University at The Oaks: Ancient Civilization

Guest Speaker: Cheryl White, PhD, associate history professor at LSUS Monday, Oct. 2, 4 p.m. Franks Community Centre Cheryl White’s monthly University at The Oaks series focuses on the history of western civilization. Each month White selects diverse topics that offer an interesting survey that engages and intrigues guests. Cost: Free. Registration is required.

Healthwise

Gone Viral: Why Does the Flu Virus Change Each Year?

Guest Speaker: Faye Mirfakhraee, infection preventionist Friday, Oct. 20, 3 p.m. Tower Ballroom Just before the flu season starts we start thinking about prevention. No one wants to spend their days trapped in bed with fever, chills, muscle aches, cough and a runny nose. The flu shot is the first and most important step in preventing the viruses, but which contagious viruses are we preventing and how many are there? Infection preventionist Faye Mirfakhraee will discuss the types and subtypes of flu, some of which are more of a threat than others. Get a flu prevention primer and learn what to do if you get sick.

Cost: Free. Registration is required.

Music to Our Ears: Introduction to the Shreveport Symphony’s Season

Guest Performers: Maestro Michael Butterman, music director, and violinist Jennifer Carsillo Tuesday, Oct. 24, 4 p.m. Franks Community Centre Maestro Michael Butterman and violinist Jennifer Carsillo will give residents and guests a sneak peek of the Shreveport Symphony’s 2017-18 season, which includes works from Mozart to Korngold and special performances by Broadway star Sutton Foster, cellist John-Henry Crawford, and violinist Philippe Quint.

Cost: Free. Registration is required.

Well Worth It

Boo! Horror Films and Halloween: Why We Love to Be Frightened

Guest Speaker: Jeff Hendricks, PhD

Friday, Oct. 27, 3 p.m. Franks Community Centre The tradition of dressing up in costume, whether silly or scary, is as much a part of Halloween as going from door to door begging for treats. Jeff Hendricks, chairman of the English department at Centenary College, will share the history behind the tradition of Halloween costumes and reveal what Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Mummy have in common. His presentation will track the evolution of horror films in American culture and explain why we seem to need to be frightened and what this reveals about us as human beings. Oh, what a fright! Cost: Free. Registration is required.

Book Review

The Fish That Ate the Whale: The Life and Times of America’s Banana King

Guest Speaker: Ray Branton

Tuesday, Oct. 31, 3:30 p.m. Chapel Ray Branton will review Rich Cohen’s non-fiction book “The Fish That Ate the Whale: The Life and Times of America’s Banana King.” This untold story is about a man named Samuel Zemurray, also known as the Banana King, who arrived in America in 1891. The Banana King’s journey starts on the streets with a cart of bananas and ends up in the grandest house in New Orleans. While conquering the United Fruit Company, he was a symbol of the best and worst of the United States. As he worked his way up from the streets he became known as the classic example of a corporate pirate. Cost: Free. Registration is required.