John Abeln is retired, but still is very active on several
boards and continues to write fictional novels, an adventure which he began
while traveling throughout the world for business. Date: Monday, February 16, 2026
10:30 am – 12 Noon
Tortolita

 COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Presenting Robert Redford through his movies and
interviews. The class will include 3-5 minute clips from over 20 of his movies.

 Presenter: John Abeln is a retired novelist who previously had a career in International Healthcare. He has lived in the Highlands for five years and helps with managing the Lifelong Learning program

Date:  Monday, February 16, 2026
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Tortolita

Course Description:

Join us for an engaging and accessible introduction to the creative side of Artificial Intelligence.
In this session, you’ll discover how modern AI tools can:
• Restore old or damaged photographs
• Colorize black-and-white images
• Create animations from still photos
• Generate original songs from keywords and a preferred style
We’ll explore each topic with easy-to-understand explanations, before-and-after
examples, and live demonstrations of popular AI tools.
Whether you’re curious about preserving family memories, experimenting with
new technology, or simply exploring how AI can bring photos and music to life,
this session is for you.

Presenter: Highlands resident Bob Hudson returns for his third LLRH presentation on current AI capabilities. He has been working with various AI tools for the past few years and is excited to show us some of those tools in this session.

 Date:  MOnday, February 16, 2026
3:00 – 6:00 PM
Highlands Ballroom

Course Description:

Life Long Learning at the Highlands will present the groundbreaking 1968 Stanley Kubrick film, 2001: A Space Odyssey, on Monday,
February 16 at 3pm in the ballroom, with complimentary popcorn and snacks. 2001 is widely considered one of the greatest movies ever made, including its unprecedented cinematic ambition and revolutionary visual effects. The film is free for Highlands residents.

Following the film, on Monday, February 23 at 1:30 pm, Life Long Learning will host a session on the movie, discussing its themes and techniques in more detail.

Date:  Tuesday, February 17, 2026
11:00 Am – Noon

 COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Learn how to preserve your memories in our beginner-friendly, do-it-yourself digitization lab at the University of Arizona Library. This session is primarily an informational presentation that introduces the lab, explains how to access and use the space, and covers practical digital skills such as creating, managing, and sharing digital files. A brief tour of the lab will
be included. The Memory Lab is on the 3rd floor of the U of A Main Library, 1510 E. University Blvd. Visitors can park at the Cherry Avenue Garage just east of the library. There are also metered parking spots on Cherry Ave just north of Fourth
St.

Presenter: Amy is a recent graduate of the University of Arizona’s Master of Library & Information Science program. During her studies, she helped build the Wildcats Memory Lab. She is passionate about public access to archiving and hopes to continue providing related education and resources. Your history is worth sharing and preserving!

Date:  Friday, February 20, 2026
9:30 AM – 11 AM
Tortolita

 COURSE DESCRIPTION:

If caring for your citrus trees has ever left you scratching your head, this class is for you. Dr. Wright will present information that will help you with the care and feeding of your citrus trees for optimal, and less frustrating results.

If you plan to sign up for this class, please also sign up with Kelsey at kchristiansen@highlandsdm.com so we have an accurate count for seating.

 Presenter: Dr. Glenn Wright has a PhD in Horticulture from Texas A&M University. He joined the UofA in 1992 and is located at the Yuma Agricultural Center. He teaches date palm, citrus, and fruit tree culture to master gardeners and the public.

 Date: Friday, February 20, 2026
1:30 – 3:00 PM
Fox Theatre

COURSE DESCRIPTION: 

Trump’s aggressive trade and tariff policies have shaken
global economic norms. What’s the rationale behind this radical shift in
economic policy, and what are the implications for multilateral trade and
geopolitics?

presenter: Part of the Great Decisions* program from the Foreign Policy Association. Facilitator: Ed Laake

Date:  Monday, February 23, 2026
10:30 am – 12:00 noon
Tortolita

Course Description:

see above, Mon, Feb 16.

 Presenter: John Abeln is a retired novelist who previously had a career in International Healthcare. He has lived in the Highlands for five years and helps with managing the Lifelong Learning program

Date: MOnday, February 23, 2026
1:30 pm– 3:00 pm
Tortolita

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

2001: A Space Odyssey is considered one of the best films of all time. Originally released in 1968, many of its techniques are still
revolutionary, and its special effects (for which director Stanley Kubrick won an Oscar) are still unsurpassed today. The film will be shown and available to all Highlands residents on Monday, Feb 16th at 3:00 (see above); the subsequent class will be devoted to a discussion of the work and will illuminate some of the film’s most puzzling features and include some enlightening behind-the-scenes anecdotes.

