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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260121T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260121T130000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053734
CREATED:20251222T191047Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251222T191047Z
UID:109844-1769000400-1769000400@thelaurelmagazine.com
SUMMARY:January Book Club: An Impossible Thing at Center for Life Enrichment
DESCRIPTION:Join CLE’s book club! For our second selection\, we will be reading The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer. \nJoin us on January 21st from 1-3pm in the CLE lecture hall for light bites\, discussion\, and a shared love of literature! \nAll are welcome! \nFavorites Count: 0
URL:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/local-event/january-book-club-an-impossible-thing-at-center-for-life-enrichment
LOCATION:Center For Life Enrichment\, 348 S 5th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community,Education
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/highlands-nc-center-for-life-enrichment-book-club.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251217T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251217T120000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053734
CREATED:20251112T162511Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251112T162511Z
UID:105163-1765965600-1765972800@thelaurelmagazine.com
SUMMARY:Holiday Cookie Exchange! at Center for Life Enrichment
DESCRIPTION:Do you love holiday baking? If so\, we invite you to participate in CLE’s FREE cookie exchange on Wednesday\, December 17th from 10am to noon! \nHow it works: Sign up by December 10th\, and our team will reach out to notify you how many cookies to bring for sharing. Each participant will leave with a variety of delicious treats made by the other participants to take home and enjoy! CLE will provide coffee and hot coco\, and holiday attire is strongly encouraged! \nThings to bring: \n\nCookies (CLE staff will notify you on December 10th how many to bake)\nA large cookie tin/container to transport all your new delicious treats home in\nIf you would like to share your recipe\, please bring copies or email it to office@clehighlands.com and we can make copies to share!\n\nFavorites Count: 0
URL:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/local-event/holiday-cookie-exchange-at-center-for-life-enrichment
LOCATION:Center For Life Enrichment\, 348 S 5th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/highlands-nc-center-for-life-enrichment-cookie-exchange.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251210T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251210T160000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053734
CREATED:20251110T190245Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251110T190245Z
UID:105106-1765371600-1765382400@thelaurelmagazine.com
SUMMARY:Mahjong Basics for Beginners at Center for Life Enrichment
DESCRIPTION:Interested in learning how to play the Chinese\, tile-based game of Mahjong? Now is your chance! Join us for this intimate beginners class (limited to 8 participants) to learn the basics. \nNo experience needed and all materials provided – just show up ready to learn and have fun! \nFavorites Count: 0
URL:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/local-event/mahjong-basics-for-beginners-at-center-for-life-enrichment
LOCATION:Center For Life Enrichment\, 348 S 5th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community,Education
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/highlands-nc-center-life-enrichment-mahjong-basics.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250819T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250819T120000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053734
CREATED:20250721T040419Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250721T040419Z
UID:93400-1755597600-1755604800@thelaurelmagazine.com
SUMMARY:The Necessity of Imperfection: Grappling with Evil and Suffering in the World’s Religions at Center for Life Enrichment
DESCRIPTION:One of the most difficult problems that every religion grapples with is how to explain the existence of evil and suffering in the world. Our lives are plagued by unhappiness\, stress\, difficulties\, and always end in death. For religions with an all-powerful and loving God\, this reality presents a serious challenge. Why won’t this loving and powerful God just fix us and our world? The Eastern traditions\, with their views of karma and reincarnation\, present a very different view of this classic struggle. Whether Eastern or Western\, all religions recognize that our lives are not perfect\, but then each presents different paths and prescriptions about what to do with these imperfections. \nThis class explores how these different faiths struggle with our imperfections while also presenting unique ways of understanding why the difficulties in our lives are a necessary part of being itself. \nFavorites Count: 0
URL:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/local-event/the-necessity-of-imperfection-grappling-with-evil-and-suffering-in-the-worlds-religions-at-center-for-life-enrichment
LOCATION:Center For Life Enrichment\, 348 S 5th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community,Education
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250818T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250818T120000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053734
CREATED:20250721T040019Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250721T040019Z
UID:93398-1755511200-1755518400@thelaurelmagazine.com
SUMMARY:Night Visions: Unlocking the Secrets of Photography After Dark at Center for Life Enrichment
