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Course Descriptions
Beginning Mah Jongg
Vickie Dycewicz and Peggy Calhoun Co-Facilitators
Mah Jongg is a tile-based game developed in China. It is played by four players with a set of 152 tiles (American version) based on Chinese characters and symbols. Our entry level class will introduce you to this fascinating game of skill, strategy, and luck.
Fee: $15.00 for the 2026 National Mah Jongg League, Inc. card (unless student has purchased his or her own card).
Vickie Dycewicz moved to HEB in 2021 and the very first CAL class she took was Beginning Mah Jongg; and has not stopped playing the game since. Vickie is a chemical engineer. During her career she taught several classes on different work topics, utilizing a variety of teaching skills. Vickie enjoys playing Mah Jongg, golfing and constructing Christmas themed golf cart decorations. Peggy Calhoun moved to HEB in 2002. She taught in public schools for 45 years. She has been playing Mah Jongg for over 10 years and teaching the game for 8 years.
Current Events
Peter Livshin
This course will offer a class discussion about current events affecting the USA, i.e., mid-terms, elections, and other current events.
Beginning Genealogy
Cindy Born-Mylo
This course will cover family history research and records post-Revolutionary War to mid-1900’s. Students will learn methodology, how to recognize and analyze evidence, how to start their own family research, research repositories, and how to organize their research materials collected.
Cindy has researched family history since 1999. She has a BA in history from University of Maryland and a Certificate in Genealogical Research, and she attends continuing education classes. She is a former mentor for the National Genealogical Society’s Education Program and former board member of the North Carolina Genealogical Society.
AI for Y’all:
Exploring AI in Retirement
John Peterson
This course introduces artificial intelligence in a clear, practical and engaging way. Participants will learn how to use AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude for creativity, hobbies, and daily tasks. Through presentations, videos, and group discussions, the course explains AI concepts without technical jargon. We will also explore how AI is affecting the workplace and society discussing both opportunities and concerns. No prior experience is needed. The course promotes curiosity, conversation, and critical thinking while helping participants understand how AI works and how it might shape our daily lives.
Current Events
Peter Livshin
This course will offer a class discussion about current events affecting the USA, i.e., mid-terms, elections, and other current events.
John’s background includes a graduate degree in Applied Math and Computer Science and an undergraduate degree in Electronic Engineering. He is a senior lecturer and has managed multiple R/D labs at Caltech and JPL.
Poetry that Changed the World
Sheryl Hutchings
After a brief review of why poetry can be more powerful than prose, this course will explore a variety of poems recognized as having changed the world including:
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The top ten greatest poems of all time (according to the Society of Classical Poets)
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Poems that have shaped cultural consciousness and/or motivated and inspired generations
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Poems that have celebrated freedom
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Poems about resistance and freedom
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Poems about the power of love
Sheryl's background includes:
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Colorado native who has lived at HEB for 20 years
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BA in English Education from University of Colorado, Cum Laude
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MA in Secondary Reading Development, University of Colorado
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31 years teaching English and Journalism in public schools at the middle and high school level
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Instructor and Webmaster for Colorado Consulting Services, a company offering teacher recertification classes
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Instructor at the University of Phoenix in its teacher education degree program
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Has served in every position on the CAL Leadership Team except Treasurer and Curriculum Lead
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Has facilitated a variety of different CAL courses over the last decade
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Currently produces and manages the CAL website and serves on the Curriculum committee
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Coordinator for the HEB Art Club and semi-professional artist
Walking the Camino de Santiago
Cathy Adams
The pilgrimage of Walking the Camino de Santiago is a very personal journey. This class will focus on the history of the Camino, brush on the presenter’s experience, and provide coaching on how to prepare for walking your own Camino.
Home Maintenance:
How To Be
Your Own Handyman
Bob Bretall
This 3-week course introduces the community to general home maintenance in an effort to save money and to become your own handyman. During the first week he will introduce common plumbing problems ,discussing how to fix, maintain, and prevent problems in your plumbing system. The second week he will explore the electrical system in your home. During the third week, he will talk about general home maintenance and problems that are often found in your garage.
Bob is a farm boy from Missouri. He served four years in the United States AirForce. He has a B.S. Degree in Industrial Arts and a master’s degree in vocational education. He was a high school shop teacher teaching woodworking, metalworking, electrical, and general knowledge courses
and taught students’ skills for employment. He was a sales manager for a large printing publication company. Currently he is a handyman for homeowners in HEB.
Art for All
Susan Ficca
This hands on fun and relaxing series of drawing classes will unleash your creativity and show you how, as a beginner, you can develop your skills and talents using proven principles and tricks used by the masters and recognized artists.
Susan has previously taught two art classes for CAL. She has dedicated her life to creating art and has a BFA from CSU. She has been a professional artist/graphic designer for 50 years. Most recently she worked at CU Anschutz Hospital where she illustrated surgical procedures and techniques to help educate resident doctors and patients. Now she focuses on drawing portraits and painting landscapes.
Music of the Beatles
Greg Klinkel
In this course, Greg will explore the musical legacy of The Beatles, from their formative years and their first US appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964; continuing through their transition to studio musicians and the release of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in 1967; and culminating with their final album, Let It Be, in 1970. Greg followed The Beatles career very closely as an amateur and later semi-professional musician who performed many of their songs. Greg will focus on their original music primarily, with some discussion of the cultural milieu of their time.
