SUMMER REGISTRATION CONTINUES – SUMMER CLASSES BEGIN JULY 7!
CAUTION – Due to URI construction there is a new temporary sidewalk from Flagg Rd that leads to the OLLI building #210. From Flagg Rd – Take a right at the OLLI sign, follow the temporary sidewalk to the old sidewalk which leads to the front door of the OLLI building
OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED – Monday, July 6th for July Fourth Holiday
VOLUNTEER WITH US! -OLLI continues to be a strong organization due in part to members serving on various committees providing leadership in partnership with the staff. We are actively recruiting new volunteers for our Events Committee. Do you love planning social events and gatherings? We need you! To learn more, please come to OLLI for an in-person information session on Friday, July 10, at 1PM. If you have any questions, please reach out to Maria Masse, Membership Coordinator at 401-874-4197or maria.masse@uri.edu. Thank you for your interest!
OLLI NEW MEMBER WELCOME- Are you new to OLLI @ URI? or returning after being gone awhile? Both current and new members are invited to attend and learn about all OLLI has to offer. We’ll review our current programs, and our special interest groups, all while exploring and becoming more familiar with our OLLI website and registration software. Plenty of time for Q & A. Coffee & refreshments too! Join us! Bring a friend! Non-members welcome! If you are not a member and need a temporary parking pass, please call the OLLI office at 401-874-4197. Mon, July 13, from 11AM-12:30PM Click Here To Register (Registration not required)
ADDITIONAL OFFERINGS- The following second sessions of full classes have been added to the summer semester. Please look at the dates carefully as these are second sessions and not the dates listed in the catalog.
Active Listening: Skills for Effective and Compassionate Communication (Session #2) – 1 class with Kathy Black Thurs, July 23, 10-11:30AM
The Pearl: Hope, Destruction and the Human Condition (Session #2) 4 classes with Vince Burks Beginning Thurs, Aug 6,10:00-11:30AM
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS (SIGS) & OLLI EXTRAS – Current Registration expired June 30. Register now for the upcoming year (2026-2027). SIGS are FREE with your OLLI membership but registration is required. Click Here for More Info
CLASS SPOTLIGHT-
How the Beatles Changed the World – 1 session with David Aguilar, Wed, Jul 8 10-11:30AM !! On February 7, 1964, four young musicians from Liverpool landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport, welcomed by 5,000 enthusiastic fans. They were in town to perform that Sunday night on the Ed Sullivan Show, with CBS already overwhelmed by 50,000 ticket requests for their 728-seat Studio 50 theater. Little did anyone realize that over the next six years, the Fab Four would revolutionize the music industry in unprecedented ways. They were the first band to write all their own songs, produce the first music videos, and incorporate sound sampling into their tracks. They became a pioneering brand and were the first group to stop live performances to focus on the skyrocketing sales of their studio albums. Fueled by boundless creativity, the Beatles transformed the world and brought joy that continues to resonate with us today. If you love their music, just wait until you discover how they created it. The class will be in Swan Hall at URI and you may register a guest to attend this class with you. Parking available at the Higgins Welcome Center. Click Here to Register
Mindful Movement – 4 Sessions with Garlan Brosnahan, Thurs, 9:30-11AM beginning Jul 9. Mindful Movement is a curious exploration of how the mind and body, together as the whole self, work alongside one another to create easeful, thoughtful, free, open, long, and wide movement expressions. Students will engage in a meditative body mapping guided lie-down (or sit-down), talked through by the instructor. There will be plenty of space given to sharing reflections and asking questions, as well as lots of group activities in movement. This course combines principles of the Alexander Technique, reiki, and stretch therapy. Click Here to Register
Science Fiction Summer Fun – 6 Sessions with Linda Morse Fri, 1-3:30PM beginning July 10 Want a cool way to spend a summer day? Catch a science fiction movie with OLLI friends! Each week we’ll watch a movie in its entirety. Follow-up discussions will focus on the writer, director, music, budget, cast, plot, and background. Come to see: The Island ’05; Inception ’10; Interstellar ’14; Annihilation ’18; Don’t Look Up ’21; Dune II ’24. It’s a great time to catch up on these classics featuring alien invasions, cloning, outer space, catastrophe on Earth, and more. Click Here to Register
PARKING – It’s time to renew your parking permit at OLLI! Getting this done before your current permit expires on July 31, 2026 will help ensure you can continue parking without interruption. Click Here for steps to renew parking permit online OR If you have any questions or need help with the renewal process, we’re happy to assist. Please call the office at 401-874-4197. OLLI Members continue to enjoy FREE parking (with permit) in the Plains Rd Lot (#25). Click Here for more information about parking and disabled parking or call the office with any questions.