DESCRIPTION:People used to ask Kevin Adams what is there to photograph at night? Today\, night photography is extremely popular\, with photographers capturing all sorts of nighttime subjects. Nothing new to do\, right? Not so fast! In this presentation\, Kevin covers the typical stuff—Milky Way\, star trails\, lighthouses\, cityscapes\, etc.—but he’ll also talk about photographing subjects you’ve never thought of\, and he’ll share techniques for photographing ordinary subjects in ways you’ve never imagined. Fair warning\, though. Kevin says that after you attend this presentation\, you won’t be getting much sleep going forward—unless you do it in the daytime! \nNote: this program is a lecture\, not a workshop. \nFavorites Count: 0
URL:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/local-event/night-visions-unlocking-the-secrets-of-photography-after-dark-at-center-for-life-enrichment
LOCATION:Center For Life Enrichment\, 348 S 5th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community,Education
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250815T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250815T120000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053734
CREATED:20250721T035052Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250721T035052Z
UID:93396-1755252000-1755259200@thelaurelmagazine.com
SUMMARY:Unveiling the Smokies: How Discover Life in America is Mapping the Hidden Biodiversity of the Great Smoky Mountains at Center for Life Enrichment
DESCRIPTION:This presentation will describe and explain the work of Discover Life in America (DLiA)\, a nonprofit organization committed to studying and conserving biodiversity\, with a focus on its flagship project\, the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The ATBI\, launched in 1998\, is a comprehensive effort to document the estimated 60\,000 to 80\,000 species within the park. But an ATBI is more than just a checklist of species names. It is a complex and living database of species locations\, habitats\, genetic diversity\, population density\, symbiotic relationships\, and predator-prey interactions. Working cooperatively\, expert scientists specializing in all different forms of life discover new species needing protection\, identify new threats in time to act\, and understand how to protect a complex and valuable ecosystem like the Smoky Mountains. DLiA has successfully doubled the number of known species in the park and identified 1\,092 species that are new to science. Despite these accomplishments\, a vast amount of biodiversity remains to be discovered in the park. To further this research and exploration\, DLiA leverages new technologies\, engages in community science projects\, and collaborates with scientists from around the world. \nFavorites Count: 0
URL:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/local-event/unveiling-the-smokies-how-discover-life-in-america-is-mapping-the-hidden-biodiversity-of-the-great-smoky-mountains-at-center-for-life-enrichment
LOCATION:Center For Life Enrichment\, 348 S 5th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community,Education
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250814T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250814T120000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053734
CREATED:20250721T034216Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250721T034216Z
UID:93394-1755165600-1755172800@thelaurelmagazine.com
SUMMARY:The Boys of Pointe du Hoc: D Day and the US Army 2nd Rangers at Center for Life Enrichment
DESCRIPTION:Join Douglas Brinkley for a discussion on the history of D Day ( June 6\, 1944) from the perspective of the US Army 2nd Rangers who stormed the coast of Normandy by climbing the 100 foot promontory known as Pointe du Hoc. Facing arguably the toughest task to befall US forces during World War II \, the brave special ops battalion boldly seized control of the fortified cliff and set in motion the Liberation of Europe. \nFavorites Count: 0
URL:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/local-event/the-boys-of-pointe-du-hoc-d-day-and-the-us-army-2nd-rangers-at-center-for-life-enrichment
LOCATION:Center For Life Enrichment\, 348 S 5th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community,Education
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250813T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250813T160000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053734
CREATED:20250721T033920Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250721T033920Z
UID:93392-1755093600-1755100800@thelaurelmagazine.com
SUMMARY:Jimmy Carter: An American Giant at Center for Life Enrichment
DESCRIPTION:Join US Presidential Historian Douglas Brinkley for a discussion on why Jimmy Carter is one of the great figures of the 20th and 21st centuries. He will evaluate the lasting importance of Carter’s Camp David Accords; personal diplomacy with China’s Deng Xiaoping; lifetime humanitarian work in Africa; and the sudden controversial Panama Canal treaty. Brinkley will also discuss in detail why Carter was the most successful land and water conservation president since Theodore Roosevelt. Having written a biography of Carter ‘s post White House years titled\, The Unfinished Presidency\, Brinkley will offer personal stories about his own experiences with the ex-president including Habitat for Humanity house builds and travels to Israel/Gaza. \nFavorites Count: 0
URL:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/local-event/jimmy-carter-an-american-giant-at-center-for-life-enrichment
LOCATION:Center For Life Enrichment\, 348 S 5th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community,Education
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250812T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250812T120000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053734
CREATED:20250721T032802Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250721T032802Z
