The Quill

Quick Updates for Independent Lifelong Learners

October 4, 2026

#629

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NEWS

Register for courses starting in October



SPECIAL EVENTS

LUNCH@LLAIC continues on Tuesdays

"Purpose" at the Calderwood, Sunday, October 11

LLAIC Loves Art: Wednesday, October 14

Let's Go, Jewish Beacon Hill, Saturday, October 24

AFFINITY GROUPS

Spanish Conversation Group (La Tertulia), Monday, October 5

LLAIC Lit-Lovers, Friday, October 9

French Conversation Group, Monday, October 12

Current Events, Friday, October 16

Movie Mavens, Friday, October 16



To join LLAIC: click here

ZOOM HELP NEEDED

We’re looking for friendly volunteers to help with the technical presentation of our online Zoom classes. No experience is necessary — we will provide training and support! You just need to be somewhat comfortable using a computer and willing to lend a helping hand. Your assistance will help our classes run smoothly and save the cost of hiring another tech assistant.

Volunteer a little time. 

Make a big difference. 

And enjoy the course you help with for free!

Interested? We'd love to hear from you.

contact: Bill Miniscalco

LUNCH@LLAIC CONTINUES

TUESDAYS AT TEMPLE SHALOM

175 TEMPLE STREET, WEST NEWTON

LUNCH STARTS AT 1, PROGRAM at 1:30

Join us at Temple Shalom on all your Tuesday afternoons from September 15 through the end of the semester for lunch and a delightful program! Drop in before class, after class, or just for the program. Bring your own lunch (we provide designer water and hot beverages) or email Jennifer Young if you want to order pizza ($3 for one slice or $5 for two).

LUNCH@LLAIC is open to guests and no RSVP is necessary, so bring a friend! The next programs are as follows: 

10/6 Jim Mniece -The Scientific Genius (and Rivalry) of Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla

Did you know that Edison and Tesla (Edison's one-time employee) were arch enemies with competing visions for how to empower America electrically? Their hostility played out in the infamous War of the Currents, which culminated in the electrocution of Topsy the circus elephant in 1903, orchestrated by Edison, but intentionally using Tesla's controversial AC current. In this video presentation, you will learn how radio, television, robots, electric cars, self-driving cars, solar heating, the internet, and the cellphone were on the mind of one or the other of these geniuses, and you will discover which had the more accurate and enduring vision for the world.

• 10/13 Mary Mansfield – The Creativity and Joy of Jacob Collier, musician 

If you are familiar with Jacob Collier or haven’t heard of him, you won’t want to miss this video event. Born in 1994, this English singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and educator is a delight to watch. Incorporating a combination of jazz and elements from other musical genres, his works often feature extensive use of reharmonizations and close harmony. He is known for his energetic live performances, in which he often encourages the audience to sing harmony or play percussion parts. 

Future programs:

• 10/27 Matthew Bitner – How We Developed a Method for Saving Lives
• 11/10 Joanne Fisher – Ancient Egypt, Drama, Spectacle, and Remarkable Characters
• 11/17 Alex Conn and Leo Laverdure – Introduction to Chatbots and AI: Part 2
• 12/1 Don Bermont – Trivial Pursuit Game

THEATER LOVERS

"PURPOSE" AT THE CALDERWOOD

SUNDAY OCTOBER 11 at 2:00 PM

Wait List Only

Winner of the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play and a smash hit on Broadway, Purpose is the explosive and wildly entertaining new play from Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, diving headlong into the life of a prominent and influential political dynasty. 

Encircled by civil rights leaders, pastors, and congressmen for decades, the Jasper family is a foundational pillar of Black American society. That is, until their youngest son returns home with an unexpected dinner guest, and their carefully curated existence begins to fracture. Don’t miss this searing and hilarious exploration of faith, class, ambition, and heritage — what The Washington Post called “a feast of jaw-dropping tea and riveting food for thought.” 

FLYING MASTERPIECES

The Art of the Postage Stamp

Please join LLAIC Loves Art

and the Phoenix Art Museum

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14 at 1:30 pm

Few works of art enjoy as vast an audience as the art of American postage stamps. From the earliest engraved stamps to contemporary commemorative stamps, we will explore the art and artists that bring art to the masses, including over 20 artists seen at Phoenix Art Museum. Enjoy an additional special focus on holiday stamps.

Our docent today is Lisa White. Lisa was a High School English and Social Studies teacher for 35 years. She joined the Phoenix Art Docent Program in 2010, serving as president from 2021- 2022.



Click here before noon on Tuesday, October 13, to request a Zoom invitation. You'll receive it that day.

