The Center for Lifelong Learning, celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2025-2026, is designed to provide older adults with diverse and accessible opportunities for intellectual stimulation, social engagement, and personal growth. The Center is a place where curiosity is awakened, health is nurtured, and where lifelong learning is promoted in a warm and welcoming community.
For the third year in a row, the Center has received a grant to continue offering a FREE Community Journalist Certificate. The training focuses on helping community members develop the skills needed to serve as community journalists, covering community-centered news happening in their hometowns and county. The grant is from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities and designed with input from the Journalism + Design department at the New School.
The program will offer a hands-on exploration of how journalism works. Participants will learn the tools needed to understand the local issues that are affecting them and their neighbors, how to report important stories and make connections with publishers seeking new writers and fresh ideas to circulate to their readers and listeners. Writers will explore television, radio, internet and photo-journalism opportunities as well.
The certificate will be offered in person and online beginning March 3. The in-person workshops will meet on 8 consecutive Tuesdays on the SCCC campus. The online version of the certificate course is offered asynchronously. The course is being taught by Journalism Professor Cheryl Conway, who is also a practicing community reporter and newspaper editor. All participants should be computer-savvy and have access to the internet and email. Students will be expected to type their assignments and submit them via the Canvas online portal.
Dates: Tuesdays, March 3, March 17, March 24, March 31, April 7, April 14, April 21, and April 28
Time: 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Location: SCCC Media Center
Cost: Free!
Registration: To register, please send an email to Tiffany Spear, Assistant Academic Affairs Coordinator and she will assist you.
Parking: It is recommended that attendees park in the College鈥檚 Upper Parking Lot behind L Building and walk across the pedestrian bridge that connects the Library Building. There is an elevator on the
3rd floor bridge level that will take riders to the first floor of the building and exit. The Media Center is the building next to the library
Explore mixed media painting in this 3.5-hour beginner friendly workshop, and intermediate artists are welcome to practice something new. You will have opportunity to explore layering, collage, masking, sponge painting, Sgraffito and Impasto techniques to create a Whimsical Tree of Life. Mediums will include, paint, ink, paper, oil pastel, pencils, tape and various tools. All materials will be provided, and no previous drawing, painting, or collaging experience necessary! In the end you鈥檒l have completed a detailed mixed media painting and have so much fun.
Instructor Bio: Sherry Fitzgerald graduated from Marywood University with an MFA in Visual Arts. Presently she is the Chair of the Humanities Department at 猫咪社区, where she enjoys teaching a variety of design and art classes. She also has had the great honor to serve the college as the Dean of Arts and Humanities and the Associate Vice-President of Academic Affairs. Before coming to the College, Sherry taught at the university and college levels where she developed a love for teaching. She also worked as a creative director and graphic designer and still likes to share her skills with the College and in her volunteer work. Sherry enjoys creating in many different types of art, but is mostly drawn to drawing, painting and mixed media. She is devolved to teaching her students and will describe herself as having a teacher's heart.
Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2026 (Snow Date: March 25)
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Art Gallery, Room C107 (located by the entrance to the 鈥淏鈥� building)
Cost: Free!
Registration: Call 579-0555 ext. 1277 for information and to register.
Parking: Attendees should park in front or behind the Horton Mansion or in the Main Parking Lot at the entrance to the campus. The classroom is located on the main level of the Art Gallery Building; press 鈥�2C鈥� if you take the elevator from another floor.
Learn how to manage pain in new and effective ways. Massage therapy has long been recognized for its ability to reduce discomfort鈥攚hether used on its own or alongside medical treatments like medication, surgery, or physical therapy. Join us for an engaging session with expert massage therapist Bonnie Gessling as she breaks down how and why massage works and introduces a range of holistic methods that can promote comfort and relaxation. Discover safe, natural strategies to help you feel better and support your overall well-being!
Presenter's Bio: Bonnie who owns and operates Bonnie鈥檚 Healing Hands is a highly skilled massage therapist based in Northern New Jersey, with over a decade of experience in massage treatments, facials, and body sculpting. Her warm and welcoming personality, combined with her expertise in various massage modalities, has earned her a loyal following of clients who value her personalized approach to wellness. Bonnie continues to expand her knowledge and skills to help her clients achieve optimal health and relaxation.
Date: Friday, March 20, 2026
Time: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Location: Atrium of the SCCC Performing Arts Center
Cost: Free! Lunch will be served.