UID:93388-1754992800-1755000000@thelaurelmagazine.com
SUMMARY:Behind the Scrubs: A Behind the Scenes View of the Operating Room and Hospital Quality Ratings at Center for Life Enrichment
DESCRIPTION:Ever wonder what actually happens in surgery? Many people have had surgeries\, such as a hip or knee replacement\, and they have no recollection of what happened until well into the recovery phase. \nThis lecture will cover all the stages of surgery from the other side\, from the time a decision for surgery is made through recovery. We’ll talk about the use of robotics in surgery\, how trainees participate in surgical care\, and where we are headed with surgical care in the next 10-20 years. We’ll also discuss hospital performance ratings and what they really tell (or don’t tell) us about hospital quality. We’ll seek to clarify some of the common misconceptions about these ratings and explain why they often don’t tell the full story. \nFavorites Count: 0
URL:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/local-event/behind-the-scrubs-a-behind-the-scenes-view-of-the-operating-room-and-hospital-quality-ratings-at-center-for-life-enrichment
LOCATION:Center For Life Enrichment\, 348 S 5th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community,Education
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250811T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250811T160000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053734
CREATED:20250721T032405Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250731T142904Z
UID:93386-1754920800-1754928000@thelaurelmagazine.com
SUMMARY:Our Dishonesty Crises: How Technology is Eroding Honesty at Center for Life Enrichment
DESCRIPTION:Dishonesty has always been with us. But in recent years new technology has led to a variety of dishonesty crises\, in which being dishonest is easier and more tempting than it has ever been in the past. We will look closely at three examples. In the first\, deepfake videos which represent people saying and doing things they never did\, are becoming easier to make and harder to detect\, with implications for everything from our elections to the war between Ukraine and Russia. In the second\, it has become easier than ever to become a celebrity due to TikTok and other forms of social media\, but that also increases the threat of dishonest behavior. In the third\, professors are drowning in a wave of academic cheating by students using ChatGPT and other AI. All is not lost\, however\, as we will also see some practical strategies to help us resist these dishonesty crises. \nFavorites Count: 0
URL:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/local-event/our-dishonesty-crises-how-technology-is-eroding-honesty-at-center-for-life-enrichment
LOCATION:Center For Life Enrichment\, 348 S 5th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community,Education
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250808T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250808T160000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053734
CREATED:20250721T030641Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250721T030641Z
UID:93383-1754661600-1754668800@thelaurelmagazine.com
SUMMARY:Art Workshop - Creating a Watercolor Brush Painting in the Style of Japanese Tradition at Center for Life Enrichment
DESCRIPTION:Create a work of art based on the tradition of watercolor brush painting! Practicing traditional techniques and using traditional design materials\, class participants will produce a final project: a watercolor painting of a “sakura” cherry blossom tree on handmade paper. All materials will be provided for this class\, and you will leave with a supply list for continuing your art exploration at home. \nFavorites Count: 0
URL:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/local-event/art-workshop-creating-a-watercolor-brush-painting-in-the-style-of-japanese-tradition-at-center-for-life-enrichment
LOCATION:Center For Life Enrichment\, 348 S 5th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community,Education
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250808T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250808T120000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053734
CREATED:20250721T025848Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250721T025848Z
UID:93381-1754647200-1754654400@thelaurelmagazine.com
SUMMARY:Judging the Court: The Evolving Role of the Supreme Court in Modern America at Center for Life Enrichment
DESCRIPTION:In the Federalist 78 Alexander Hamilton called the Supreme Court an “intermediary” between the “People” and the legislature\, as the Court served as a “bulwark” for a limited Constitution. Some contemporary judicial critics challenge this notion\, as public opinion of the Supreme Court has decreased\, long-standing precedents have been overturned\, and personal issues with the justices have created controversies. Others see the Supreme Court as protecting the fundamental and essential principles of the United States’ founding. All perceptions\, of course\, are filtered by partisan ideology in these modern times. \nThis presentation will examine the current Supreme Court\, putting these issues in historical context and placing emphasis on cases from the 2024-2025 term. \nFavorites Count: 0
URL:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/local-event/judging-the-court-the-evolving-role-of-the-supreme-court-in-modern-america-at-center-for-life-enrichment
LOCATION:Center For Life Enrichment\, 348 S 5th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community,Education
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250807T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250807T120000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053734
CREATED:20250721T023856Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250721T023856Z
