Virtual Classes

The restoration efforts at our gardens (Gardens at Murder Creek) focus on restoring the Great Lakes ecosystem on just under 10 acres. The property, a former horse pasture, was purchased in 2008 and restoration efforts in 2010. Our mission included the removal of invasive exotics, increased biodiversity of Great Lakes native plants, and stabilizing the banks of our seasonally flooded creek bed. So far, our efforts have transformed the landscape, and we have begun cataloging the results of our efforts in terms of insects, birds, and mammals. More work is needed but restoration takes time. Our primary goal has always been to demonstrate what restoring native plants would mean to the community

Learn about congregate and home-delivered meals, nutrition counseling, employment and volunteer opportunities, senior centers, transportation, in-home support as well as support to family, friends, and neighbors who may be providing assistance to older adults and much more.

This class tells the true story based on my grandfather’s years as a bootlegger for Gangster Dutch Schultz. Harriet can’t wait to share it all with you!

A lot of folks have questions about the trans experience, so we are happy to provide a safe space to ask those questions. This training explores the journey that someone of the trans community may experience. We will go over pronouns, transitioning, legal protections, and more! (*This class is VIRTUAL only.

Fill gaps in your family tree with historical church documents. Learn practical strategies for locating and accessing religious records from multiple denominations, whether they’re housed in physical archives or digital databases. Discover how these documents can provide crucial details about your ancestors’ lives and relationships.

Feeding birds is a hobby enjoyed by many people. This hobby provides enjoyment for humans and a vital food source for our avian friends. Did you know that bird feeders and feeding stations can be a source of illness for birds? Are you wondering if you should continue feeding the birds during the recent outbreak of H5 bird flu? Are you at risk of contracting H5 bird flu when filling the feeders? How can we feed the birds and keep the rat population at bay? This class will answer these questions and show you what to feed the birds to avoid seed waste, how to keep your bird feeders clean to prevent illness in birds (and yourself), answer questions about H5 bird flu spread in bird and humans, and how to avoid letting your bird feeder become a rat buffet.

Retired Buffalo Radio news journalist John Zach, author of The Train Man, Western New York’s most successful locally published book, will take you on a captivating trip through the decades when toy trains were America’s most fascinating toy. Meet other enthusiasts and collectors. Bring along your own stories and even your treasures to show to others. Everyone receives a giant Spoonley The Train Man poster showing the subject of John Zach’s book in his iconic shop in South Buffalo.

Learn about the rustic mansions built at the turn-of-thecentury by William West Durant and others by a former Road Scholar staff member at Great Camp Sagamore.

Introductory workshop in which we will look for ways to find a state of calm in the chaos of today’s world? Come explore techniques to access the calm, despite the chaos around us. We’ll explore how we hold anxiety, worry, anger, fear, grief in different layers of our being. We’ll play with several ancient methods to transform negative emotions into a gentle state of peace. Each one can be a class. The intention of this class is to introduce you to options for further exploration. Some of the ancient techniques I will introduce in this class include: Grounding: connecting to earth’s natural frequency, changing your thoughts, changing everything. Did you know you can choose what you think? The Japanese finger holds to release negative emotions. Top 3 natural homeopathies to balance anxiety and more! (Please allow (2) hours for this class. Class size limited.)

Come and learn with us! By adopting ergonomic sleep practices tailored to your needs, you can improve comfort, reduce pain, and promote better overall health.

Join us for an introduction to the beautiful Spanish language with our amazing professor straight from the University of Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain. This class is for those with little or no knowledge of Spanish, but are interested in learning!

Ready to become fluent in the secret language of the internet? Join us for this eye-opening class that goes beyond the basic smiley face! In this fun and engaging course, we’ll dive deep into the world of digital paralinguistic cues – those little extras that add flavor to our online conversations. Think emojis are just cute pictures? Think again! We’ll explore how these tiny icons are revolutionizing the way we communicate in the digital age.