Registration: Please call (908)-747-1179 or send an email to The Center for Prevention and Counseling for information and to register.
Parking: Attendees should park in the lower main parking lot directly outside the Performing Arts Center. There is an elevator in the building's lobby. The Atrium is directly at the top of the stairs or make a right out of the elevator and a left to proceed to the atrium.
A six-part Introduction to Drawing class will be held emphasizing the development of observational drawing skills and hand-eye coordination. Basic drawing elements such as line, proportion, perspective, composition, texture, and the study of light and shade are investigated through various perceptual and conceptual approaches. Open to beginning students as well as those who want to refresh their skills before moving on to more advanced studio courses. Professor Michael Hughes is a practicing artist and member of the Fine Arts Faculty at SCCC.
Students are required to bring their own drawing supplies.Basic tools should include a large newsprint pad and a very basic drawing kit containing charcoal pencils, graphite drawing pencils, charcoal sticks, and an eraser. Pre-registration is required and space is limited.
Dates: Saturdays, March 21, March 28, April 11, April 18, April 25, and May 2
Time: 10 am
Location: Art Gallery, Room C105 (located by the entrance to the 鈥淏鈥� building)
Cost: $30
Registration: Call 579-0555 ext. 1277 for information and to register.
Parking: Attendees should park in front or behind the Horton Mansion or in the Main Parking Lot at the entrance to the campus. The classroom is located on the main level of the Art Gallery Building; press 鈥淐2鈥� if you take the elevator from another floor.
This workshop will begin with an explanation of the origins and 鈥渞ules鈥� of haiku poetry, supplemented by an examination of the old masters of the form: Basho, Onitsura, and Buson. We will then move forward in time to look at more modern haiku, written by authors such as Elizabeth Searle Lamb, E.E. Cummings, Jack Kerouac, and others.
Following the lecture, participants will be given the opportunity to break into small groups and compose their own renga, or linked verse. Paper and pens will be provided, and everybody will have a collaborative poem to bring home by the end of the workshop.
Presenter鈥檚 Bio: Daniel Warhol is an Instructor of English at 猫咪社区. He is the Director of the college鈥檚 Poetry Center and Editor of The Stillwater Review, an annual print publication of lyrical poetry. His poetry has been featured in The Stillwater Review, This Broken Shore, and Blithe Spirit, the journal of the British Haiku Society, of which he is a member.
Date: Friday, April 3, 2026
Time: 3 p.m.
Location: Atrium of the SCCC PAC
Cost: Free! Light refreshments will be served.
Registration: Call 579-0555 ext. 1277 for information and to register.
Parking: Attendees should park in the lower main parking lot directly outside the Performing Arts Center. There is an elevator in the lobby of the building.The Atrium is directly at the top of the stairs or make a right out of the elevator and a left to proceed to the atrium
鈥淭he war can never be brought to a close until that key is in our pocket" - President Abraham Lincoln
The Anaconda Plan, which was the initial strategy planned by the United States at the start of the Civil War, called for the capture of the Mississippi River, thereby cutting the Confederacy in two. Both President Abraham Lincoln and President Jefferson Davis understood the significance of the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Davis referred to it "the nail head that held the South鈥檚 two halves together." The city was both commercially and militarily significant to the Union and the Confederacy. After failed attempts made in late 1862 and early 1863 by Major General Ulysses Grant, he decided upon a different type of tactic. In the final stage of the Vicksburg campaign, the Union Army began a siege of the city. This lecture will look into the attempts made to take Vicksburg, the siege and its impact on the civilians and soldiers, and the outcome of securing the city.
Presenter鈥檚 Bio: Dr. Heidi Amelia-Anne Weber holds the rank of full professor of military history at the SUNY: Orange. Heidi earned her Ph.D. in 19th Century American History from Kent State University. Her specialty is the Antebellum South as well as the application of total warfare in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina in 1864-1865. In 2017, Dr. Weber was awarded the SUNY: Orange President鈥檚 Award for Excellence in Teaching and the New York Chancellor鈥檚 Award for Teaching Excellence. Heidi is active in the community. She is a member of the Newton Rotary Club, serves on the Foundation Board of 猫咪社区, serves on the SCARC Foundation Board as the secretary, and as Vice President of the Newton Cemetery Committee. She is also a part of the 猫咪社区 100 Women Project Committee
Date: Friday, April 10, 2026
Time: 3 p.m.