UID:93379-1754560800-1754568000@thelaurelmagazine.com
SUMMARY:Exclusive! How Journalists Skewered Big Business in U. S. History—and Why It Mattered at Center for Life Enrichment
DESCRIPTION:Thoughtful Americans have long resented special privilege and foreign domination. For much of U. S. history\, one word—monopoly–symbolized both of these perils. To combat these perils\, journalists —in conjunction with jurists\, government officials\, social scientists\, and business people—have popularized an anti-monopoly vision that has shaped law\, public policy\, and popular culture. This illustrated lecture (with lots of cartoons) surveys the long history of journalistic representations of big business in U S. history. Why is big business so often represented as an octopus? What about “Mr. Money Bags”—the comic figure in the popular board game “Monopoly”? Anti-monopoly is often conflated with the “big is bad” ethos identified with an 1890 law known as the Sherman Act. This is misleading. The journalistic critique of big business in U. S. history is much more capacious. In 1904\, for example\, journalist William Randolph Hearst ran for president on a platform that was anti-trust\, but pro-municipal ownership. The journalistic indictment of big business—in cartoons\, fiction\, and oratory\, as well as the law—offers us a window on one of the most enduring political impulses in American history. In this lecture\, we will not only see how\, but also why\, this indictment mattered in the past\, and how it can help us think more constructively about plutocracy\, health care\, finance\, digital media platforms\, and the “tech-industrial complex” of the present. \nFavorites Count: 0
URL:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/local-event/exclusive-how-journalists-skewered-big-business-in-u-s-history-and-why-it-mattered-at-center-for-life-enrichment
LOCATION:Center For Life Enrichment\, 348 S 5th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community,Education
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250806T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250806T160000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053734
CREATED:20250721T020716Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250721T020716Z
UID:93377-1754488800-1754496000@thelaurelmagazine.com
SUMMARY:Free Expression from Ben Franklin to Facebook at Center for Life Enrichment
DESCRIPTION:What do we mean when we say that free expression should be regulated by the “free marketplace of ideas?” This seductive metaphor has gained widespread currency in the modern United States. For this reason\, it is worth thinking about its history. Who popularized the idea? Who opposed it? How is the market to be regulated (as all markets are)? \nThis illustrated lecture surveys the long history of free expression in the United States from the enactment of the First Amendment in 1791 which limited the power of Congress to restrict the press\, to the rise of the Internet\, and the challenges posed by AI. Among the topics that we will consider will be the abolitionist mails controversy of the 1830s\, Oliver Wendell Holmes\, Jr.’s famous dissents in First World War era sedition cases\, the regulation of movies and radio during the Second World War\, and a little known law—Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996—that has structured public discourse on social media platforms and other on-line communications today. \nFavorites Count: 0
URL:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/local-event/free-expression-from-ben-franklin-to-facebook-at-center-for-life-enrichment
LOCATION:Center For Life Enrichment\, 348 S 5th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
CATEGORIES:Education
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250805T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250805T120000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053734
CREATED:20250721T011509Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250721T011509Z
UID:93370-1754388000-1754395200@thelaurelmagazine.com
SUMMARY:Fascism Unbound: Exploring the Rise of Transnational Movements Then and Now at Center for Life Enrichment
DESCRIPTION:With the recent rise of far-right governments around the world\, fascism is back in the news. But what is fascism? And how do we identify a “fascist”? These questions are hauntingly similar to those of the interwar period. When Benito Mussolini came to power in 1922\, he declared that fascism was “not for export.” Nonetheless\, far-right nationalists across Europe borrowed from Mussolini’s fascism\, creating hybrid\, syncretic movements that scholars have labeled “transnational fascism.” \nThis session uses the concept of transnational fascism to analyze illuminating\, historical case studies\, including Mussolini’s Italy\, Adolf Hitler’s Germany\, Gyula Gömbös’s Hungary\, and Kārlis Ulmanis’s Latvia. Ultimately\, the session will unveil the appeal of transnational fascism\, both historically and in the present day. \nFavorites Count: 0
URL:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/local-event/fascism-unbound-exploring-the-rise-of-transnational-movements-then-and-now-at-center-for-life-enrichment
LOCATION:Center For Life Enrichment\, 348 S 5th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
CATEGORIES:Education
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250804T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250804T120000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053734
CREATED:20250721T004032Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250721T004032Z
UID:93368-1754301600-1754308800@thelaurelmagazine.com
SUMMARY:Jazz Meets Classical: Uncovering the Hidden Connections Between America's and Europe's Musical Traditions at Center for Life Enrichment