Greg has degrees in Psychology and Computer Science. He spent most of his working career as a computer software developer. Greg also has a life-long love for music and performance that began when he saw The Beatles’ first performance on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964. He remembers telling himself, “I want to do that… play music for audiences!" Greg formed his first garage band the following year. During high school, he performed with a couple of rock bands, a vocal group, and a folk quartet. He earned his way through college playing with a rock band on a semi-professional basis. At their peak, the band performed about 100 nights per year and earned a loyal following in the region.
His love of music continues to this day. In 2023 he released “Music in My Mind,” an album of original music. In 2025 he formed the HEB Music Club, which now boasts more than 250 members. Greg has taught several CAL classes, all on topics of musical interest.
Edward Teller and the H-Bomb
Harvey Solomon
The Hydrogen Bomb shaped the relationship between the US and the USSR/Russia and ushered in a period of an uneasy peace that exists today. This class covers the development of the atomic and hydrogen bombs and the attempts through deterrence and disarmament. The course will discuss all the major players, Edward Teller, the father of the Hydrogen Bomb, the US presidents from Truman to Trump and their Soviet/Russian adversaries. This class is a follow-up to his class on the Atomic Bomb but taking that class is not necessary as he will be providing all the necessary background material.
Harvey’s training is as a metallurgist - BS - NYU - Metallurgical Engineering, PhD - University of Pennsylvania - Metallurgy and Material Science. He spent almost 40 years as a research scientist at the GE Corporate Research and Development Center, studying problems of interest to the company and developing an expertise in the fields of physical and mechanical metallurgy, with an emphasis on the alloys used in aircraft engines and nuclear reactors. He also studied welding metallurgy and performed numerous failure analyses and studies of critical industrial problems. He was also an adjunct professor at Union College in Schenectady NY, where he taught courses on Welding Metallurgy, and Fatigue and Fracture.
He has received the following international awards for his research:
ASTM Vilella Award (1979)
IEEE-CHMT Transactions Prize Paper Award (1986)
American Welding Society (AWS) Prof. Dr. Rene Wasserman Memorial Award (1998)
AWS James F. Lincoln Gold Medal (2002)
AWS Robert L. Peaslee Brazing Award (2004)
Harvey has been presenting new CAL courses since 2010, based on his scientific background and an intense interest in history, resulting in classes on topics ranging from the Codes and Ciphers Used in WWII, Rome – from the Founding of the Republic to the Fall of the Empire, the Evolution of Scientific Ideas, Einstein, Teddy Roosevelt, US Grant, Persia – from the Empire to the Current Theocratic State, and the Making of the Atomic Bomb and the Fall of Japan.
Medical Potpourri
Scott Melnick
This course takes a deeper dive into the most common medical problems encountered in those over the age of 65. The topics that will be discussed are hypertension, heart disease, elevated cholesterol, diabetes, vaccinations, and more. Dr. Melnick plans to discuss these issues in easily understood lay terms, but in more depth than most physicians can do in their 10–15-minute office visits. Open questions and discussions will be encouraged.
For 41 years Dr Melnick practiced Family Medicine in the suburbs of Philadelphia. He did a residency in Family Medicine in the mid-1970s. He was there for the birth of Family Medicine as a specialty. He was in class one of the Family Medicine residency program at Chestnut Hill Hospital in Philadelphia. In his residency, he was exposed to all facets of medicine. He was in the OR, delivered babies, and was trained in internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, gynecology – – just about everything. In his practice, he did not go to the OR or deliver babies, but everything else walked into his office at some point. He also did two years as a “tipster” on a locally produced TV show called Evening Magazine. In 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, he explained a medical problem and educated folks on how to prevent it and/or treat it. He took this paradigm into his practice and tried to do the same thing. He found that educating folks about their bodies and what was going on with them was one of the favorite parts of his practice. He hopes to take this paradigm into this course, Medical Potpourri. Please join him.
Colorado Roots
Sheryl Hutchings
This course will present the stories of five different HEB residents, including the facilitator, who have deep generational roots to Colorado. Each weekly session will feature one of the presenter’s personal family histories in some region of Colorado, focusing on what brought their forbearers to the state.
Sheryl is Colorado native, born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado. She will be joined by Bill Hatlely, whose roots are in Pueblo and other areas in Southern Colorado, Sharon Parnham, whose family owned a large cattle ranch in the Plum Creek area, David Peck, whose family owned the Peck House on Berthoud Pass, and Pat Powell, whose family had deep roots in old Denver.
Remarkable Renovations
Nancy Connett
Remarkable Renovations is a class for those who love HGTV or are looking for ideas to do some renovations of their own. On beautiful fall afternoons, we will visit homes in HEB that have done renovation projects and will give you an opportunity to chat with the homeowner about how they pulled off their renovations.
Nancy has a master’s degree in speech pathology/audiology and has worked in this field for 42 years in schools and at university programs, hospitals, rehab centers, and programs for disabled adults and children. Nancy has been very active in the CAL community. She has facilitated and taken many courses and served on the curriculum committee.
In this era of "fake news" and dissatisfaction with the news media, this class will provide an interactive forum in which to talk about how new stories are pursued, verified, and green lit for print or broadcast publication.