August 12 to 19, 2017
Your Chairs for LOAS 1, 2017 were
Brian and Emily Levine

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 "One Star In The Galaxy"

This week on Star will focus on science and astronomy, observation and examination, and our place in the Universe. In addition to our theme speaker, workshops for kids and adults will tie in themes of connectedness and exploration. We’re also very excited to have our childhood assistant minister from Brooklyn joining us for the week.

 

Theme Speaker:
Irene Pease

We are thrilled to welcome Irene Pease, New York City’s Friendly Neighborhood Astronomer!  Through an exploration of the size, scales, and diversity of objects in space, as well as the vast distances between, she will help us better appreciate our place in the galaxy and the universe.  She will also help us related to the universe through observations of the night sky as our ancestors have, regardless of our cultural backgrounds.  We share this view will all of humanity, and may explore some of this history, in various cultures, in various religions, and think about how each of us personally regards the night sky.

Astrophysics educator, professional amateur astronomer, rock climber, runner, poi novice.
As Brooklyn’s Friendly Neighborhood Astronomer, Irene enjoys sharing views through her telescope to passersby on busy sidewalks, and under darker skies in Prospect Park.  She has a bachelors degree in Physics from the University of Arizona, and has worked as a professional amateur astronomer, astrophysics educator, telescope operator, and Mad Scientist.  In addition to astronomizing around Brooklyn, Irene teaches physics courses at York College and climbs fake rocks.


Minister of the Week:
Rev. Harris Riordan

Raised in Brooklyn, at the First Unitarian Congregational Society of Brooklyn, The Reverend Harris Riordan has been the minister at The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Boca Raton for almost 20 years, a congregation doing what it can to create environmental and racial justice.

      Harris earned her BA at the State University of New York, and her Masters of Divinity at Union Theological Seminary in New York.  She was ordained by All Souls Unitarian Church in New York City in 1982. She has served as The Religious Education Director and Associate Minister of the Community Unitarian Church in White Plains, New York and Associate Minister of the First Unitarian Church in Brooklyn. Later she was the Interim minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Restoration in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Interim Associate Minister at All Souls Unitarian Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

 


Registrar: Patti Emmons

 


Your Youth Team

Youth Coordinator:
Kristin Tlili

Kristin Tlili - Youth Coordinator      Floater:
Molly Phipps
Molly Phipps - Floater

Name: Malaga Group
Ages:  0 to 3 years old
Meets at: Baby Barn
LeadersRoni Phipps and Cynthia 
  
Eisemann & Jackie Shapiro
Ronnie Phipps Cynthia Eisemann Jackie Shapiro
Name: Lunging Group
Grades:  4 to 6 years old
Meets at: The Louisa's Barn
LeadersEllie Emers & Anne 
   McPherson
Ellie Emers Anne McPherson
Name: Cedar Group
Grades:  Lower Elementary grades
Meets at: Lawrence Hall
LeadersVanessa Wilde
   and Bruce Wilde
Vanessa Wilde Bruce Wilde
Name: Duck Group
Grades:  Upper Elementary grades
Meets at: Parker
LeadersAdam Shapiro 
   and David Garvoille
Adam Shapiro David Garvoille

Name: Smuttynose Group
Grades:  Junior High grades
Meets at: Brookfield
Leaders
Patricia McNaught 
   & Todd Van Gordon

Patricia McNaught & Todd VanGordon Patricia McNaught & Todd VanGordon

Name: Appledore Group
Grades:  High School grades
Meets at: Marshman
LeadersKen Keech/Tiferet Rose 
   & Marc Taylor

Ken Keech  Tiferet Rose Marc Taylor

 

 

Workshops and Starbursts:

WORKSHOPS
Week long classes offered daily

Yoga and Stretching
with Elyse Sparkes

 

Finding the centers of our own universes

     Rise n'shine with a morning movement class! We'll stretch and strengthen so you'll feel balanced, flexible, and ready to conquer the rest of your day. We'll also focus on breathing exercises and relaxation techniques so you can go inward, practice listening to your body, and connect to your own inner wisdom. Open to all levels!

 

About Elyse:

Elyse is a personal trainer, fitness coach, and yoga teacher who gets people moving with in-person training and her signature online training programs. She wants to help people drop the guilt/shame game around exercise and start moving with ease and kindness. Elyse has been featured on mindbodygreen.com, as an expert for She Knows, and highlighted as an athlete in the book The Gluten Free Edge. When she's not doing squats and sun salutations, Elyse is dressed up in vintage lindy hop dancing or gathering other Lovely Lady Entrepreneurs to talk about their careers and living their most passionate lives. Start moving with me today with these FREE stretch breaks you can do to feel more energized and aligned during your day! - stretchbreak.elysesparkes.com

Chair Caning 
with Jean Stefanik

 

Come learn to cane and contribute to the island!