DESCRIPTION:The late great Dr. Billy Taylor said: “Jazz is America’s classical music.” But what does he mean? What is the relationship between “America’s classical music” and the classical music of the European tradition? The connections might be stronger than you think. Emory Music professor\, minister\, and jazz musician Dwight Andrews offers some intriguing insights into this subject with his lecture “Jazz Meets Classical.” He suggests there is more than a symbiotic relationship between the two in sound\, sensibility\, and even musical structures. Andrews uncovers the often overlooked connections of aesthetics\, improvisation\, and the requirement of mastery in both musical traditions. Equally important\, he confronts the historically value laden and exclusionary ways that the very term “classical” serves to place some composers and music within the framework and excludes others. His presentation will include musical excerpts\, provocative observations from the musicians themselves\, and engagement with the audience to literally “hear” the connections when “Jazz Meets Classical.” \nFavorites Count: 0
URL:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/local-event/jazz-meets-classical-uncovering-the-hidden-connections-between-americas-and-europes-musical-traditions-at-center-for-life-enrichment
LOCATION:Center For Life Enrichment\, 348 S 5th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
CATEGORIES:Education
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250801T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250801T120000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053734
CREATED:20250721T003738Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250721T003738Z
UID:93366-1754042400-1754049600@thelaurelmagazine.com
SUMMARY:Oceans of Grain: How Wheat and War Shaped Empires and World History at Center for Life Enrichment
DESCRIPTION:Though we often speculate\, it is difficult to pinpoint how empires are made and how they fall. But by tracing a single crop — wheat — historian Scott Reynolds Nelson demonstrates its profound impact on the world economic and political stage in his critically acclaimed book: Oceans of Grain: How American Wheat Remade the World. He will describe how the US\, from its founding in 1776\, sought to replace Imperial Russia as the breadbasket of Europe and only succeeded when the US Civil War threatened to end the republic. He’ll show how three microscopic organisms that traveled with food – fungi\, a potato blight\, and the plague – rewrote world history. \nFavorites Count: 0
URL:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/local-event/oceans-of-grain-how-wheat-and-war-shaped-empires-and-world-history-at-center-for-life-enrichment
LOCATION:Center For Life Enrichment\, 348 S 5th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community,Education
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250731T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250731T160000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053734
CREATED:20250709T175114Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250709T175114Z
UID:93050-1753970400-1753977600@thelaurelmagazine.com
SUMMARY:Borders and Beliefs: Debunking Myths About Immigration at Center for Life Enrichment
DESCRIPTION:Immigration was a huge issue in our recent election\, so huge that it might seem like unrestricted immigration is a recent phenomenon. In fact\, migration is as old as human history; what’s new is the idea that governments can and should restrict people’s movements. For most of human history\, governments have encouraged\, not barred\, migrants. \nProfessor Hahamovitch will discuss common myths about immigration and the rise of the biggest myth of them all: the idea that migration can be stopped. \nFavorites Count: 0
URL:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/local-event/borders-and-beliefs-debunking-myths-about-immigration-at-center-for-life-enrichment
LOCATION:Center For Life Enrichment\, 348 S 5th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community,Education
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250730T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250730T160000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053734
CREATED:20250709T173705Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250709T173705Z
UID:93048-1753884000-1753891200@thelaurelmagazine.com
SUMMARY:Birthright Citizenship: A Constitutional Debate in the Age of Originalism at Center for Life Enrichment at Center for Life Enrichment
DESCRIPTION:The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides that “All persons born or naturalized in the United States\, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof\, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” That this provision guarantees “birthright citizenship” to everyone except the children of foreign diplomats stood as a virtually unquestioned feature of American constitutional law for more than a century. Recently\, however\, a small group of conservative legal scholars has endorsed a radically different interpretation\, arguing that the Constitution grants citizenship only to the children of American citizens. Although this interpretation has lingered mainly on the fringes of American constitutional law for the past two decades\, President Donald Trump dramatically endorsed it in January 2025 in an executive order issued on the first day of his second term. The Supreme Court may weigh in or give some hints as to how it might resolve this issue in the near future. \nThis lecture will examine the history of the 14th Amendment’s citizenship clause\, the arguments for and against the two competing interpretations\, what these arguments can teach us about “originalism” as a method of constitutional interpretation\, and the implications of the debate over birthright citizenship for American law\, politics\, and culture. \nFavorites Count: 0