JEWISH BEACON HILL

SATURDAY OCTOBER 24 AT 10:00AM

LUNCH AT HARVARD GARDENS at NOON

Please join us to explore the lives of the Jewish residents on Beacon Hill’s North Slope at the turn of the 20th century, during a period of cultural and architectural change. Discover how Boston’s Jewish immigrants created a community that blended customs from Eastern Europe into the new world around them. Visit sites where they worked, lived and worshiped within a few blocks of each other. This is a 90-minute tour, starting at 10 am on October 24th.

Walking distance is 0.75 mile with inclines and likely uneven surfaces. It begins and ends at Vilna Shul, 18 Philips St., Boston. A tour of Villa Shul is not included. 

Parking is available at the Boston Common Garage which is a distance from Vilna Shul. There are also parking lots on Cambridge St. Nearest transit stop is the Red line stop for MGH. This tour is limited to 15 participants.

After the tour we’ll have lunch at Harvard Gardens, a casual restaurant with a varied menu, about a 2-block walk from where the tour ends. The cost of the tour is $20.00. It is rain or shine. The registration form must be received by October 16 along with your payment. If sending a check please contact Margalit Lai to let her know you are coming, so she will reserve a spot for you.

Registration form for Jewish Beacon Hill Tour.

SPANISH CONVERSATION GROUP

(LA TERTULIA)

MONDAY, OCTOBER 5 at 1:00 PM

Our format consists of reading and discussing articles from various Spanish language media sources of general high interest. There is no homework although everyone is invited to submit articles they might find for our agendas.

The hosts for the group are Miriam Grodberg and Larry Krakauer. Contact Miriam to request an invitation or with any

questions.

LLAIC LIT-LOVERS

FRIDAY, October 9, 2026 at 10:30 AM

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

Discussion to be led by Pat Cole

This novel tells of an elderly man named Theo who moves to a small town called Golden. The story explores themes of kindness, connection, and the transformative power of generosity within a community.

Millions of people have read this book. If you are one of them, join us to talk about it on October 9.

Click here for a link on Wednesday, October 7, and you will receive it the next day.

November 13: Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister

Led by Sandy Grasfield

December 11: The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

Led by Herb Chasan

FRENCH CONVERSATION

GROUP

Monday October 12 at 1:30 PM

On April 13, we started reading short stories from the book French Stories/Contes Francais: A Dual-Language Book, edited by Wallace Fowlie. We’ve started with the first story, Micromégas, by Voltaire. 

You can see a link to the Kindle version of the book on Amazon here. Once there, you can click a box on the right to order it in paperback. CAUTION: There are other similar DUAL LANGUAGE books edited by Wallace Fowlie. Be sure to buy the edition with “Ten Short Stories by Voltaire, Balzac, Gide, Camus …” et. al., available from Amazon for Kindle or in paperback.



The complete list of stories is included in the description. You can see the actual table of contents by clicking on the “Read sample” link just below the picture of the book’s cover. It seems to take you to the FORWARD; if so, you must click the < arrow on the left side to move back through the table. You can also scan to the right and read almost all of the first story, 

We meet for an hour and a half by ZOOM every other Monday at 1:30 p.m. We are intermediate to advanced French readers who read the French text out loud and discuss the stories in French. Please email Betty Salzberg if you would like to join us. 

Click hereCURRENT EVENTS

Friday, October 16 at 10:00 AM

Led by Janet Holmes-Porter

This week, there was so much news. What is happening with the war in Iran? Will the Strait of Hormuz be opened anytime soon? If not, where will oil prices go? What's happening in Gaza?

Newcomers are always welcome to this erudite and forceful group. Click here by noon on Thursday, October 15, to request a Zoom invitation. You'll receive it that day.

MOVIE MAVENS

IN BRUGES

FRIDAY, October 16 at 2:00-3:00

In Bruges is a dark comedy written and directed by Martin McDonagh. It stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as two hitmen awaiting their next mission in Belgium. While this is a hired-gun movie, prepare for suspense and hilarity in dark places. You won't know what will happen, and you won't be able to wait to find out!

In Bruges has received positive reviews for its unique blend of dark comedy, quirky dialogue, and drama, showcasing strong performances by Farrell and Gleeson and a clever screenplay. Critics highlight the engaging dialogue and the chemistry between the lead actors.

Garnering acclaim from critics, Martin McDonagh was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and received a BAFTA award for his writing. Colin Farrell won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical. Brendan Gleeson also delivered a standout performance as the "straight man."

In Bruges is available to stream on Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and YouTube.

Click here by noon on Thursday, October 15, for your Zoom invitation, which will be sent that day. 

Learn more about LLAIC at www.llaic.org

Call us: (508) 453-1205

Write us: info@llaic.org

Editor: Phyllis Cohen

Production Manager: Alex Conn

Contributing Editor: Shelly Levine