     We will be re-caning the iconic Star Island rocking chairs and dining room chairs.  No experience necessary since all instruction will be ongoing with individual attention as needed.  All tools will be provided, just your hands and patience needed.  Considering the addictive nature of this activity, Jean will be available outside workshop hours if you want to relax and cane on the porch throughout the day and evening.

·While tools are provided, if you have a favorite pair of good scissors and/or needlenose pliers, please bring them along!

·Also, donations of recycled twist ties (as on bread bags) are always needed.

·If you have any carpentry skills, we will gladly put them to use reinforcing chairs before caning!

 

About Jean:

     Jean has attended and chaired Natural History and ISHRA on Star and volunteered in various roles for decades.  She has organized the efforts to restore the rocking chairs and dining room chairs for the past several years and loves to share her skills.  Jean is a lifelong educator and naturalist, and enjoys volunteering and traveling in her active retirement.  A Star Island Corporation member, she has served on both the Rutledge and Property Standards Committees.  Her favorite spot on Star is a toss-up between the Marine Lab and the front porch!

Issues in Science Journalism
with Dan Check

Journal Club on Island Time

Dan Check - Issues with Science in Journalism    What happens to scientific research as it moves from the researcher to the general public?  Through accessible daily readings, provided in advance, we will explore the role of science and scientific authority in our daily lives.  How do we balance our enthusiasm for scientific progress with the raft contradictory studies we see?  We will also examine how our media handles this tension on a day to day basis.  As UUs, many of us also believe in limits to scientific knowledge; we will explore how we think about these in our daily lives as well.

Music Workshop
with Graham & Kristina Fuller

Rock Star: Universal Harmonies

     Come lift your voices skyward with Graham and Kristina Fuller!  Graham and Kristina are performers from Longmont, CO.  By day, Graham is a civil litigation attorney and Kristina is a vocal instructor.  They have been singing a cappella music and putting musical groups together for decades.  Their workshop will experiment with human sound and making music without any pesky instruments.  Singers of all ability levels are welcome and strongly encouraged to attend - the more the merrier.  Songs to be performed are surprises, but will include some old and some new, and probably some theme-specific jingles to boot!

Basket Weaving
with Patti Emmons

 

Join us for an exciting and fun-filled workshop on basketry.

Small Loaf and Country Basket    You will learn about the different types of baskets and why they were typically made.  We will be making two types of baskets during the week. The first basket we will make will be a Country Basket (which will have the handle incorporated into it). On this basket, you will learn the terminology for basketry and the core basics of weaving a basket. This will take about three days. For our second basket, we will make a rectangular loaf basket with handles, which will take up the remainder of the week.

     You will be able to personalize your baskets by either the size you want your basket to be and/or what color weavers you decide to use. Colors to choose from will be navy, hunter green, rust, red, or smoke.

Please note: There will be a minimal fee for each basket kit to cover the cost of materials.

Swing Dancing!
with Elyse Sparkes

 

Partnership and Connection in Swing, Lindy Hop and Charleston

     In this workshop you'll learn the basic principles of swing dancing. You'll practice weight shifting, leading, following, and adding your own unique footwork to the mix! Dancing with a partner allows you to connect, improvise and have a 'conversation' with another person, without having to say a word! You'll deepen your understanding of your own body movement, while communicating with a partner, and swingin' it out to fun tunes of the 20’s, 30's + 40's

     Comfortable & secure closed toe shoes that don’t grip the floor too much are recommended

Ken KeechVoices From the Stars
with Ken Keech

An exploration of Science Fiction through spoken word

Combining acting exercises with readers theater and scene study by utilizing scenes from Science Fiction films (screenplay), short science fiction stories (audio drama) and the original and uncut teleplay from the original Star Trek series, we will explore the many forms of 20th Century science fiction as it helped shape our vision of the future.

 

S T AR B U R S T S
Single, 45 Minute Mini-Workshops to fill in your days

Tie-Dye
with Steve Copithorne
Chapel Bell Tour
with Lisa Davis
Bugs! 
with Geoff Atardo
Intergenerational Crafts
with Sam Francis and Gail Henry
How to SAFELY watch the eclipse! 
with Irene Pease
Solar Telescope & Sun Spotting 
with Bill Ossmann & Rob Meier

 

LATE NIGHT ACTIVITIES

Astronomy on Tap!
hosted by MC Tycho Brewhaha and Your Friendly Neighborhood Astronomer

Star Gazing
Rob Meier and & Bill Ossmann will be viewing the sky - Find them and join them!

Starlight Cafe!
Libations, Entertainment and Friends, Emceed by Jim Goward!

 

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