The $25 registration fee gets you into as many courses as you want to take.
Holyoke Police Capt. Denise M. Duguay will present a course on crime-solving in the life-long learning series offered to the elderly at the Senior Center. HOLYOKE -- With names like "CSI: Holyoke," courses in the life-long learning program being offered to elderly people at the Senior Center could fill fast, an organizer said.
"These are quality courses taught by experts in their field. Each of the speakers will be sharing their knowledge and experience – and their love of Holyoke," said Kathleen A. Bowler, executive director of the Council on Aging.
Courses will be taught at the Senior Center, 291 Pine St., beginning next month. Courses are limited to 20 students each, but the $25 registration fee provides admission to as many of the courses as a senior wants to join, she said.
"My Career as a Foreign Service Officer 1970-2010" will be presented by city native John Champagne. His career included tours with U.S. Army Special Forces and the U.S. Agency for International Development. The course will be presented Tuesdays from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 8, 15, 22 and 29, she said.
"World Religions" will be presented by the Rev. Richard Riendeau, a retired priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield. The course will explore Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Shinto, Taoism and Judaism. It will include optional visits to local houses of worship. The course will be presented Wednesdays from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 9, 16, 23 and 30 and Nov. 6, 13 and 20, she said.
"History of Holyoke" will be presented by numerous local historians discussing Native Americans, industrial development and other topics. The course will be presented on Thursdays from 2:30 to 4 p.m. on Oct. 10, 17, 24 and 31 and Nov. 7, 14 and 21, she said.
"CSI: Holyoke" will be presented by Holyoke Police Capt. Denise M. Duguay, a 20-year veteran and commander of the Criminal Investigations Bureau. The course will explore the history of investigations, the role of forensics in solving crimes and the collecting of physical evidence. It will be presented Tuesdays from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 5, 12 and 19, she said.
Duguay said she will begin with a history of crime scene investigations. She will discuss the due process revolution of the 1960’s and the evolution of personal identification systems, such as how fingerprinting has gone from ink and paper to digital systems, she said.
Techniques used to determine how long a body has been at a site or whether it has been moved will be presented. These include algor mortis, which is the reduction of body temperature after death, rigor mortis, stiffening of a body’s muscles and joints in hours after death and lasting one to four days and livor mortis, which is the settling of blood in the lower part of the body causing a purplish discoloration of skin, she said.
Using “evidence” from class participants like fingerprints and footprints, Duguay will take the class on a field trip that will include stops at the Police Station and Holyoke District Court, she said.
“Then we’ll solve a fictitious crime scene using that information,” Duguay said.
Registration will be taken at the Senior Center or by mail to the Senior Center, 291 Pine St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Checks should be made payable to Holyoke COA.
For information call (413) 322-5625.