By Michelle Alexander

Johnson County Park and Recreation District’s 50 Plus Program has a new lineup of lunch and learn series in 2023.

During our first program, Taste of Ireland, at noon Wednesday, Jan. 25, at the Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse, 9101 Nall Ave., Prairie Village, participants can enjoy an afternoon of Irish culture, a catered Irish meal and hearing about Ireland’s history and culture from the Kansas City Irish Center. Young dancers from the Driscoll School of Dance will perform cultural steps. The 90-minute program is $29 for Johnson County residents and $31 for nonresidents. Reference program code is 24766.

Residents are invited to a Meet the Mahaffies program at noon Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Tomahawk Ridge Community Center, 11902 Lowell, Overland Park. James Beatty Mahaffie a successful farmer in Johnson County during his time, and his wife Lucinda operated a stagecoach stop on their farmstead in Olathe in the 1860s.

The program will feature staff dressed in period clothes from the Mahaffie Stagecoach Museum as they share stories and history of stagecoach-era, life on the farm and the Mahaffie family. The 90-minute program is $29 for Johnson County residents and $31 for nonresidents. Reference program code is 24769.

An LGBTQ 101 educational program is scheduled at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, March 9, at the Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse, 9101 Nall Ave., Prairie Village, with Misty Town. She is a member of the LGBTQ community who has presented this topic in a professional open manner to a variety of audiences and has worked with LGBTQ juveniles.

The presentation will offer a better understanding of terminology about the gay and transgender population, address issues facing the LGBTQ community and provide the opportunity to ask questions in a safe and non-judgmental space.

This is a great program for grandparents that may be raising their grandchildren and struggling with these conversations. Lunch will be served. The 90-minute program is $15 for Johnson County residents and $16 for nonresidents. Reference program code is 24811.

We’ll round out this series with a Brainy Breakfast - Life on the Orphan Train at 9 a.m. Friday, April 14, at the Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse.

Between 1854 and 1926, nearly 250,000 orphaned or abandoned children were relocated from New York City to the Midwest and West. This migration is known as the orphan train. The goal of this relocation effort was to find homes where children could learn practical skills, receive an education and live in a family setting.

Kaily Carson, curator of the National Orphan Train Complex in Concordia, Kansas, will join us remotely to share information on how the orphan train movement began, how it worked and what happened to the children involved.

Brainy Breakfast will take place in person, including a catered breakfast before the presentation. The 90-minute program is $22 for Johnson County residents and $24 for nonresidents. Reference program code is 24775.

For more information or to register online visit the special events page or call 831-3355 with reference program numbers.

Michelle Alexander is the 50 Plus Department manager at the Johnson County Park and Recreation District.