URL:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/local-event/birthright-citizenship-a-constitutional-debate-in-the-age-of-originalism-at-center-for-life-enrichment-at-center-for-life-enrichment
LOCATION:Center For Life Enrichment\, 348 S 5th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community,Education
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250730T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250730T120000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053734
CREATED:20250709T173013Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250709T173013Z
UID:93046-1753869600-1753876800@thelaurelmagazine.com
SUMMARY:Introduction to Alcohol Inks at Center for Life Enrichment
DESCRIPTION:Designed for beginners\, this workshop is an introduction to alcohol inks and their versatility in creating translucent and very fluid artworks. Alcohol inks are highly pigmented and fast drying. We will be using 91% Isopropyl Alcohol\, Yupo paper\, plus the inks to create beautiful\, colorful art. If you have used watercolors\, you will enjoy seeing the beautiful effects these inks can achieve! \nAll materials for this class will be provided\, and you will leave with a supply list for continuing your art exploration at home. \nFavorites Count: 0
URL:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/local-event/introduction-to-alcohol-inks-at-center-for-life-enrichment
LOCATION:Center For Life Enrichment\, 348 S 5th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community,Education
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250729T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250729T120000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053734
CREATED:20250709T172518Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250709T172518Z
UID:93044-1753783200-1753790400@thelaurelmagazine.com
SUMMARY:The Gun and the Olive Branch Palestinian Armed Struggle and the Peace Process\, 1967-2025 at Center for Life Enrichment
DESCRIPTION:This session covers the history of the Palestinian national movement from the Six-Day War of June 1967 until the present day. \nProfessor Kevin Jones will cover four key thematic questions: (1) How did the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) justify its use of violence\, including attacks on Jewish civilians and airplane hijacking\, and how “successful” were these strategies of warfare and terrorism? (2) Given the widespread popular support among both Palestinians and Israelis for the idea of a two-state solution endorsed by the Oslo Accords\, why did the Peace Process ultimately fail? (3) Why did Palestinian public opinion gradually shift away from secular political movements like the PLO and toward religious movements like Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the 1990s and 2000s? (4) What did Hamas hope to accomplish with the high-profile attack of October 7th\, 2023\, and how is the ensuing war in Gaza likely to reshape the future of the conflict? \nFavorites Count: 0
URL:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/local-event/the-gun-and-the-olive-branch-palestinian-armed-struggle-and-the-peace-process-1967-2025-at-center-for-life-enrichment
LOCATION:Center For Life Enrichment\, 348 S 5th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community,Education
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250728T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250728T160000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053734
CREATED:20250709T165758Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250709T165758Z
UID:93042-1753711200-1753718400@thelaurelmagazine.com
SUMMARY:Triumph and Tragedy Zionism\, the Palestinians\, and the Creation of Israel\, 1917-1948 at Center for Life Enrichment
DESCRIPTION:Join Professor Kevin Jones for this session covering the early history of the Israel-Palestine conflict\, from the beginning of the British Mandate to the creation of the state of Israel. \nWe will cover four key thematic questions: (1) Why were the Zionists more successful than the Palestinians in establishing organizations and institutions that could function as the nucleus of an independent state? (2) Why did Palestinians turn from diplomacy to resistance and rebellion against both Britain and the Zionists during the course of the colonial period\, and how successful was the strategy of violence? (3) How did the relatively small Israeli army (IDF) so decisively defeat the much larger combined forces of the Palestinians and their Arab state allies? (4) Did the Palestinian refugees “flee” or were they “expelled” from their homes during the 1948 war\, and why has the ensuing Palestinian refugee crisis endured for so much longer than other comparable refugee crises? \nFavorites Count: 0
URL:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/local-event/triumph-and-tragedy-zionism-the-palestinians-and-the-creation-of-israel-1917-1948-at-center-for-life-enrichment
LOCATION:Center For Life Enrichment\, 348 S 5th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community,Education
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250725T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250725T120000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053734
CREATED:20250709T165230Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250709T165230Z
UID:93040-1753437600-1753444800@thelaurelmagazine.com
SUMMARY:Weathering the Storm: Understanding Climate's Impact on Our Future at Center for Life Enrichment
