Virtual Classes

We’ll focus on strategies to preserve and protect assets in the event that there is a need for Medicaid, skilled nursing home care or care in your home. We’ll discuss how to protect your assets and ensure that you are provided with good care for the rest of your life—even if you are unable to get through the five-year “look back” period.

In US Naval history, there have only been four Five-Star Admirals, also known as Fleet Admirals. These four men: Leahy, King, Halsey, and Nimitz guided the forces throughout the Pacific during WWII, ultimately bringing the surrender of Japan in Sept. 1945. Each man had the right knowledge and experience to do the job assigned to them, gathered by years of experience before America joined the Allied forces in 1941.

Buffalo has a rich history in the brewing industry dating back to the 19th century. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in craft beer in Buffalo. In this class, our instructor will take you from the “First Golden Age” to the current “Platinum Age.”

And it’s not what you think! It’s about how the City of Buffalo became a vital center of the nation’s fledgling aircraft industry—making key contributions to aviation, helping win two world wars, and creating important innovations from the early days of flight to today’s aerospace field.

Discover why some perennials may not thrive or return as expected and learn how to identify and address common issues. Gain insights on how to ensure your perennials return year after year for a beautiful, lasting garden.

Partially interactive, this class will show components of memory creation. We’ll demo a few simple memory exercises, and discuss the role of new medications to ward off dementia. You’ll gain a few tricks to improve memory and hurdle those “senior moments.”

What separates an IPA from a lager? How is a sour ale made? Learn what makes each beer style unique, and the beer culture/country that made it popular

As one of the largest and most important cities in America following the success of the Erie Canal, Buffalo was protected by an Army post known as the “Buffalo Barracks” from 1837-1847. We’ll review the important role of the Buffalo Barracks under Riley’s leadership in the context of life in Buffalo during that time period and his relationship with Buffalo notables such as Millard Fillmore and others.

Though the act of parting with familiar places is a loss in itself, the true meaning of cultural bereavement is an experience of disconnection to many other facets of culture, values, and identity. Join us to learn about how cultural bereavement can impact a migrant’s ability to forge a new life of safety and opportunity while maintaining their traditions and sense of self.

The Erie Canal was intended to be built with local labor, however, the further west they went the labor force dwindled. The canal was completed with the help of poor, unpopular, and unruly Irish immigrants. This presentation chronicles the issues and scope of the Irish intrusion.

Everyone knows how to dial the number, but not everyone knows WHEN! Let us teach you all about the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and Hows of calling 911 for help. We answer questions such as: When should you call 911? What information do you need to know? Learn the difference between 911, 211, 311, 988 and other numbers that offer assistance!

Come learn about the rise and fall of The Larkin Company, the second largest mail order company in the country behind Sears & Roebuck. Learn about the unique selling style of the “Larkin Secretaries”, and how this selling policy also aided in its collapse as technology changed during the 1910’s and 1920’s, leading to its final closure in 1967.

This class will discuss assessing retirement income sources, creating a retirement budget aligned with sustainability goals, managing expenses and maintaining a sustainable lifestyle, understanding long-term care considerations and insurance

This course is designed to inform participants about the importance of selecting the proper caregiver as you or family members age and will discuss how to fit increasing care costs into a long-term budget.

AI has been the subject of movies and science fiction for one hundred years. It’s here today - is that good news or bad? What does that mean to you? We will see a demonstration of AI in action and discuss what the technology can do right now. We
will also ponder what this means for our future.

Elbert Hubbard was a Gilded Age businessman who left his industrial life to create the Roycroft, one of the first Arts and Crafts communities in America. A brief history of the site will be told through historical photographs and the examination of six artworks housed on the Campus. The story behind each of these unique artifacts is the tale of the Roycroft itself.

Learn the history of the five main heritage parks of Erie County’s Parks System! This class includes information on Chestnut Ridge, Emery, Ellicott Creek, Como Lake and Akron Falls parks.

In US Naval history, there have only been four Five-Star Admirals, also known as Fleet Admirals. These four men: Leahy, King, Halsey, and Nimitz guided the forces throughout the Pacific during WWII, ultimately bringing the surrender of Japan in Sept. 1945. Each man had the right knowledge and experience to do the job assigned to them, gathered by years of experience before America joined the Allied forces in 1941.