Online hate is a complex phenomenon that can be analyzed through various theoretical frameworks in communication and linguistics. This course will explore these frameworks to provide a comprehensive understanding of online hate speech and its dynamics.

Gain insight into living with a positive attitude after challenging and life changing events.

Learn the essentials of setting up, navigating, and using smart TVs, including connecting to Wi-Fi, streaming apps, and using voice controls.

Find out about the people who founded the cities, towns, villages and sections of WNY during the 1800s.

Do you or someone you cook for have a food allergy or intolerance? This class showcases recipes that use alternatives to food allergens and are still delicious and easy to prepare. Will include vegetarian-friendly recipes as well. Some of these allergen-free recipes may even become your favorites, even if you don’t require a special diet!

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?

When the US Mail took weeks, even months to reach California from the east, the Pony Express filled that period in record time. Travel with the Pony Express and its riders and experience the dangers of the isolated Western United States.

The local news story of the 20th Century in Cheektowaga; the worst school fire in New York State history. Back for another University Express series following last fall’s presentations tha

This workshop will explore the many resources to help you save money on your energy bill and increase the comfort and safety of your home. Come join us and get a free DIY energy savings kit!

The LGBTQ+ community has a rich and vibrant history that is largely unknown. In efforts to share and preserve this history (or history, as we call it), the Pride Center is proud to introduce one of its newest trainings! Learn about queer history and what you can do to preserve it! (*This class is VIRTUAL only.)

In April 2022, the World War II destroyer, USS The Sullivans, sank at the pier. Learn how this occurred, and what’s been done since and what will happen as we move into the future.

This talk will discuss the prospects for peace, if any, in the ongoing conflict from February 2022 until today.

Native plants, trees and bushes are critical to ecological resilience and biodiversity. Native plants have an additional value as they have been used medicinally by indigenous populations for centuries. This presentation will discuss medicinal natives and their many uses while also touching upon some important herbs that can be grown in container gardens or sunny borders. Many of these medicinal plants are important food sources for pollinators and critical to the environment. The information provided in this presentation is for educational purposes only and not intended to provide information to treat or diagnose any medical problem.

When the US Mail took weeks, even months to reach California from the east, the Pony Express filled that period in record time. Travel with the Pony Express and its riders and experience the dangers of the isolated Western United States.

He was a strong advocate of manifest destiny. He expanded the United States from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. A controversial chief executive and one of the most aggressive and independent presidents to ever occupy the White House. Who is James K. Polk? You will be able to answer that question when this presentation is completed.

This talk will discuss the prospects for peace, if any, in the ongoing conflict from February 2022 until today.

This class will discuss common issues seniors may face regarding medications. We will discuss medication adherence, tips for minimizing side effects, best practices for taking common medications, drug interactions, including over-the- counter medications, and nonpharmacological recommendations for common disease states.

Your plant looks unhealthy. What to do! Is it a disease, a creepy crawler, too much or too little water, food, light. Let’s find out.

AI is advancing at an unprecedented pace, with groundbreaking developments redefining our world every day. These innovations are not just transforming technology—they’re reshaping our perceptions of AI, for both its promise and its peril. In this discussion, we’ll dive into the profound impact of these changes and what they mean for the future. If you attended one of my sessions last year, prepare for an entirely new landscape of urgent and thought-provoking issues.

Discover how to borrow and enjoy ebooks and audiobooks using the Libby app for free with your library card.

Master the basics of Google Search and other Google tools, including Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Docs, to enhance productivity and simplify tasks.

Most superstitions are examples of basic patterns of thinking, which postulate mystical interconnections and causations in nature. In this talk such patterns of thinking are explored, shown to be based on six distinct principles, and explained with reference to a number of different superstitions collected by Dr. Stevens – and provided by the audience (bring along your favorites!). Such principles are universal, found in all cultures and periods of history and prehistory, which suggests that they represent fundamental ways in which the brain works.