Candlepin bowling was invented in Worcester and was one of the most popular sports on television between the 1950s and 1980s. Presenter Mike Morin is the previous host of Candlepin Bowling on Channel 5 and is a recognized historian on candlepin bowling.

This Spotlight is being held in person at the Worcester Public Library at 3 Salem Square Worcester, MA 01608.

Guests are encouraged, so bring a friend!

Dick Whitney (Executive Director of the Optical Heritage Museum) will provide insight into John F. Kennedy's connection to Southbridge and American Optical. Included in the presentation will be a newly restored movie clip of his 1958 campaign visit to Southbridge while running for Senate. He and Jackie are shown in this rare video as he spoke on Main Street. Also discussed will be JFK's eyeglasses that were made in Southbridge.

This Spotlight is being held in person at the Worcester Public Library at 3 Salem Square Worcester, MA 01608.

Guests are encouraged, so bring a friend!

Worcester Institute for Senior Education

32nd Annual Meeting & Luncheon

Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 11:15 am

Assumption University

Tsotsis Family Academic Center, Ballroom B

11:30 am Welcome and Introductions

Becki Perry, WISE Director

Greg Weiner, President of Assumption University

11:45 pm Special Guest Speaker

Joseph Petty, Mayor of Worcester

12:00 pm Spring Buffet Luncheon

Sandwiches, salads, and sides

$25.00 per person, guests are welcome

Cash bar available

12:45 pm Business Meeting & Celebration

1:45 pm Closing Remarks

Art Colonies in New England

with Martha Chiarchiaro

We will explore eight late-19^th and early-20^th century summer art colonies across New England; Provincetown and Cape Ann in Massachusetts, North Conway and Cornish in New Hampshire, Old Lyme and Cos Cob in Connecticut, and Ogunquit and Monhegan Island in Maine. During the summer and fall months, you’ll be able to visit these sites and their museums.

We will examine the incredible, creative energy that existed in these art colonies in New England.

This Spotlight will be held via Zoom.

Martha Chiarchiaro has brought history to life through the art of the times for more than 30 years. She received her Masters’ degree in the History of Art from Williams College and provides a variety of art history presentations at the Worcester Art Museum, for WISE (the Worcester Institute for Senior Education), libraries, garden clubs, and other organizations. As noted on her Seeing History website, Martha's specialty presentations related to specific periods, artists, and activities provide an in-depth look at the life and times of people through their art.

From Factory to Store to Neighborhood: Worcester's Whittall Mill Complex, 1870-2025

This Spotlight is being held in person at Assumption University, K112.

For more than 150 years, the Whittall Mill complex has been a landmark for Worcester and Central New England – and its future is brighter than ever.

After nearly 100 years as a site for large-scale carpet manufacturing, much of this South Worcester complex became a retail destination for generations of New Englanders: Rotman’s Furniture. Like the Whittall carpet company, Rotman’s is no more, but today the property thrives as a multi-use neighborhood hub – long after many newer Worcester factory, retail, and office buildings have come and gone.

In this slide presentation, Alan Petrillo explores the fascinating history of this Worcester and New England institution — including details about both the Whittall and Rotman companies and their role in the community. Along the way, he highlights the qualities of design and construction that have helped the property thrive for 150+ years – and now that the complex has been sold to Holy Cross, he considers the ways in which it can continue to serve the city for decades to come. Alan also welcomes lively discussion from WISE members who have memories of these buildings and companies!

Alan Petrillo is a docent with Preservation Worcester, an organization dedicated to protecting and sharing knowledge about the city’s buildings, neighborhoods, and history. This project includes research and rare photos from the archives of the Worcester Public Library, the Museum of Worcester, vintage newspapers and maps, and other sources. He is a professional writer/editor who has worked for research-driven organizations in the software, market research, and financial services sectors…but the history of architecture and urban development is his passion. He loves to learn about how cities became what they are, and to share what he has found.

John James Audubon and The Birds of America

with Martha Chiarchiaro

Discover Audubon’s extensive studies documenting American birds and his detailed illustrations that depict the birds in their natural habitats. The Birds of America, a collection of 435 life-size prints, is considered one of the finest ornithological works ever completed. Audubon also conducted the first known bird-banding experiment in North America, where he learned that the birds returned to the very same nesting sites each year. Like his peers, he was an avid hunter, and he also had a deep appreciation and concern for conservation; in his later writings he warned against the destruction of birds and habitats. For half a century, Audubon was early America’s dominant wildlife artist.

This Spotlight will be held via Zoom.

Martha Chiarchiaro has brought history to life through the art of the times for more than 30 years. She received her Masters’ degree in the History of Art from Williams College and provides a variety of art history presentations at the Worcester Art Museum, for WISE (the Worcester Institute for Senior Education), libraries, garden clubs, and other organizations. As noted on her Seeing History website, Martha's specialty presentations related to specific periods, artists, and activities provide an in-depth look at the life and times of people through their art.