DESCRIPTION:In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and the raging fires in California\, extreme weather is a topic of wide public concern. When someone asks about the weather\, the focus is typically on what is going on now. When someone asks about climate\, the focus is much broader – the weather over time. The answers to those questions involve a host of variables: pollutants in the atmosphere\, volcanic activity\, solar winds\, and the salinity and temperature of the oceans\, etc. \nDr. Shepherd will discuss how these variables shape weather patterns we experience daily and what can be done now to manage and mitigate their most serious consequences over time. It is a discussion that encompasses not only science and technology but political\, economic\, and social disruption. \nFavorites Count: 0
URL:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/local-event/weathering-the-storm-understanding-climates-impact-on-our-future-at-center-for-life-enrichment
LOCATION:Center For Life Enrichment\, 348 S 5th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community,Education
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250724T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250724T163000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053734
CREATED:20250709T164929Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250709T164929Z
UID:93038-1753371000-1753374600@thelaurelmagazine.com
SUMMARY:Password Management at Center for Life Enrichment
DESCRIPTION:In this digital day and age\, it’s easy to lose track of our passwords. Join this helpful course on password management. Learn about various password management apps\, PassKeys\, where to record your passwords\, what a Legacy Contact is\, why it’s important to let trusted loved ones know where your passwords are if needed\, and more. \nSome familiarity with using your Apple device is recommended. \nPlease bring a charged iPhone or iPad to class. \nFavorites Count: 0
URL:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/local-event/password-management-at-center-for-life-enrichment
LOCATION:Center For Life Enrichment\, 348 S 5th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community,Education
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250724T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250724T120000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053734
CREATED:20250709T160809Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250709T160809Z
UID:93025-1753351200-1753358400@thelaurelmagazine.com
SUMMARY:Understanding Generative AI: Demystifying the Technology Shaping Our Future at Center for Life Enrichment
DESCRIPTION:Generative AI is reshaping industries and redefining what’s possible in technology\, creativity\, and decision making. In this talk\, we will demystify the terms surrounding AI\, explain the current AI landscape\, and explore its exciting possibilities. From breakthroughs in art and science to its integration into business and healthcare\, generative AI is a transformative force. However\, with great power comes great responsibility. \nThis session will also delve into the risks\, including over reliance\, biased decision-making\, and ethical concerns\, offering a balanced perspective on what AI might mean for the future. \nFavorites Count: 0
URL:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/local-event/understanding-generative-ai-demystifying-the-technology-shaping-our-future-at-center-for-life-enrichment
LOCATION:Center For Life Enrichment\, 348 S 5th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community,Education
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250723T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250723T150000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053734
CREATED:20250709T160541Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250709T160541Z
UID:93023-1753279200-1753282800@thelaurelmagazine.com
SUMMARY:Unearthing the Past: Geologic Foundations and the Quest for Lithium in the Carolinas at Center for Life Enrichment
DESCRIPTION:The geologic history of the Carolinas spans over one billion years. The forces that built the foundation of the Carolinas have shuffled us between super continents and provided us a wealth of mineral resources. Human history is a tiny fraction of geologic history; however\, we have learned to exploit geology beginning with favored rocks for stone tools through lithium resources for batteries. Research into lithium in the Carolinas is significantly impacted by local\, State\, and national politics\, as well as the global market. Even over the past few years\, there have been significant swings in the enthusiasm surrounding exploration for\, and extraction of\, lithium in the Carolinas. Presently\, the US Geological Survey is taking new stock of historically mined products across the USA searching for resources once cast aside as waste but now valuable. \nThe talk will summarize the geologic history of the Carolinas and link the formation of economic deposits to their origin story. We will see the role of dating rocks in mineral exploration. \nFavorites Count: 0
URL:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/local-event/unearthing-the-past-geologic-foundations-and-the-quest-for-lithium-in-the-carolinas-at-center-for-life-enrichment
LOCATION:Center For Life Enrichment\, 348 S 5th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community,Education
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250722T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250722T160000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053734
CREATED:20250709T154439Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250709T154439Z
UID:93021-1753192800-1753200000@thelaurelmagazine.com
SUMMARY:Henry Ossawa Tanner\, America’s First Internationally Recognized African-American Artist at Center for Life Enrichment
