Skip to main content

Current Classes

Welcome! 

1) Read through the catalog to see what interests you. You can also search for classes below using our search tool. All University Express classes are free and either in-person or virtual using Webex. Some of the in-person classes will be livestreamed on-site and you will be able to log on and watch from home. This is the first time we are offering this option. We ask that you please be patient and understanding if issues arise. Be sure to visit us here regularly for the latest schedule and list of recordings!

2) Register for the classes that interest you.

Virtual Classes: Visit our Virtual Classes page to register for the classes you want to virtually attend. You’ll receive an email confirming your registration status after registering. You can call our office for assistance if you do not have internet access.

In-Person Classes: Call the location where the in-person class is offered and reserve your spot ahead of time. Consider making a lunch or dinner reservation too so you can enjoy our Stay Fit Dining meals either before or after the class! Lunch and dinner reservations must be made at least one week in advance. We will be uploading schedules for each location in the near future! 

3) Make sure you have the right technology. You can access the virtual classes from your smartphone, tablet, or computer. You may also phone in if you’d just like to listen to the presentation. 

4) Participate in the classes you registered for!

Virtual Classes: Once your registration is accepted, you will receive email reminders before the class(es) start that you can join from. 

In-Person Classes: Make sure you called the location ahead of time to register. Be sure to follow all safety guidelines at the location you are attending.

Date - Time Topic Course Description Instructor Location Category

1 PM
Benefits Bingo!

Play Benefits Bingo to learn about programs and services
available in a Bingo format! Win prizes and have some fun :-).

Moira Mycio City of Tonawanda Public Library
Current Events

10 AM
Medicaid & Long Term Care Planning

Discusses strategies to preserve and protect assets in the
event that there is a need for Medicaid or nursing home care.

Jean Harris Cheektowaga Senior Center
Health & Wellness

2 PM
Advantages of Tax Strategy in Retirement

Unlock the keys to a more secure and enjoyable retirement
with this essential class on tax strategies. Learn how smart
tax planning can help you maximize your income, minimize
your tax burden, and preserve your wealth for years to come.

Paul Hutchings Amherst Senior Center
Law & Finance

2 PM
Crazy 1960's

Return to those chaotic days when music and new fashions
ruled as the threat of the Vietnam War was beginning.

Harriet Grayson Elma Public Library
History

10 AM
Great Tales of the Great Lakes

Why is the story of a ship tragedy on Lake Erie known to every
German school child? From weather to history to heroics, join
Erie County historian, Doug Kohler, for a look at the impact of
the Great Lakes on WNY.

Doug Kohler Orchard Park Senior Center
History

12:30 PM
Responding to Dementia-Related Behaviors

Details common behavior changes and how they are a form
of communication, non-medical approaches to behaviors,
and recognizing when additional help is needed.

Alzheimer's Association WNY Chapter Lancaster Senior Center
Health & Wellness

3 PM
Watt's Up with Your Electric Bill?

Curious about how your electric bill works - and how to reduce
it? We'll break down how to read and understand your electric
utility bill, your rights as a residential electric customer, community
solar and how it can help you save money ( - without installing
panels on your home!) and the Erie County ECLIPSE Program
which helps residents reduce electricity costs. Please bring a recent
electric bill with you! We'll use it as a hands-on example so you
can leave feeling informed and confident.

Sarah Sanford Lancaster Senior Center
Register
Law & Finance

1 PM
Laughter Yoga Wellness

Mind, body, and spirit are engaged as participants combine
laughter exercises with yoga breath, gentle stretching,
childlike playfulness, and positivity. All done to experience
stress relief, joy, well-being, and connection. No yoga
experience is needed. Dress comfortably & layered. Bring
drinking water; NO mat is needed. Most exercises can be
done seated. (Please allow two hours for this class.
Class size is limited, no mat)

Carol Kolerski
Health & Wellness

1:15 PM
Buffalo: Crime, Romance & Intrigue

Crime, romance, and intrigue either stand alone or combine
to create little-known tales about some of Buffalo's more
scintillating history. The stories span decades from the

1880s to the roaring 1920s, and they all offer then-and-
now glimpses into the city's storied past.

