The Quill

Quick Updates for Independent Lifelong Learners

October 11, 2026

#630

View as Webpage

NEWS

Register for courses starting in October



SPECIAL EVENTS

LUNCH@LLAIC continues on Tuesdays

LLAIC Loves Art: Wednesday, October 14

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

AFFINITY GROUPS

French Conversation Group, Monday, October 12

Current Events, Friday, October 16

Movie Mavens, October 16

Spanish Conversation Group (La Tertulia), Monday, October 19

LLAIC Lit-Lovers, Friday, November 13



To join LLAIC: click here

Would you enjoy knowing what's going on before everyone else does?

LLAIC Is looking for a cheerful volunteer to help with our weekly newsletter. Committee chairs will send you announcements and upcoming events. No Pulitzer required, no journalism degree. Just a little organization, a bit of computer savvy and the ability to turn "here's what's happening..." into something people actually want to read.

Volunteer a little time. 

Make a big difference. 

And become the person who knows everything!

Interested? We'd love to hear from you.

contact: Phyllis Cohen or Alex Conn

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 now 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: 

• 10/13 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. 

• 10/27 Matthew Bitner – How We Developed a Method for Saving Lives

In this Zoom presentation, Matt will share how he and his co-founder Dani – a physician in emergency medicine – launched nCase Technologies and invented a naloxone carrying case designed to make overdose reversal accessible and stigma-free. He'll walk through the real challenges of startup life, the recognition they've earned, and the path from idea to design to market. Aice Freedman will interview him after the video.

Future programs:

• 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

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 12:00

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 to 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 Vilna 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.

FRENCH CONVERSATION

GROUP

Monday October 12 @ 1:30 PM

The French Conversation group, which meets alternate Monday afternoons from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm, will read

Great French Short Stories of the Twentieth Century (Les Grandes Nouvelles Francaises du Vingtieme Siecle) when we complete the current book ( French Stories).

At our next meeting, Monday, Oct. 12 at 1:30 pm via Zoom, we start on page 254 of the print edition of our current book with the phrase "Garou, Garou" or in English "Werewolf, Werewolf". (The books are also available in online format.)

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. 

CURRENT EVENTS

Friday, October 16 @ 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 before noon on Thursday, October 15, to request a Zoom invitation. You'll receive it that day.

MOVIE MAVENS

IN BRUGES

FRIDAY, October 16 @ 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. 

SPANISH CONVERSATION GROUP

(LA TERTULIA)

MONDAY, OCTOBER 19 @ 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, November 13, 2026 @10:30 AM

Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister

Discussion to be led by Sandy Grasfield

December 11: The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

Led by Herb Chasan

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