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St. Johns County Council on Aging



Educational

Genealogy Course on Mondays in March at River House
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Genealogy Course on Mondays in March at River House

Free

with Liz Heinze

Who were my ancestors? Where were they from? What did they experience? How did I get here? What decisions did my forebears make that led to my being here? Studying your family's history is a great way of contributing to an enjoyable retirement. It keeps our brains active and can generate interesting conversations with relatives. In this introductory course we will teach you the basic techniques and show you how you can use them from home. We will also help you avoid researching someone else's family!

Please bring pen and paper to take notes.

Paul founded the One-Name Study into his surname, reconstructing families for anyone named Howes (or House or Howse) anywhere in the world, now over 224,000 people at howesfamilies.com. Currently President of the St Augustine Genealogical Society, Paul has spoken on Family History topics to groups and conferences on both sides of the Atlantic. Paul was Chairman of the Guild of One-Name Studies for three years and is now a Vice-President.

Elizabeth Heinze is a St. Augustine resident and a Board Member of the St Augustine Genealogical Society. She has been doing genealogy all her adult life. She has self-published genealogies of her father's family and those of her husband's. She has been a member of various genealogy societies and has been published in Family Tree Magazine. 

Class sessions will meet on Mondays, March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 from 12:45  to 1:45 at River House located at 179 Marine St. in St. Augustine. 

Know Before You Go Fishing Clinic Series on Tuesdays in March at River House

$3750

with Donna Frantz

Calendar Mar 3, 2026 at 9 am, runs for 4 weeks

New to fishing or just new to fishing in Florida? 

This series you will learn:

  • Know before you go - this will give you the basics
  • Florida Rules and Regulations
  • Learn what to keep and what to throw back
  • Knot tying
  • Bait selection
  • When/where to fish
  • What to have in your tackle box
  • Proper fish handling

During this series you will learn how to fish from the beach, along the shore of the Intracoastal, or from a pier and how to catch a variety of interesting species. 

Come get schooled up and have fun! Attend all scheduled class sessions in the month for a chance to win a Rod and Reel Combo!

Class sessions will be held Tuesdays, March 3, 10, 17, 24 (no class session on March 31) from 9 to 10:30 at River House (179 Marine Street, St. Augustine 32084)

 For ages 18 and up.

Will run

Spanish for Beginners on Tuesdays in March at River House

$3750

with Maria Martinez

Calendar Mar 3, 2026 at 10 am, runs for 5 weeks

Bienvenidos, 

In this course you will learn basic Spanish. You will also learn everyday phrases, commonly used words, colloquial words used by Spanish speakers, the history and customs of different countries, as well as “Castilian-Castellano” the language brought to this beautiful town by Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles and his crew. You will be surprised of how much Spanish you already know. Don’t forget your notebook (cuaderno) and pen/pencil (bolígrafo /lápiz). 

María Teresa Martínez is a native Spanish speaker, born in Havana, Cuba. Her family ancestry is from Spain. She came to the United States in 1968 and learned English as a high school student in Dover, Delaware. She has taught from early childhood to college level Spanish.  She also served as a medical and judicial interpreter for many years as the owner of a  translation and interpretation business. Since retiring to San Augustine she has enjoyed teaching Spanish classes at the River House/COA. Her courses provide an interesting mix of learning the Spanish language while enjoying tidbits about the colonial history of our city Saint Augustine and Spain. 

Class sessions will be held on Tuesdays, March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 from 10 to 11:30 at River House (179 Marine St.  St. Augustine 32084)

For ages 18 and up.

 

Will run

Intermediate Spanish on Tuesdays in March at River House

$3750

with Maria Martinez

Calendar Mar 3, 2026 at 11:45 am, runs for 5 weeks

Intermediate Spanish class will focus on building upon existing  vocabulary and grammar knowledge to improve communication skills and fluency. This will include expanding vocabulary, refining grammar and practicing sentence variety and fluency.

Don’t forget your notebook (cuaderno) and pen/pencil (bolígrafo /lápiz). 

María Teresa Martínez is a native Spanish speaker, born in Havana, Cuba. Her family ancestry is from Spain. She came to the United States in 1968 and learned English as a high school student in Dover, Delaware. She has taught from early childhood to college level Spanish.  She also served as a medical and judicial interpreter for many years as the owner of a  translation and interpretation business. Since retiring to San Augustine she has enjoyed teaching Spanish classes at the River House/COA. Her courses provide an interesting mix of learning the Spanish language while enjoying tidbits about the colonial history of our city Saint Augustine and Spain. 

Class sessions will be held on Tuesdays, March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 from 11:45 to 1:15 at River House (179 Marine St.  St. Augustine 32084).

For ages 18 and up.

Will run

STA Strong BHOF (Osteoporosis) on Wednesday, March 11 at River House

Free

with Nicole Tristram

Calendar Mar 11, 2026 at 1:30 pm, runs for 1 week

STA Strong BHOF (Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation) Education Group: This group meets bimonthly to learn about prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis. 

This program will meet on Wednesday, March 11 from 1:30 to 2:30 at River House (179 Marine Street, St. Augustine 32084)

For ages 18 and up.

 

Will run

The Musical World of Henry Mancini on Thursdays in March at River House

Free

with Thomas Hischak

Calendar Mar 19, 2026 at 10 am, runs for 2 weeks

This class looks at the life, career, and songs of Henry Mancini (1924-1994), one of Hollywood’s most revered composers. For five decades, a Mancini score conjured up romance, comedy, tragedy, or adventure, as witnessed in such popular movies as The Pink Panther, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Days of Wine and Roses, and Charade: as well as with lesser-known gems such as Hatari!, The Great Race, Darling Lili, and Two for the Road. It is a remarkable range of memorable scores.

The class is part-lecture, part-listening to Mancini’s film music.

Thomas Hischak is a retired Professor of Performing Arts from the State University of New York College at Cortland. He is the author of over thirty books on theatre, film, and popular music.

Class sessions will be on Thursdays, March 19 & 26 (no sessions on March 5 & 12) from 10 to 11:30 at River House (179 Marine St. in St. Augustine)

For ages 18 and up.

Full Course

Fishing on Tuesday, March 31 at River House

$1250

with Donna Frantz

Calendar Mar 31, 2026 at 9 am, runs for 1 week

Get ready for a morning of excitement and adventure.

Want to go fishing and get help learning? Grab your friends and join us for a morning filled with laughs, learning, and of course, fishing! Don't worry about lugging your gear around because all the equipment you need will be provided. Soak up the sun, cast your line, and reel in some unforgettable memories. Whether you're a seasoned angler or a complete beginner, this is your chance to enjoy a morning of fun by the water. Don't let this opportunity slip away – book your spot now for a morning to remember.

Participants younger than 65 may be required to have a fishing license. Some Florida Resident licenses are free. See the website for clarification: https://sjctax.us/saltwater-fishing-license/  Adults must carry proof of age and residency.

The group is limited to 10 total. Don't miss out on this fun fishing event/activity!

This class will meet, light rain or shine and will be mainly outdoors, so bring your water and your sunscreen. I'd also suggest wearing a hat.

Class session is on Tuesday, March 31 from 9 to 11 at River House (179 Marine Street)

For ages 18 and up.

Will run





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