Presenter: Caleb Deupree is a resident of the Highlands with a continuing interest in film and literature.

DATE: Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Tortolita

Course Description:

The Devil's Highway, on the National Register is a brutal, 200-mile prehistoric route from northern Sonora on to the missions of California. Used at least a millennium by Native Americans, conquistadores, undocumented aliens, and modern-day adventurers, it crosses 3 federal areas in southern Arizona, which is the focus of this presentation. A reputed 400 to
2,000 lives have been lost traveling the wilds of the Arizona-Mexico border, due to heat and a desperate lack of water. Join Butch, who has driven this remote road six times, for a part history, part travelogue, and part informational overview of this fascinating but humbling area.

 Presenter Biography: Butch Farabee; Tucson High ‘School-1960; BS-UofA; MS-Cal St; National Park Service 35 yrs (11 areas including Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Glacier, Death Valley, Lake Mead), FBI Academy; Tucson Police Dept-3 yrs; written 6 books on Search & Rescue & Rangering: SCUBA diver, pilot, climber, 4 grandkids

Date:  Tuesday, February 24, 2026
1:30  – 3:00 PM
Tortolita

 COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Africa’s geopolitical role is growing. What lessons can the U.S. learn from China’s presence there, and how might it strengthen ties, especially with leading nations like Nigeria? What tools of statecraft might the U.S. bring to its engagement with Africa?

 Presenter: Part of the Great Decisions* program from the Foreign Policy Association. Facilitator: Doug Holland

Date:  Friday, February 27, 2026
10:30 – 12 Noon
Catalina II

 COURSE DESCRIPTION: Wassily Kandinsky and Paul Klee were not only two of the most well-known abstract artists in the early 20th century but were also legendary teachers at the Bauhaus School in Germany in the 1920s. They shared a belief in the symbiotic relationship between painting and music. This talk will explore their unique approaches in connecting visual compositions, architectural designs, and musical arrangements.

Presenter: After a career in teaching, Jaye-Lynn Trapp and her husband moved from Traverse City, Michigan to Tucson in 2013. She continued her interest in the humanities by becoming a docent for the Tucson Museum of Art. Giving art talks and providing museum tours allows Jaye-Lynn to engage with others who share a love of the arts.

Date: Friday, February 27, 2026
1:30 – 3:00 PM
catalina ii

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Southern Arizona weaver, natural dyer, and fiber artist Lawrence Peters will speak about his journey from media sales to an ongoing exploration of natural dyeing.

 Presenter: Lawrence Peters is a weaver, natural dyer, fiber artist and Highlands resident.

Date:  Monday, March 2, 2026
10:30 AM – 12:00 Noon
Catalina ii

Course Description:

Boeing was an icon of 20 th Century engineering and manufacturing excellence. More recently, it’s become a punchline for bitter
jokes. Session 1 will explore the ups and downs of Boeing’s long rise. Session 2 will focus on its abrupt fall, and what it could do to recover. I’ll combine objective facts with my observations of the attitudes and perceptions of rank-and-file
employees during my decades at Boeing. Class members will be encouraged to share how this story compares with their
own experiences of working in the US economy in these years of rapid change.

 Presenter: Alan Jones spent 36 years working for the Boeing Company as an applied mathematician, consulting on design and manufacturing issues, sales and marketing, and classified military projects. He retired in 2014, and since 2013 has snowbirded between the Highlands and a summer home on Bainbridge Island, WA.

DATE: Monday, March 2, 2026
1:30 pm – 3:00 PM
Catalina II

Course Description:

In this new series the History of Things we will be looking at how & when things came to be & how they affect us today. From petroleum, to clocks, to food, French bread & gunpowder! In this first installment we will start with how oil was being used in Babylon 4000 years ago. From there it will be a well fueled dash to the contemporary global oil industry! Some of us
remember the TV show “The Beverly Hillbillies” where Jed Clampet discovers oil seeping from the ground on his swampy property. That “seep” is actually how ancient petroleum was discovered & used from Babylon to the tar pits of Los Angeles!

 Presenter:

John Lenzi worked for universities for 30 years after brief stints on Park Avenue and Wall Street. His academic credentials are in psychology, but he was a history buff from childhood on reading ancient and US history.