Everyone knows how to dial the number, but not everyone knows WHEN! Let us teach you all about the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and Hows of calling 911 for help. We answer questions such as: When should you call 911? What information do you need to know? Learn the difference between 911, 211, 311, 988 and other numbers that offer assistance!

Elbert Hubbard was a Gilded Age businessman who left his industrial life to create the Roycroft, one of the first Arts and Crafts communities in America. A brief history of the site will be told through historical photographs and the examination of six artworks housed on the Campus. The story behind each of these unique artifacts is the tale of the Roycroft itself.

Books have been censored from time to time throughout history. Different eras have seen increases along with other methods of silencing dissent. We’ll look at some of these occurrences along with the current situation, particularly in certain states where librarians and teachers feel under siege. The ALA (American Library Association) documented more book bans in 2022 and 2023 than in any other time period since they began compiling data 20 years ago. Where is this happening? Which books are
most likely to be cited? Why now?

Through practical tips and exercises, we’ll learn how to eliminate fall risks and enhance our confidence and skills to maintain an active, independent lifestyle.

Unlock the full potential of Google in this informative class, where you’ll learn how to efficiently search the web, utilize advanced search techniques, and explore Google’s powerful suite of tools like Drive and Maps. Whether you’re new to the platform or looking to enhance your skills, this course will guide you through making the most of Google’s resources. (Please allow two hours for this class** This is a Virtual Class)

The Erie Canal had a significant impact not only on the growth of Buffalo but the growth of the nation. The talk includes: the initial concept of the Canal, the political fight to make it a reality, the construction of this amazing civil engineering feat, and its effect on the economy of Buffalo as it became one of the largest inland ports in the world.

Learn the beginnings of one of the most iconic American movie companies, Walt Disney Studios, as it rose to challenge the idea of what animation could be with classics like Snow White, Pinocchio and Fantasia.

In this “low stress” class, we’ll discuss the types of anxiety, how anxiety may impact us, and ways to cope.

This is designed for the homeowner who is not quite ready to sell but sees it on the horizon perhaps in 6 months or 5 years. We’ll discuss the following points: repair and maintenance decisions that make sense; what upgrades make the most money for you; how to reduce clutter without a lot of work; creating a slow and manageable timeline for planning a move and lastly, how to orchestrate a move, a real estate sale and also selling the things I don’t need.

Close to Canada, Niagara Falls and Buffalo were perfect avenues through which to transport booze, and Magaddino and his Mafiosi maintained a stranglehold on the city until his death in 1974. Michael F. Rizzo will take us on a virtual tour of Buffalo’s mafia exploits, everything from these brutal gangsters’ favorite hangouts to secret underground tunnels to murder.

The art of perfect pairing, just like wine, is paired with different foods, you can do the same with beer selections. Join us to learn how!

Italians migrated to Buffalo in the latter part of the 19th century escaping famine brought on by drought and high taxes. We’ll examine the movement of Italian immigrants in Buffalo, the businesses they were involved in, (including the influence of the Mafia), prominent Italian-American citizens and their eventual absorption into the melting pot of cultures that gives Buffalo its character.

Follow this step by step guide to create a stunning wreath on canvas using acrylic paints and leaves.

Learn about Erie County Senior Services’ free fitness program offered both virtually and in-person at various sites throughout Erie County. Workouts are geared toward older adults and include modifications so that individuals with various levels of physical fitness and ability can participate.

In this class, you’ll learn how to harness the power of the cloud to store, access, and share your files securely from anywhere. We’ll cover the basics of cloud services, including how to choose the right platform, sync your devices, and manage your data. Ideal for beginners, this course will give you the confidence to seamlessly integrate cloud technology into your daily life. (Please allow two hours for this class. ** This is a Virtual Class)

Learn the beginnings of one of the most iconic American movie companies, Walt Disney Studios, as it rose to challenge the idea of what animation could be with classics like Snow White, Pinocchio and Fantasia.

Let’s talk about ways to ensure your identity is protected, how to avoid identity theft and why it is important to review your credit report on a regular basis. Have you reviewed your credit report recently?

Christmas here in Buffalo and throughout this nation was first a religious celebration whose roots date back to the Romans and to ancient pagan rites. Buffalo, with its diverse ethnic population, had an abundance of Christmas traditions that influenced the various ways this holiday was celebrated. Join us to learn how these early Buffalonians brought their unique ethnic and religious traditions to help define a Buffalo Christmas!