ALL contact information

The ALL office at Cape Cod Community College is open from

9 a.m.–3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Feel free to contact us:

Email: lifelonglearning@capecod.edu

Telephone: 774-330-4400 (please leave a message)

How did it get to be December already?

The rollup to the election seemed to take forever, but then we rocketed through to Thanksgiving, and are now closing out the year. What future will a new president and administration bring to 2025? That question is on many people’s minds, but I’d like to take a moment to focus on the past and present, and the role that ALL plays in our lives.

When the Academy for Lifelong Learning was established by 18 members in 1987, it was part of Cape Cod Community College’s Center for Successful Aging. Want to see what kinds of classes were offered? Our archives are located in the lower level of the campus library, within a temperature- and humidity-controlled vault.

Inspection reveals things were not that different from now. That is, although we have evolved into a vibrant, independent 501C(3) not-for-profit organization serving hundreds, we retain our mission to provide members 50 and over with a means to broaden and deepen both their education and their social connections. They make friends, have a laugh and learn something new – what’s not to love?

But ALL is more than that. As the planet fills, and warms, and strains to support the incredible diversity of life upon and within it, we find ourselves increasingly in strife and turmoil. We need a quiet place to think. We need a place of comfort, where we can find like-minded people with whom to share our joys, fears and concerns. We need a place to express ourselves and to hear others do the same. We need a place where we can grow, where we can renew that youthful feeling of discovery and insight. And we need a place where we feel wanted, and where our labors are deeply appreciated. Now, more than ever, we need ALL. It helps makes this isle of sand a very special place indeed! And now for the future.

We have another week of classes, but the curriculum committee has been busy this last month preparing the spring 2025 course catalog. Thank you, coordinators! The printed edition is expected in late December and by early next year, it should be in a library near you. The online course listing on our website (https://www.capecodall.org/) shows those same classes, and any late entries.

Our website will continue to show new class offerings as they are made available. I’ve taken a sneak peek at the courses so far – there is a fine mixture of new subjects, updated older offerings, and repeats. I wish I could take them all! And please don’t be shy about spreading the word about ALL and our courses to your friends and neighbors.

Finally, as we bring 2024 to a close, I want to thank all of you who donated to ALL this year. These unsolicited funds are most beneficial to restoring our reserves from the trials of the COVID years and enabling us to address operating needs for classes and events for our membership. Your generosity is deeply appreciated. 

As we look to the future, ALL will begin an annual fund drive based on the following goals: 

• Restore our reserves to a pre-COVID level.
• Meet inflationary increases in operating expenses.
• Offer new services going forward. 

In the following months, watch for additional details as we introduce plans.

Again, thank you for your belief in the mission of ALL and supporting our endeavors through your donation.  

Paul Coteus

ALL President



We wish you a happy holiday season and a healthy new year!

You will be receiving the online Spring 2025 catalog sometime in December. We are excited to present many new choices and older favorites for you to enjoy. Please make sure your registration form reaches us by January 10, 2025. Forms should be mailed directly to ALL at the Cape Cod Community College address on the registration form.

Thank you for making this a successful year.

We look forward to seeing you in 2025!

Henry Tamzarian

Chair, Curriculum Committee 

Y

Get Ready for Spring Registration!

The spring line-up of courses is available for viewing on our website capecodall.org. Take a look! We have over 50 amazing courses, some in-person, some on Zoom and some using our hybrid technology. Search by category or day and time. The Spring 2025 catalog will be sent to you via email and posted on our website capecodall.org in mid-December.

ALL accepts credit cards as well as checks for the payment of our membership fee. (There is an additional $5 handling fee for credit card payments.)

As in the past, members can register by mail, but members who opt to pay via credit card on our website can email their registration form to ALL. See our website for more information. 

Please Note:

Registration forms should reach us at Cape Cod Community College by Friday, January 10th in order to be processed on the first day of registration, January 13th. 

Updated information about the spring semester will be posted on the ALL website and sent to you via email.

Jean DeVincentis

Chair, Registration

As moderator of the Leisure Activity course, I would like to share its origins.

While playing bridge one afternoon when I had ALL volunteer desk duty, I tried to recruit my ALL friends to coordinate a course for the fall semester. One friend was taking care of her elderly mother, another friend was helping her daughter, who was working full time, getting her two grandchildren to after-school activities. The third friend had too many commitments.

But each one had time to teach a one-week class. We discussed what activities would be the best to offer. In the first semester, we offered ukulele, Spanish for travel, beekeeping, butterflies, bird carving and shellfishing.

Some of the ALL members of the first course came because they had recently moved to the Cape, retired, and were looking for something to do. Some ALL members have taken all three semesters.

Some class members have stepped up to be presenters. For example, our class this fall on mushrooms was given by Jane Zulkiewicz. Her grandmother took her foraging when she was a child. She learned which ones were safe to eat. Pictures from that class, taken by John M. Shea, follow at the end of this article.

In the Spring Semester 2025, we will be offering our fourth course. We look forward to having you join us.

Patricia McKean

Leisure Activity Course Coordinator

Please check websites for complete information.

During the holiday season, there are many activities happening in our Cape towns. Here’s a partial list. Check the local town and cape chamber of commerce sites, town and local organization websites for complete information and, if applicable, ticket information.

Not all strolls are free.

Village strolls:

Mashpee: Mashpee Commons, December 14, 2–6 p.m. Parade at 6 p.m. (rain date, December 16).

Falmouth: Holiday Stroll, December 7, 4–11 p.m. Parade at noon on December 8.

Dennis – December 8, noon–3 p.m.

Chatham – December 13 and 14.

Sandwich – December 8, 12–5 p.m. Jarves Street closed to traffic.

Yarmouth Cookie Stroll: December 14, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Buy tickets online.

Hyannis: Holiday Stroll, December 6; Sip & Shop; Boat lighting December 7, 11 a.m.–3 p.m., Hyannis Main Street.

Harwich: Christmas in Harwich Weekend, December 6–8. Check full schedule online.

Sandwich: Grab a mug of hot chocolate, hop in your automobile and drive to Sandwich to check the giant lighted sculptures all around the town, especially on Rte. 6A, the Village area, Rte. 130 and Cotuit Rd. The count is over 75 sculptures. A map should be online or available at the Sandwich Arts Alliance, the old Town Hall next to the Grist Mill.

Cape Cod Symphony’s Holiday on the Cape: December 6–8 at the Barnstable Performing Arts Center.

Christmas Market: Mashpee Commons, every Saturday and Sunday from November 23 through December 15.

Hyannis Spectacle of Trees, November 29 – December 12, noon to 6 p.m. daily, Guyer Art Barn, 250 South Street, Hyannis. You can buy raffle tickets to win not just one of these spectacular trees decorated for the holiday, but also gift cards, tickets and merchandise by Cape nonprofits.

Chatham Chorale: A Candlelight Christmas, Saturday, December 21, 2 p.m. and Sunday, December 22, 5 p.m. First Church Congregational of Chatham, 650 Main Street, Chatham. Tickets: Chatham.org or call 774-212-9333.

Dianne Tattersall

Is there a friend who would like to know more about ALL?

We now have a 2-minute video that provides an overview of who we are and what we offer. A link to that video follows. It is also on our website. Feel free to share this newsletter and tell your friends to take a look.

A link to the video is at the end of this article.

The ALL Art Gallery exhibits the works of artists' connection to the Cape Cod Academy for Lifelong Learning. The works of Leslie Healy and Christine Radant are currently on display.

The ALL Art Gallery walls are outside classrooms 106 and 115 and change regularly.

Please contact the ALL office if you are interested in exhibiting your art.