DESCRIPTION:In this lecture Dr. Harvey sketches the career of Henry O. Tanner\, from his roots in the AME Church to his studies with Thomas Eakins in Philadelphia and his blossoming career in Paris. Although he is best known for his religious subjects\, painted after his arrival in Paris in 1892\, Tanner has an important connection to Highlands\, where he spent the summer of 1888 during a teaching stint in Atlanta at Clark University. His experiences here influenced two of his widely admired paintings of the African-American community\, The Banjo Lesson (1893) and The Thankful Poor (1894)\, both exhibited to wide acclaim in Europe. \nThis program is in collaboration with the Highlands Historical Society. \nJoin us after Dr. Harvey’s presentation from 4:30 – 6:30 for a wine reception at High Country Wine & Provisions! \nFavorites Count: 0
URL:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/local-event/henry-ossawa-tanner-americas-first-internationally-recognized-african-american-artist-at-center-for-life-enrichment
LOCATION:Center For Life Enrichment\, 348 S 5th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community,Education
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250721T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250721T120000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053734
CREATED:20250709T151543Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250709T151543Z
UID:93013-1753092000-1753099200@thelaurelmagazine.com
SUMMARY:CLE |Trump 2.0: A Conversation with Andrew Weissmann and Benjamin Wittes at Center for Life Enrichment
DESCRIPTION:Andrew Weissmann\, a CLE favorite\, and Benjamin Wittes\, editor in chief of Lawfare\, will discuss the Trump 2.0 administration’s impact on the United States Department of Justice\, the FBI\, the Intelligence Community and national security. Has the threat to liberal democracy and authoritarian capture that many predicted prior to the election materialized? If not\, what “guardrails” have held\, and can they continue to do so? If so\, what strategies remain available to push back given the extraordinary legal powers delegated to the President in the Constitution and by Congress? How successful has Trump been in “reining in” the media and silencing those opposed to him\, either by initiating criminal investigations or chilling their speech through civil proceedings? Weissmann and Wittes will assess the response of the courts to Trump’s assertions of executive power and his administration’s attempt at “structural deregulation” of administrative agencies. \nExpect a deep dive into the activities of the President\, the administrative state and the courts by two of the country’s foremost thinkers about democracy\, national security and the rule of law. \nFavorites Count: 0
URL:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/local-event/cle-trump-2-0-a-conversation-with-andrew-weissmann-and-benjamin-wittes-at-center-for-life-enrichment
LOCATION:Center For Life Enrichment\, 348 S 5th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community,Education
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250719T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250719T120000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053734
CREATED:20250709T144027Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250709T144027Z
UID:93011-1752919200-1752926400@thelaurelmagazine.com
SUMMARY:The Canonic Phenomenon of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring: Primitivism\, Myth\, and Modernity at Center for Life Enrichment
DESCRIPTION:This course will explore arguably the most outstanding orchestral work of the twentieth century: Igor Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring. Following the enormous success of his earlier ballets\, The Firebird (1910) and Petrushka (1911)\, Stravinsky unleashed a new era of modernism with Le Sacre du Printemps and its primitive subject matter\, barbaric dissonances and rhythms\, and radical style. \nThis lecture will discuss the Rite of Spring’s controversial premiere and innovative musical characteristics that influenced generations of composers\, choreographers\, chroniclers\, poets\, and artists \nFavorites Count: 0
URL:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/local-event/the-canonic-phenomenon-of-stravinskys-rite-of-spring-primitivism-myth-and-modernity-at-center-for-life-enrichment
LOCATION:Center For Life Enrichment\, 348 S 5th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community,Education
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250718T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250718T120000
DTSTAMP:20260404T053734
CREATED:20250709T142725Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250709T142725Z
UID:93009-1752832800-1752840000@thelaurelmagazine.com
SUMMARY:Shifting Alliances: Navigating the Future of U.S. Foreign Policy in a Changing World at Center for Life Enrichment
DESCRIPTION:The global world order is at a potential inflection point\, shaped by a new U.S. presidential administration\, a rising China\, and a surge in global conflicts. What do these developments mean for the future of U.S. foreign policy\, peace\, and security? This presentation examines the critical issues that lie ahead\, drawing insights from within and beyond the U.S. security community. Can the United States sustain its leadership on the world stage\, and if so\, what strategies will be most effective? Will the U.S. continue to wield its power as it has since the Cold War\, or are we on the brink of a new paradigm? \nMoving beyond partisan politics\, Professor Matthew Auer will offer a forward-looking analysis of emerging flashpoints and areas of concern\, providing a nuanced perspective on the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of the U.S. and the global community \nFavorites Count: 0
URL:https://thelaurelmagazine.com/local-event/shifting-alliances-navigating-the-future-of-u-s-foreign-policy-in-a-changing-world-at-center-for-life-enrichment
LOCATION:Center For Life Enrichment\, 348 S 5th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community,Education
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR