Week of October 13

October 10, 2025

Week of October 13, 2025

OFFICE CLOSED – Monday, Oct 13, Columbus Day/Indigenous People’s Day

FLU VACCINE CLINIC AND BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING at OLLI– URI Pharmacy students will be in the OLLI lobby on Thursday, October 30, from 11:00AM-1:00PM. Bring your insurance information and wear appropriate clothing. By participating, you’re not only taking a step toward better health—you’re also giving students valuable hands-on experience that helps them grow into compassionate, skilled professionals. Your presence makes a difference. Come by, roll up your sleeve, and be part of their learning journey!

OLLI ANNUAL MEETING – Please join us for our Annual Meeting Luncheon, Wed, Oct 22, from 12:00PM-4:00PM at the Richmond Country Club! Hors d’oeuvres, plated lunch (Chicken Francaise, Baked Stuffed Scrod or Vegetarian), dessert and cash bar. Special guest speaker: Steve Thaxton, Executive Director of OLLI NRC. Four OLLI instructors will be inducted into the OLLI Hall of Fame. This is a member only event and limited seating available. $25 Click here for more info and to register or call the office at 401.874.4197. The deadline for registration is Oct. 13. 

REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR THE FOLLOWING NEW CLASSES –  

Saunderstown Weaving School Tour – In 1974 Norma Smayda established and continues to run the Saunderstown Weaving School, which houses about 45 floor looms of all kinds. Some are historic; two were built by Weaver Rose in the late 1890s, and others have been built by other notable weavers. The most modern is a computer-assisted loom. There will be weaving projects on looms, and finished pieces will be displayed. A description of the entire process from designing a project through the many steps of warping a loom, weaving, and finishing will be covered. Elizabeth Hill, weaving assistant, will help with the guided tour. Note: Participants must be able to walk among the floor looms and up one flight of stairs.

CELEBRATING OUR VETERANS : (No fee for these events but you must register)

From Sea to Service: Kasim Yarn’s Journey in Veteran Leadership – Rhode Island Veterans Services (RIVETS) Director Kasim Yarn will discuss his Navy career, transition to public service, and how his military experience shapes his leadership. Tues, Nov 4, 10-11AM

Operation Stand Down – Chief Veteran Outreach Officer, Timothy Ruel, of Operation Stand Down Rhode Island (OSDRI) will share how the organization transforms lives through comprehensive support for homeless and at-risk Veterans. Thurs, Nov 6, 10-11AM

In honor of Veterans Day, Nov. 11, we are recognizing our OLLI Members and/or family members who have served or are currently serving. Please send a photo, along with details of service (branch, years, titles, or anything significant you would like to share) to OLLI@URI.EDU. If you have a physical photo you would like us to scan, please stop by the OLLI office. We will display our Wall of Honor throughout the month of November.

HOLIDAY ADD-ONS –

Holiday Wines: What to Serve and Why – 2 Sessions with Elisa Wybraniec– Tues, Dec 2 or Thurs, Dec 4 3:00PM-4:00PM at the Coast Guard House, Narragansett, RI Fee:$20

Festive Holiday Tea  – Sweet Marie’s Tea Shop, North Kingstown, RI, Thurs Dec 4, 12:00PM-1:30PM Fee: $50 Click here more info and to register

A Taste of Tradition: Decorate a Gingerbread House – Tues, Dec 9 10:00AM-12:00PM Taste Buds Kitchen, East Greenwich, RI Fee:$50 Click here for more info and to register

THIS WEEK AT OLLI 

Monday-Closed

  • 7:00PM From Bauhaus to Brutalism (Osher Online)

Tuesday

  • 9:30AM Paris in the Dark: Nazi Occupation 1940-1944
  • 9:30AM New England/RI/Alaska Connection is GLACIAL!
  • 10:00AM Biking Group
  • 1:00PM Game On!
  • 1:00PM Inequality and Economic Policy (Osher Online)
  • 1:30PM Cyber Seniors-Keira
  • 1:30PM The Salem Witch Crisis (Session 1)
  • 2:00PM Boston Stronger
  • 3:00PM Peeking Inside the Black Box (Osher Online)
  • 4:00PM Playful Drawing for Creative Expression
  • 5:30PM Honors Colloquium – Edwards Hall
  • 7:00PM The African American Military Experience (Osher Online)

Wednesday

  • 9:30AM From Dawn to Despair: Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey
  • 9:30AM Flowers in Different Cultures
  • 11:30AM Black Bear Biologists in Maine
  • 12:30PM Bowling
  • 1:00PM Hiking
  • 1:00PM Finance Committee
  • 1:30PM Classic Cinema: John Ford
  • 1:30PM Five Star Method of Dream Work
  • 2:00PM Cribbage
  • 3:30PM Flannery O’Connor
  • 5:00PM Creative Conservation (Osher-Online)
  • 7:00PM Public Health in Action (Osher Online)

Thursday

  • 9:00AM Let’s Skate
  • 9:30AM UFO’s – What’s Going On?
  • 9:30AM Using AI as Co-Intelligence
  • 10:00AM Ann Morrow Lindbergh (ZOOM)
  • 11:00AM In Darwin’s Footsteps-Galapagos (Osher Online)
  • 11:00AM Current Events
  • 11:30AM Let’s Juggle
  • 1:00PM Mah Jongg
  • 1:00PM Circle Dance (off site)
  • 1:00PM Languages of the World (Osher Online)
  • 1:30PM The Salem Witch Crisis (Session 2)
  • 3:00PM Impressionism (Osher Online)
  • 3:30PM Sketching Portraits In Watercolor

Friday 

  • 9:00AM QiGong for Vitality Session 1(off site)
  • 9:30AM Public Access RI Shoreline
  • 10:00AM A Taste of Italy
  • 11:00AM QiGong for Vitality Session 2(off site)
  • 1:00PM American Protest Songs
  • 1:00PM The Chakra Energy System
  • 1:00PM Book Club

Saturday

  • 10:00AM Purpose Driven Retirement

OLLI PHOTO FRIDAY – Check out our Photo Friday “Bird” photos from our October meeting. Click here to view them. Our theme for the November meeting is Stones/Rocks.

