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. 

All are welcome but because of the popularity of this group pre-registration to attend is required.

The River House Book Club meets once a month to discuss a pre-chosen book. The chosen book for March's meeting is The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy

The facilitator for this group is Peter Gaspar.

This group will meet on Wednesday, March 4 from 2 to 3:30 at River House (179 Marine St.)

For ages 18 and up.

This presentation will give a historical perspective, that is fun and engaging, on the history of chess as well as some amazing facts that can be applied to our lives to enrich and encourage. This presentation ranges from Queen Isabell of Spain to Benjamin Franklin, to Alice in wonderland and more.

Estelle Thibodeau has a chess club in St. Augustine, called The Cheesy Chess Club and is an ordained minister active in the art of contemplation and choice. Make your move to the COA's River House for this fascinating perspective on chess. 

This one session presentation will be on Wednesday, March 11 from noon to 1 at River House (179 Marine St. in St. Augustine)

For ages 18 and up.

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.

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.