The Bedford Lyceum: A Weekly Forum on the Arts, Spirituality, Science, and Justice

January 2, 2015

Submitted by First Parish on the Common, Unitarian Universalist

The-Bedford-LyceumThe Bedford Lyceum, a public forum that focuses on topics of wide-ranging interest, takes place at First Parish on the Common each week.  Unless otherwise noted, the Bedford Lyceum meets from 9:30 until 10:50 am on Sundays in Room 202, a second-floor classroom that is fully accessible using the church’s Elm Street entrance.

The January schedule includes the following presentations:

Organizing and Preserving Your Memories
Marge Heckman
January 4 from 9:30-10:50am in Room 202

We invest so much in insuring our material possessions, but forget to protect the irreplaceable photos, videos, and documents that remind us of our history.  We all have that box (or perhaps boxes?) of stuff stored away on our closet shelves or under the bed.  Tackling the organization of all of these items can feel like an overwhelming task for many of us.  Come learn some tips and techniques about how to get your memories organized and preserved so you can share them with family and friends.  Marge is working as photo organizing consultant for a company whose aim is to help people get all those items off the shelf and back into your lives.

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Exploring the Glass Harmonica
Alisa Nakashian
January 11 from 10:15-10:45 am in the Sanctuary NOTE CORRECTED TIME AND SPECIAL PLACE

The glass harmonica is a musical instrument in which the sound is made by a row of rotating, concentric glass bowls, kept moist and pressed with the fingers or with keys.

Alisa is our guest musician for both services today.  She has agreed to do a special Lyceum between the services to talk about and demonstrate this fascinating instrument.

Update on Stem Cell Hype and Hope
Ann Kiessling, Director of the Bedford Stem Cell Research Foundation and Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School, retired
January 18 from 9:00-9:50am in Room 202 NOTE SPECIAL TIME

Ann will give a quick review of the stem cell research field in general – types of stem cells and potential of each, some stem cell therapies currently promising, and the specific stem cell research going on at the Bedford Research lab on South Road.

Last year Ann delighted Lyceum participants with her talk about her farm, Blueberry Goat Farm on Concord Road here in Bedford. What some of you may not know is that Ann is also Dr. Ann Kiessling, Director of the Bedford Stem Cell Research Foundation and retired Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School. She formed the Foundation in 1996 in response to a controversial clinical research need that was best undertaken by an independent public charity.

Mission to Israel by Local Law Enforcement Leaders
Bedford Police Chief Robert Bongiorno and Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian
January 25 from 9:30-10:50am in Room 202

Sheriff Koutoujian and Chief Bongiorno joined 12 other Massachusetts senior law enforcement professionals for a week in Israel studying counter terrorism strategies and tactics. The training mission provided participants with information, resources and contacts that enhanced their abilities to combat terrorism and to strengthen relationships among key law enforcement leaders and agencies, including for the first time, a meeting with Palestinian executive law enforcement officials.

The Chief and the Sheriff will provide personal and professional insight into their training experience and how it relates to Bedford and other communities in Massachusetts.

Why Do We Call It the Bacon Room?
Town Historian Sharon McDonald
February 1 from 9:30-10:50am in Room 202

The Bacon family was there at the very founding of Bedford, and signed the covenant that established our church. They were pillars of the community – in more ways than one!! – right down to Abigail Bacon, who some of our older members still remember. Come and hear some great stories of shoemakers, inventors, benefactors, grand estates, pizza parlors, and more from Bedford Town Historian and First Parishioner (storyteller extraordinaire) Sharon McDonald. Sharon will also share some letters and photographs.

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