Location: Atrium of the SCCC Performing Arts Center
Cost: Free! Light refreshments will be served.
Registration: Call 579-0555 ext. 1277 for information and to register.
Parking: Attendees should park in the lower main parking lot directly outside the Performing Arts Center. There is an elevator in the lobby of the building. The Atrium is directly at the top of the stairs or make a right out of the elevator and a left to proceed to the atrium.
WISE (Wellness Initiative for Senior Education) is a six-week wellness and prevention program targeting older adults, which is designed to help them celebrate healthy aging, make healthy lifestyle choices, and avoid substance abuse. It provides valuable educational services to older adults on topics including medication misuse and management, stress management, depression, and substance misuse. Created by NJPN and implemented locally by prevention agencies across the country, WISE promotes health through education concerning high-risk behaviors in older adults. The program occurs once a week for six weeks, with each meeting being two hours. The program consists of a meal and socialization time followed by a lesson on various health and wellness topics and strategies using a set curriculum taught by CFPC staff. An incentive is provided to any participants who make it to five or more of the six meetings in the form of a $25 gift card.
Presenter鈥檚 Bio: Meg Biemesderfer is a Certified Prevention Specialist at The Center for Prevention and Counseling, a nonprofit serving Sussex County and located in Newton, NJ. With more than five years of experience supporting community wellness, Meg works with children, families, and older adults across a wide range of programs. She has received extensive training in elder health and wellness, both mental and physical, attending numerous conferences and specialized trainings to better serve older adults.
Date: Fridays, April 17, April 24, May 1, May 8, May 15, & May 22
Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: Atrium of the SCCC Performing Arts Center
Cost: Free!
Registration: Please call (908)-747-1179 or send an email to The Center for Prevention and Counseling for information and to register.
Parking: Attendees should park in the lower main parking lot directly outside the Performing Arts Center. There is an elevator in the lobby of the building. The Atrium is directly at the top of the stairs or make a right out of the elevator and a left to proceed to the atrium.
"Clue, The Musical," based on the Parker Brothers鈥� Board Game, brings the world鈥檚 best-known suspects to life and invites the audience to help solve the mystery: who killed Mr. Boddy, in what room, and with what weapon. The audience receives forms to help them deduce the solution from clues given throughout the fun-filled performance. Three audience members choose from cards representing the potential murderers, weapons, and rooms; there are 216 possible solutions! Comic antics, witty lyrics, and a beguiling score carry the investigation from room to room. Even after the culprit confesses, a surprise twist delights the audience. CLUE: THE MUSICAL is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. www.concordtheatricals.com
"Clue, The Musical" is written by Peter DePietro, Music by Galen Blum, Wayne Barker, and Vinnie Martucci, and Lyrics by Tom Chiodo.
SPECIAL LUNCHEON OPPORTUNITY!
The Center for Life Long Learning welcomes back a crowd favorite, lunch and a matinee show! The matinee is scheduled Saturday, April 25 , at the College鈥檚 Performing Arts Center. The price is $50 for lunch and the show. Attendees will be seated between 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. with service beginning at 11:30 a.m. with plenty of time to attend the 2 p.m. matinee. Seating is limited for the luncheon.
Show Dates & Times:
Thursday, April 23, at 7 p.m.
Friday, April 24, at 7 p.m.
*Saturday, April 25, at 2 p.m.
Saturday, April 25, at 7 p.m.
TO ORDER YOUR LUNCHEON & MATINEE PACKAGE:
Tickets for the Luncheon & Matinee package can be . If you need assistance in making reservations, reach out to the Arbor Restaurant at 973-300-3171.
Luncheon Location: SCCC Culinary Institute & Arbor Restaurant, 47 Main Street, Newton, NJ 07860
Show Location: SCCC Performing Arts Center, One College Hill Road, Newton, NJ 07860.
If you are only interested in attending the show, tickets for all shows can be purchased at /pac
Cost: Tickets for just the show are $15 for seniors, students, and US military/veterans and $20 for adults. General seating is offered for all shows.
Parking: Attendees should park in the lower main parking lot directly outside the Performing Arts Center. There is an elevator in the lobby of the building. The theater is through the double doors to the left at the top of the stairs or make a right out of the elevator then a left, the double doors will be on the left side.
Explore mixed media painting in this 3.5-hour beginner friendly workshop, and intermediate artists are welcome to practice something new. You will have opportunity to explore layering, collage, masking, sponge painting, Sgraffito and Impasto techniques to create a Whimsical Forest or Landscape. Mediums will include, paint, ink, paper, oil pastel, pencils, tape and various tools. All materials will be provided, and no previous drawing, painting, or collaging experience necessary! In the end you鈥檒l have completed a detailed mixed media painting and have so much fun.
Instructor Bio: Sherry Fitzgerald graduated from Marywood University with an MFA in Visual Arts. Presently she is the Chair of the Humanities Department at 猫咪社区, where she enjoys teaching a variety of design and art classes. She also has had the great honor to serve the college as the Dean of Arts and Humanities and the Associate Vice-President of Academic Affairs. Before coming to the College, Sherry taught at the university and college levels where she developed a love for teaching. She also worked as a creative director and graphic designer and still likes to share her skills with the College and in her volunteer work. Sherry enjoys creating in many different types of art, but is mostly drawn to drawing, painting and mixed media. She is devolved to teaching her students and will describe herself as having a teacher's heart.
Dates: Wednesday, April 22, 2026 (Snow Date: April 29)
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Art Gallery, Room C107 (located by the entrance to the 鈥淏鈥� building)
Cost: Free!
Registration: Call 579-0555 ext. 1277 for information and to register.
Parking: Attendees should park in front or behind the Horton Mansion or in the Main Parking Lot at the entrance to the campus. The classroom is located on the main level of the Art Gallery Building; press 鈥�2C鈥� if you take the elevator from another floor.
Join us on a guided bird walk that takes advantage of peak spring migration along the Atlantic Flyway, when warblers, orioles, thrushes, and many other species can be found across the diverse habitats of the New Jersey School of Conservation. Mike Anderson, our Master Educator and expert birder, will help participants spot and identify migrating and resident birds, learn songs and field marks, and explore the high biodiversity of spring migration. Participants will also learn about the natural history of birds in the region, including their habitats, behaviors, and migration patterns. This walk is suitable for all experience levels and showcases a rich mix of spring migrants and resident birds at NJSOC. Participants should be prepared to walk along trails up and down hills on uneven terrain, but due to the nature of birdwatching it will be at at leisurely pace with frequent stops to observe birds.
Instructor Bio: Mike Anderson was the Sanctuary Director of the NJ Audubon Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary and worked for New Jersey Audubon for more than 20 years. Mike has a long-standing connection to the ecology of northern New Jersey and has spent decades exploring, hiking, and leading programs throughout the region. His deep familiarity with local habitats and avian wildlife makes him a knowledgeable and engaging guide. We are thrilled to have him as one of our Master Educators, at The School of Conservation.
Date: Monday, May 4, 2026
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Location: NJ School of Conservation (SOC) located at 1 Wapalane Rd. Sandyston, NJ
Cost: FREE!
Registration: Call 579-0555 ext. 1277 for information and to register. Space is very limited.
Directions & Parking:
What to Bring/Wear:
This hands-on course asks the question: How can we, as photojournalists, tell the untold stories of our communities?
During this multi-week course students will develop photojournalistic essays that document local culture and community stories. Students will identify themes and topics related to their community, interview local community members, and capture photos in order to create photo essays they can share with the community in an exhibit, live or digital.
Photojournalism plays an important role in today's news cycle. Photojournalism can encompass stand-alone images offering insight into a specific story or images accompanying an article to provide more context. Photojournalists can tell a story that could be difficult to capture with words alone. The images they present can be vehicles for educating the public. This course will be taught by a professional photographer and educator and plans include the following: Discussing the power of photojournalism for social changes and community building; Brainstorming local issues or stories involving local challenges; Hands-on practicing composition and light using mobile devices or cameras; Photo techniques for creating a photo essay; Sharing and reflection of the group鈥檚 work.
Dates: Tuesdays - April 7, April 14, April 21, April 28, May 5, May 12, May 19, and May 26
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Room B105
Cost: Free!
Students will be using their own cameras or mobile devices for this course.
Registration: If interested, please send an email to Tiffany Spear, Assistant Academic Affairs Coordinator and she will assist with registration.
Sussex County residents, 65 years and older, are entitled to free tuition and fees for eligible college-level courses.聽
These聽conditions apply:
Sign up for the Sussex County Senior Services Division鈥檚 electronic monthly emailed newsletter, which includes The Center for Lifelong Learning鈥檚 programs, at or by calling 973-579-0555, extension 1277, to subscribe.