Marla Bujnicki Akron-Newstead Senior Center
History

2 PM
When & How to Call 9-1-1

The Reach Out to 911 program educates the public on when
and how to call 9-1-1. Instructors present proper emergency
response protocols, enhancing community preparedness
and reducing anxiety associated with emergency calls. It also
guides people on when to call 911 versus using other services
like 211 (for basic needs), 988 (for people experiencing
thoughts of suicide or a mental health crisis) or 1-800-222-
1222 (for the Upstate New York Poison Center), helping to
prevent misuse of 9-1-1 in non-emergency situations. This
is a groundbreaking program inspired by interactions with
the public. Erie County schools, businesses, and community
groups are encouraged to engage with this training program.
By participating, you contribute to a safer and more prepared
community, ready to act effectively in emergencies.

Elizabeth Forkl
Current Events

2:00 PM
When & How to Call 9-1-1

The Reach Out to 911 program educates the public on when
and how to call 9-1-1. Instructors present proper emergency
response protocols, enhancing community preparedness
and reducing anxiety associated with emergency calls. It also
guides people on when to call 911 versus using other services
like 211 (for basic needs), 988 (for people experiencing
thoughts of suicide or a mental health crisis) or 1-800-222-
1222 (for the Upstate New York Poison Center), helping to
prevent misuse of 9-1-1 in non-emergency situations. This
is a groundbreaking program inspired by interactions with
the public. Erie County schools, businesses, and community
groups are encouraged to engage with this training program.
By participating, you contribute to a safer and more prepared
community, ready to act effectively in emergencies.

Elizabeth Forkl West Seneca Public Library
Register
Current Events

1 PM
Baseball Memorabilia Collection

A discussion on baseball memorabilia from the 1930-1965
era followed by a one-hour HBO movie on the era.

Marty Kohler Cheektowaga Senior Center
History

1 PM
Library Downloadables

Your library card just got smarter! Discover how to download
ebooks, audiobooks, and more from your local library
straight to your device - no need to leave home.

Brendan Chella Aurora
Technology

1 PM
Self-Empowerment and Self-Defense for Seniors

Learn tools to protect yourself and feel safer through knowledge, situational awareness, and non-lethal self-
defense tools.

Rhonda Bent Town of Tonawanda Senior Center
Health & Wellness

1PM
Library Downloadables

Your library card just got smarter! Discover how to download
ebooks, audiobooks, and more from your local library
straight to your device - no need to leave home.

Brendan Chella Town of Aurora Senior Center
Register
Technology

1 PM
Pain Management using the power of your mind

Discover how the mind can play a role in easing physical
discomfort. Guided by a Certified Consulting Hypnotist,
this class introduces gentle, non-invasive techniques that
support pain management through focused awareness and
relaxation. (Please allow two hours for this class. Class
size is limited.)

Lori Ann Redlinski Tosh Collins Senior Center
Health & Wellness

10 AM
Is Islam an Arab Religion? Rethinking What We Assume About Faith and Culture

What forms might life take in the Solar System and beyond?
This presentation explores the often-misunderstood
relationship between Islam and Arab culture. By examining
key Islamic texts such as the Qur'an and Sunnah, this
presentation highlights Islam's emphasis on cultural diversity
and universal moral principles rather than a singular cultural
expression.

Mustafa Gokcek Orchard Park Senior Center
Current Events

1PM
What Was that Star Over Bethlehem?

Of the four canonical Gospels, only Matthew writes about
the marvelous Star which guided three Median astrologers
over more than 1000 miles to that stable in Bethlehem. Only
they, the "Magi," see it. Herod doesn't see it. The writings of
the great Roman-Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, produced
only a few decades after Jesus, contain no mention of it.
Many modern writers have spent a lot of time and energy
offering speculation. But all interpretations have ignored
what the Magi meant to 1st-century Jews. This talk offers a
new explanation for the Star.

Dr. Phil Stevens Aurora
Humanities

2 PM
Learn How to Play BUNCO

Let's get together, learn, and play BUNCO. Start a BUNCO
game day at your Senior Center. It's an easy and fun dice
game.

