News & Notes (3/16/15)
CIVIL WAR AT LIBRARY AND KNIGHTS FERRY
The Stanislaus County Library this month will host “Civil War 150: Exploring the War and Its Meaning Through the Words of Those Who Lived It,” through programs and displays and other educational materials. “Lincoln and Lee at Antietam” will be shown March 25 at 7 p.m. at the Modesto library. The documentary film, which focuses on the single bloodiest day in American history, is narrated by Ronald F. Maxwell, director of “Gettysburg” and “Gods and Generals.” Another movie, “Shenandoah,” will be screened March 28 at 2 p.m. at the Salida Regional Library. In this classic film, set in 1863, James Stewart plays a wealthy Virginia landowner who refuses to take sides in the Civil War. The story involves a series of family tragedies related to the war, culminating in a sentimental finale. The community can further explore the era by viewing the “Civil War 150” online exhibit at www.gilderlehrman.org/civilwar150, or by attending the American Civil War Association’s Knights Ferry Civil War Days on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The project is presented by the Library of America, in partnership with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, and is supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. For more information, go to www.stanislauslibrary.org.
MJC TALK TO EXPLORE OUTDOOR EDUCATION
Modesto Area Partners in Science will offer a presentation on “Seeing Possibilities, Making a Difference: Why Outdoor Education is Good for Our Community” by Lynn Hansen, professor emerita of biological sciences at Modesto Junior College. The free event will be Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Sierra Hall 132 on the west campus, 2201 Blue Gum Ave., and is intended for ages 12 and older. Hansen will discuss the importance and benefits of outdoor education for children, including stress reduction, increased attention span, creativity, cognitive development and fostering a sense of wonder. “When children experience nature directly, they have something to read about, something to write about, something to measure,” Hansen said. She will also highlight examples of successful local programs and explain ways community members can assist area educators to deliver high-quality outdoor education. For more information about the MAPS program, go to http://maps.events.mjc.edu or contact MJC professor Noah Hughes at (209) 575-6800 or hughesn@mjc.edu.
This story was originally published March 15, 2015 at 9:03 PM with the headline "News & Notes (3/16/15)."