URI FOOTBALL – CLICK HERE for OLLI discounted URI football tickets. 

RHODY OUTPOST– URI’s principal basic needs pantry for students experiencing food insecurity.  The Outpost provides fresh and non-perishable food and personal care items at no charge to students. Click Here to view the updated list of all urgently needed items. You can also purchase items directly from Amazon on the Rhody Outpost Wish List.  

Here are some of the most needed items for October: chicken breast, sardines, tuna, chickpeas,Kashi or Kind bars, whole oats, cereal, ramen, single-serve chips/crackers/nuts/dried fruit/cookies,jelly, microwave popcorn, toothpaste, toothbrushes, dish soap, tissues, paper towels, toilet paper, laundry pods.

UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND HONORS COLLOQUIUM – The URI Honors Program will be hosting small receptions with the Honors Colloquium speakers, students, and college of education faculty concluding the lecture and would love for some OLLI Members to attend! Please review the dates HERE and indicate on the form which receptions you would be interested in attending. Important:This form is NOT a sign-up or RSVP for any reception. Completing this form simply lets them know your interest and availability. If you are selected to attend a reception, you will receive a formal invitation and will need to RSVP at that time to confirm your attendance.Thank you for your interest in engaging with our Colloquium speakers!

The Next Honors Colloquium Lecture – What Can We Afford? In our current volatile political environment, it’s critical to understand how public policy intersects with US colleges and universities. Noted higher education policy expert Dominique Baker will provide commentary on the latest higher education news, including state and federal funding of institutions, college affordability, and the mission of US higher education. Tues, Oct 14, 5:30PM, at Edwards Hall on URI Campus Click Here for More Information

Join the Metcalf Institute for “Equity on the Table: A Conversation about Public Health, Food Access, and Climate Change” on Thursday, Oct. 23, to learn how you can help create a healthier and more equitable food future for yourself and your community.  This free open-to-the-public event will feature a panel discussion with three fellows from the SciComm Identities Project (SCIP) and will take place in the Hope Room, Higgins Welcome Center at the URI Kingston Campus. It will also be livestreamed. A reception will be held at 5 PM, with the lecture beginning at 5:30 PM. Registration is encouraged for in-person attendees and required to receive the livestream link. Learn more at the Metcalf Institute website. 

URI THEATRE PRESENTS: Pride & Prejudice October 17-19 & October 22-26 J Studio Click Here to Purchase Tickets  

THE FORENSIC SCIENCE SEMINAR SERIES is offered each semester by the Forensic Science Partnership. Speakers represent the many different specialized areas of forensic science. The speakers present their real-life experiences in their fields. Seminars are offered for credit, but are also open to the public at no cost. Take a look at this semester’s lineup! All seminars will be held in URI’s Richard E. Beaupre Center for Chemical and Forensic Sciences, 140 Flagg Road, Kingston, RI, from 3:30 to 5:00pm: Friday seminars will be held in Beaupre 100, and Wednesday seminars in Beaupre 105. Click here for more information. 

URI GUITAR AND MANDOLIN FESTIVAL 2025: OCTOBER 19–26, Explore the 10th Anniversary URI Guitar and Mandolin Festival! One week. Dozens of events. Concerts, competitions, passes & programs for all ages. Locations of events and concerts vary. Discover tickets for every performance, workshop, and experience. Click for more details and tickets.

URI JOHN HAZEN WHITE SR. CENTER FOR ETHICS AND PUBLIC SERVICE PRESENTS: Rhode Island premiere of the documentary “Silence on the Streets”. This film examines the impact of the illicit opioid crisis on urban and vulnerable communities.The film, which represents a unique public service partnership between creative artists, public health professionals, and law enforcement agencies, will be held on Thurs, Nov 6, in Edwards Hall on URI’s Kingston Campus. Doors will open and light refreshments will be available at 4:30 p.m., a panel discussion will start at 5:15 p.m., with the film screening to begin at 6 p.m. A question-and-answer session will follow. The event is free and open to the public; however, registration is recommended. Click here to watch the Trailer

COMMEMORATE THE UNITED NATIONS 80th ANNIVERSARY – Join Dr. Linda J. Stillman, founder/chair of Young Global Leadership Foundation, Inc, with UN NGO ECOSOC special consultative status since 2018, for an engaging evening to honor the United Nations. Westerly Library Auditorium Oct 22, 2025, 5:30 pm–7:00 PM Click Here For More Info

IF YOU ARE ATTENDING CLASSES AT OLLI, YOU MUST HAVE A PARKING PASS! If you are not sure, please call the office at 401-874-4197. Parking is FREE with membership but you must register your vehicle now if you are taking classes in 2025 -2026. If you get a ticket you will be responsible for appealing it with the URI parking administration. If you would like us to renew your parking pass we need the following information as soon as possible: License Plate #, Car Make, Model & Color and if your car is gas, electric or hybrid. 

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