than forty themed Christmas trees decorated by local businesses, nonprofit organizations, school children, and individuals situated throughout the many elegant rooms of the 1913 Warehime-Myers Mansion in the charming town of Hanover, Pennsylvania. Gorgeous decorations throughout include Santa Clauses and other vintage collections. Continue to the Hanover Area History Museum located in the mansion’s carriage house for more trees and Christmas fun. Visit the Museum Gift Shop for Hanover-themed and handcrafted stocking stuffers and other goodies. 

OLLI is pleased to offer a personal tour of the mansion. Since the tour will end after dark, we have secured a bus to take members to and from the Penn State York campus. All trees and decorations are different each year. 

This is a one-sneaker tour with a limited amount of walking and accessible areas. 

OLLI’s intern, Madisyn, will be hosting a panel for OLLI members to attend, showcasing Penn State York’s student athletes, featuring student athletes from every sport. The purpose is to have an intergenerational interaction, and to generate a fun event of Q and A for OLLI members and students. It gives OLLI members a chance to learn what is involved in the daily lives of Penn State York’s student athletes and allows student athletes here on campus to talk about their daily lives balancing academics and sports. OLLI members can ask questions about what athletes do here on campus, ask anything about sports, or if they want, they can talk about their experiences with sports, as everyone would love to hear the difference between sports now and then. This will also allow student-athletes to ask OLLI members questions as well. Please join OLLI for a fun Q and A with Penn State York student athletes!

Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature as the York Symphony celebrates the harmonious blend of dance and music. Dance It Forward captures the elegant fusion between ballet and music that will leave you inspired. Strauss’ “Emperor Waltz” begins our evening with a playful march melding into a vibrant Viennese waltz. The rich American Indian tradition of storytelling beneath the full winter moon inspired Jerod’s Tate’s “Winter Moons,” featuring Tate as the narrator. Lastly, Copland’s ballet, “Appalachian Spring,” embraces 1930’s optimistic American culture. Come and enjoy a fantastic show highlighting lively dancers and captivating music.

Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature as the York Symphony celebrates the harmonious blend of dance and music. Dance It Forward captures the elegant fusion between ballet and music that will leave you inspired. Strauss’ “Emperor Waltz” begins our evening with a playful march melding into a vibrant Viennese waltz. The rich American Indian tradition of storytelling beneath the full winter moon inspired Jerod’s Tate’s “Winter Moons,” featuring Tate as the narrator. Lastly, Copland’s ballet, “Appalachian Spring,” embraces 1930’s optimistic American culture. Come and enjoy a fantastic show highlighting lively dancers and captivating music.

The concert begins with Strauss’ Roses from the South and Beethoven’s lighthearted Overture to Fidelio. From a menacing beginning to an electrifying finish, Georges Bizet's memorable Carmen Suites tells the fated story of a lovestruck soldier and passionate Carmen in two suites. York Symphony’s Concertmaster Denise Dillenbeck shines in Nancy Ives’ Immortal Beloved. Ives arranged the piece to celebrate Beethoven’s unknown muse and showcase these women’s voices.

The concert begins with Strauss’ Roses from the South and Beethoven’s lighthearted Overture to Fidelio. From a menacing beginning to an electrifying finish, Georges Bizet's memorable Carmen Suites tells the fated story of a lovestruck soldier and passionate Carmen in two suites. York Symphony’s Concertmaster Denise Dillenbeck shines in Nancy Ives’ Immortal Beloved. Ives arranged the piece to celebrate Beethoven’s unknown muse and showcase these women’s voices.