January 7. Seasonal Twilight:  Navigating Life between Holidays and Summer

The darker days of winter and early spring can be hard because of isolation, grief and loss, health struggles, or sunlight depravation. Charles LaFond, celebrated author will discuss the winter doldrums, offer life-tools to navigate feelings, detoxify anxious thoughts, lighten moods, metabolize grief or disappointment, and create our own strategies for winter wellness.

January 14. Let’s Get Social: A Beginner’s Guide to Social Media (Part 2)

Social media can be overwhelming and intimidating, but with just a few simple tips and tools, you’ll find it’s an excellent way to connect to family and friends, learn new things, meet folks with shared interests, and stimulate your mind. Join Jessica Karpilo, ISR Outreach Assistant, to learn how to get started, how to protect your privacy, and have your questions answered. (You do not need to have attended Part 1 for this to be useful).

January 21. How to Safely Use Medical Cannabis

Dennis James of MediCannaCare will be returning to explore:  Who can benefit from medical cannabis, what is the best way to take medical cannabis, and which medical cannabis products are safe.  The point of Medical Cannabis is NOT to get high, but to get NORMAL– to sleep, deal with anxiety, reduce pain, and more. Come curious, Dennis will be available after his presentation to answer questions.

January 28. Green Burial

Lucinda Herring will present new ways to think about funerals and burials.  She’s a Certified Home Funeral Consultant, a Green Burial Guide and licensed Funeral Director. She will present information for anyone seeking to exercise their innate and legal right to care for their dead, create home funeral vigils, and choose greener after-death care options that are less toxic and more sustainable for the earth.

February 4. Coping with Grief & Loss

Addie Schille, Case Manager with Aging and Disability Resources, will lead a conversation about what grief and loss are and offer healthy ways to deal with the grieving process.

February 11. About Valentines

Come learn about Valentines with collector and historian Billie C. Barb.  She’ll show you some examples and talk about the custom of sending valentines.  She’s been collecting valentines for many years and is our local expert.

February 18. South Whidbey Environmental Issues

Marianne Edain, co-founder with Steve Erickson of Whidbey Environmental Action Network, has been working for thirty years to protect and preserve the natural resources and beauty of our island home.  She will talk about WEAN’s work but focus on current issues affecting all of us, including how we tie our local actions to global impact.

February 24. From Despair to Joy

Certified Life Coach Glenda Cantrell, former ISR program coordinator, will share how she fought a debilitating cancer treatment to regain a life with purpose and joy. She will give you tips you can apply to your struggles along the path of aging and caregiving.