Cindy Solly Lancaster Senior Center
Health & Wellness

2 PM
Microbiology for the Non-Scientist, Part 1

We have all heard of Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, MRSA,
etc. contaminating our food. Recently, cantaloupes, peanut
butter, onions, cheese, snack bars, and vegetables were
recalled because of bacterial contamination. Where do
these bacteria come from? Why are they in our food? What
can we do to prevent them from contaminating our food?
We will cover how such epidemics of food-borne illnesses
have occurred and how they can be prevented. You will
learn how manufacturers establish shelf life, and what
terms like "best if used by" mean.

John Shields Amherst Senior Center
Health & Wellness

1 PM
Spice Up the Holidays

Explore how to use herbs and spices to enhance holiday
meals and add fragrance to your home. Includes hands-on
activities such as creating a stove-top simmer bag.
the basics of streaming, apps, and connecting your smart TV
to the internet easily.

Pati Aine Guzinski Akron-Newstead Senior Center
Humanities

10 AM
Winter Sowing and Native Plants

Learn to grow native plants and vegetables through winter
sowing using recycled milk jugs.

Kathleen Contrino Cheektowaga Senior Center
Natural Sciences

10:00 AM
Winter Sowing and Native Plants

Learn to grow native plants and vegetables through winter
sowing using recycled milk jugs.

Kathleen Contrino Cheektowaga Senior Center
Register
Natural Sciences

2 PM
Great Tales of the Great Lakes

Why is the story of a ship tragedy on Lake Erie known to every
German school child? From weather to history to heroics, join
Erie County historian, Doug Kohler, for a look at the impact of
the Great Lakes on WNY.

Doug Kohler Eden Library
History

2 PM
Microbiology for the Non-Scientist, Part 2

Now that we have covered bacteria & the effect they have
on food, we will cover the processes that manufacturers
follow that make food safe to ship, store, & eat.

John Shields Amherst Senior Center
Health & Wellness

1 PM
Where's the Beef? Vegetarian Cooking for even the most Committed Carnivore

Taste delicious vegetarian recipes and explore the benefits of
incorporating vegetarian cooking into your eating routine.

Erie County Department for Aging Nutrition Team Orchard Park Senior Center
Health & Wellness

10 AM
What Was that Star Over Bethlehem?

Of the four canonical Gospels, only Matthew writes about
the marvelous Star which guided three Median astrologers
over more than 1000 miles to that stable in Bethlehem. Only
they, the "Magi," see it. Herod doesn't see it. The writings of
the great Roman-Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, produced
only a few decades after Jesus, contain no mention of it.
Many modern writers have spent a lot of time and energy
offering speculation. But all interpretations have ignored
what the Magi meant to 1st-century Jews. This talk offers a
new explanation for the Star.

Dr. Phil Stevens Orchard Park Senior Center
Humanities

10:00 AM
What Was that Star Over Bethlehem?

Of the four canonical Gospels, only Matthew writes about
the marvelous Star which guided three Median astrologers
over more than 1000 miles to that stable in Bethlehem. Only
they, the "Magi," see it. Herod doesn't see it. The writings of
the great Roman-Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, produced
only a few decades after Jesus, contain no mention of it.
Many modern writers have spent a lot of time and energy
offering speculation. But all interpretations have ignored
what the Magi meant to 1st-century Jews. This talk offers a
new explanation for the Star.

Dr. Phil Stevens Orchard Park Senior Center
Register
Humanities

11:45 AM
Declutter with Purpose: Practical Strategies for an Organized Life

Decluttering is not just about having less stuff, it's about
creating space for what you want. Learn how to create
organized systems that actually work for real life.

Michelle Walter Tosh Collins Senior Center
Health & Wellness

10 AM
Self Defense for Seniors

We'll learn how to be aware of our surroundings and
techniques to help protect ourselves. Our instructor Sister
Judith achieved her black belt in Tae Kwon Do at age 60!

Sister Judy Beiswanger Grand Island Golden Age Center
Health & Wellness

1:30 PM
Google Maps

Never get lost again! Explore how to use Google Maps for
directions, local business info, and even virtual tours - your
new digital travel buddy.

Brendan Chella Northwest Amherst Community Center
Technology

2 PM
Mark Twain's Haunts around Western New York

When Mark Twain lived and worked in Buffalo from 1869 to
1871, he hung out mostly in the downtown and waterfront
area, the Delaware district, and the Niagara Falls region.
This illustrated presentation describes places and people
that Twain knew well during his time in Western New York.
Several entertaining anecdotes will be shared from the
instructor's new book, The Illustrated Mark Twain and the
Buffalo Express.

Tom Reigstad Elma Public Library
History

4 PM
Forces of Nature: The Science of Natural Disasters

From earthquakes and hurricanes to wildfires and tsunamis,
this class will explore the powerful natural forces that shape
our planet. Learn what causes them, how scientists study and
predict them, and how communities prepare and respond.

Heather Thuman Clarence Senior Center
Natural Sciences

1 PM
Apps and Websites

Discover the digital world one click at a time! Learn how to
navigate popular apps and websites easily, making everyday
tasks - from shopping to staying connected - both fun and
simple.

Brendan Chella Dorothy J. Collier Community Center
Technology

1 PM
Drum4Health/Bringing Rhythm to Life

Learn the therapeutic power of drumming and rhythm for
mental and physical well-being. This course will guide you
through the benefits of rhythmic activities in group settings,
promoting mindfulness, relaxation, and health. (This class
runs 90 minutes, Class size limited)

Carolyn Zimmerman Tosh Collins Senior Center
Health & Wellness

1 PM
Healing through Art-Angel Ornaments A Meditation Angel Ornament Making Experience"

Enter a peaceful, heart-centered space where calm meets
creativity. In this two-hour workshop, you'll create your
own meditation angel ornament, beginning with a gentle
guided meditation to ground and inspire you. Surrounded
by soft music and beautiful materials like feathers, crystals,
and wood, you'll craft with intention and intuition - no
experience needed. We'll close with a reflective sharing
circle, and you'll leave with a handmade angel carrying
your personal message of peace, love, or protection. (All
materials are provided. Class size is limited, 90 minute
class.)

Aileen Gonzalez-Marti West Side Community Services
Health & Wellness

1 PM
Puzzle-Palooza

Calling all seasoned sleuths and puzzle enthusiasts! Are you ready to challenge your mind, sharpen your wit, and have a blast with friends? Join our Puzzle Palooza Contest, designed specifically for older adults who are young at heart and sharp in mind. Five senior centers will be holding initial competitions (5 teams of 4) completing the same puzzle in up to one hour. Each contest will have its own puzzle "arbiter." (We had to look that one up too - it's a puzzle contest referee!) The team that completes the puzzle the fastest will advance to the final competition and face each other for "Championship Puzzler Day!" Our Goal: To have an absolute blast while keeping your mind sharp and active. Whether you're a seasoned puzzle pro or just looking for a fun way to stay engaged, this event is for you!


Special Events

1:15 PM
What Was that Star Over Bethlehem?

Of the four canonical Gospels, only Matthew writes about
the marvelous Star which guided three Median astrologers
over more than 1000 miles to that stable in Bethlehem. Only
they, the "Magi," see it. Herod doesn't see it. The writings of
the great Roman-Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, produced
only a few decades after Jesus, contain no mention of it.
Many modern writers have spent a lot of time and energy
offering speculation. But all interpretations have ignored
what the Magi meant to 1st-century Jews. This talk offers a
new explanation for the Star.

Dr. Phil Stevens Akron-Newstead Senior Center
Humanities

11:45 AM
Senior Living Hacks for Green Living

Come explore new tech that can make your life a little bit
greener and safer.

Amy Alduino Tosh Collins Senior Center
Humanities

12:30 PM
Flowers from Grandma's Garden

A nostalgic trip through memorable flowers and their history
in our gardens.

Peggy Koppmann Lancaster Senior Center
Natural Sciences

10:30 AM
What Was that Star Over Bethlehem?

Of the four canonical Gospels, only Matthew writes about
the marvelous Star which guided three Median astrologers
over more than 1000 miles to that stable in Bethlehem. Only
they, the "Magi," see it. Herod doesn't see it. The writings of
the great Roman-Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, produced
only a few decades after Jesus, contain no mention of it.
Many modern writers have spent a lot of time and energy
offering speculation. But all interpretations have ignored
what the Magi meant to 1st-century Jews. This talk offers a
new explanation for the Star.

Dr. Phil Stevens Grand Island Golden Age Center
Humanities