Date:  Tuesday, March 3, 2026
10:30 AM – 12:00 Noon
Catalina II

 COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The Fred Fox Graduate Wind Quintet will present a dynamic program featuring both classical and modern wind quintet repertoire. The performance will culminate with a question-and-answer session, offering the audience members the opportunity to engage directly with the performers to learn more about the music, instruments, and the collaborative process.
Members include Kayla Blackburn, flute; Sara Hammelef, oboe; Eli Anderson, clarinet; Jason Frogget, horn; and Oliver Zhao, bassoon.

 Presenter: The Fred Fox Graduate Wind Quintet is the premier student ensemble at the University of Arizona. Its members come from leading music schools worldwide to perform and compete internationally. Graduate students work closely with University of Arizona faculty and are encouraged to pursue competitions, auditions, and professional recording throughout their studies.

Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2026
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Catalina ii

Course Description:

Can multilateralism survive amid shifting global power and rising nationalism? This chapter examines the future of global cooperation across trade, health, and finance.

 Presenter Biography: Part of the Great Decisions* program from the Foreign Policy Association. Facilitator: Clark ‘Buzz’ Boren

Date: Friday, March 6, 2026
10:30 AM  – Noon
Tortolita

Course Description:

see above, Monday, Mar. 2.

Date:  Friday, March 6, 2026
1:30 – 3:00 PM
Catalina II

 COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Known to many through the late 1800’s, Homer’s works are some of America’s favorites as they represent the ferocity and beauty of the sea, the rural life and leisure of men and women and vivid, amazing watercolors. Find out why Winslow Homer’s art was introducing Americans to the political challenges facing society then and that remain relevant today.

 Presenters: Kit Kimball is a docent at the Tucson Museum of Art and serves on its Board of Trustees. Kit’s career was in Natural Resource Public Policy both in the western states and in Washington D.C. Having grown up in the mountains of Idaho, she chose to return to the West 10 years ago. Today, she loves Tucson’s unique western flair and its art scene…and believes TMA is
the perfect place for her to indulge in these passions.

 DATE: Monday, March 9, 2026
10:30 AM – 12 noon
Catalina II

Course Description:

The Cold War between the USA and the USSR promoted strife. Engagement in one theater of conflict, however – outer space – begat
heated competition but also close collaboration. Some steely-eyed astronauts and cosmonauts, dared resistance from their governments and the scorn of colleagues to come together in a new association: The Association of Space Explorers. That organized venture expressed publicly their shared world view of peaceful cooperation, encouraged higher education for youth, and professionally promoted safer human spaceflight. It continues today. Here’s a personal perspective of that collaboration.

 Presenter Biography:

Charles Walker is an engineer, researcher, and industry executive (ret). He’s the first private industry astronaut and flew onboard three Space Shuttle missions. His work included in-orbit zero-gravity research on biopharmaceuticals. Later he helped design the International Space Station. Walker has also advocated for space programs in Washington, DC.

DATE: Monday, March 9, 2026
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Catalina II

Course Description:

This class will explore the variety, creativity, and sheer fun of the short film genre. We will present a number of short films and provide plenty of time for discussion between.

Presenter Biography: Caleb Deupree is a resident of the Highlands with a continuing interest in film and literature. Sus Baker is also a resident of the Highlands and is Curriculum Chair of LLRH.

DATE: Tuesday, March 10, 2026
10:30 AM – 12 NOON
Catalina II

Course Description:

Presenter Biography: Cynthia Pruett

DATE: Tuesday, March 10, 2026
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Catalina II

Course Description:

Relations with China remain tense, with tariffs, military modernization, and pressure on Taiwan. Does Trump have a coherent China policy, and will his tariffs on Rare Earth minerals be effective? What are America’s strategic options?

Presenter Biography: Part of the Great Decisions* program from the Foreign Policy Association. Facilitator: Ed Laake

DATE: Friday, March 13, 2026
10:30 AM – Noon

Course Description:

Since opening our doors on November 1, 2013, the mission of the Tucson Desert Art Museum has been to educate our guests
about the rich history, diverse cultures, and vibrant art of the region. Our collection includes one of the Southwest’s premier collections of Navajo and Hopi pre-1940s textiles, a diverse range of historical artifacts, and classic as well
as contemporary Southwestern paintings. Directions: The Tucson Desert Art Museum is located on Tucson’s Eastside on
the SW corner of Tanque Verde and Sabino Canyon Road. The entrance faces Sabino Canyon Road on the east side of the complex, behind Chase Bank. We are pleased to offer our museum visitors free parking located in front of the museum.

The cost of this tour is $8 per person. We will collect the fee in advance. After the tour those who wish will gather across the street and Poco & Mom’s for
our traditional end-of-the-term farewell lunch.

Presenter Biography: docent led tour