THIS WEEK AT OLLI
Monday – OFFICE CLOSED
3:00PM Threads of History: Exploring the World of Oriental Rugs (Osher Online)
Tuesday
9:00AM Biking
10:00AM The Art of the iPhone
10:00AM The Constitution as Applied: Checks and Balances, Due Process
1:00PM Discovering Portugal (Osher Online)
1:00PM Monuments and Memorials in South Kingstown
5:00PM Keep Austen Weird
7:00PM Horticulture A-Z (Osher Online)
Wednesday
9:00AM What Can the Declaration of Independence Teach us About AI? (Dartmouth Series)
10:00AM How the Beatles Changed the World
10:00AM The Importance of Being Earnest
11:00AM Canals and the Making of the Modern World (Osher Online)
12:30PM Bowling
2:00PM Cribbage
3:00PM Beyond the Basics: A Hands-on AI Project Workshop
4:00PM Newport vs the Pirate Wallace
Thursday
9:30AM Mindful Movement
9:30AM Cross That Bridge Meeting
10:00AM Active Listening Skills for Effective Communication
10:00AM Creativity and Play
10:00AM Beginner Mah Jongg
11:00AM Endless Grounds (Osher Online)
1:00PM Mah Jongg
1:00PM Declaration of Independence: Not Just Jefferson
Friday
10:00AM Photo Friday
10:00AM CSI@URI: A Look Inside RI State Crime Lab
1:00PM Science Fiction Summer Fun
1:00PM Events Committee Info Session
CROSS THAT BRIDGE WITH OLLI! The Citizens Pell Bridge Walk/Run raises thousands of dollars for local charities. The 4-mile walk/run which begins in Jamestown and ends in downtown Newport attracts 3000 participants each year. We’re organizing an OLLI team this year to train together for the event, raising awareness of OLLI and spreading OLLI spirit. You don’t need to be an athlete for the event or have any experience in a race. You set your pace. Imagine “walking over the Pell Bridge” with your OLLI friends, and you can take this off your bucket list! The event takes place on Sunday, August 30. We’re planning on meeting once to discuss getting ready for the event, how we want to participate as OLLI members, and how we can support each other. To learn more, you can go to their website. As you will see, there is a fee for the race, most of which is donated to their selected charities. Meet at OLLI on Thurs, July 9, at 9:30AM Let’s go OLLI!! Click here to hear a few words from Sandra.
HUNGER DOESN’T TAKE A BREAK – URI’s principal basic needs pantry, Rhody Outpost, is for students experiencing food insecurity. Although the school year is over, many students remain on campus throughout the summer months. You can help by donating the following items: Tuna, Sardines, Rice, Pasta (regular & gluten free), Drink Mix Packets (lemonade) and Sunscreen. A collection bin is located in the OLLI lobby. 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. Reminder: Please no expired food!
URI MASTER GARDENERS AWAITING YOUR CALL (OR EMAIL) – Have a garden quandary or need some advice before you start planting your 2026 garden? Ready to celebrate spring but don’t know where to start? The University of Rhode Island Gardening & Environmental Hotline is now open and in full operation through Nov 1. Southern New Englanders are welcome to send an email and photos to the University’s Master Gardener volunteer educators or call for science based-answers to their gardening and environmental questions. In-person visits are also available by appointment at URI’s Mallon Outreach Center on the Kingston Campus. Just call 401-874-4836 or email gardener@uri.edu. Click HERE for info about FREE soil testing.
URI COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PRESENTS – Best Gardening Practices for Pollinators in Woonsocket Mon, Jul 6, 6-7PM, Woonsocket Harris Public Library Learn how you can help in pollinator conservation and the importance of native plants in the landscape. Learn about the diversity of native bees and their importance in our ecosystems. In this workshop we will explore some of the common threats to bees, such as habitat loss, invasive species, pesticide use and climate change. You will also learn some of the ways the homeowner, gardener, or bee enthusiast can help support native pollinators. These topics will include information on native plants, the importance of floral diversity, rethinking your lawn, and other ways to garden to benefit native pollinators. This work is free thanks to the educational mission of the URI Master Gardener program and open to all. Registration not needed. 303 Clinton Street Woonsocket, RI Click Here For More Info
URI COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PRESENTS – Don’t Spill The Tea Workshop – Join URI Cooperative Extension at Barrington Farm School for a hands-on workshop exploring medicinal herbs, herbal teas, and sustainable composting practices. Participants will tour the garden, sample fresh iced herbal teas, learn about compost systems, and take home herbs and compost tea to use at home.Cost: $20 per person. Free for FRRI grads. Proceeds benefit the Food Recovery for RI Scholarship Fund. Sunday, July 19 11AM to 12:30PM 100-98 Federal Road Barrington, RI Space is limited. Registration required.
TICK TALK ON THE DAILY SHOW – URI professor (and OLLI Instructor) Thomas Mather recently visited “The Daily Show” to talk all things ticks with host Michael Kosta. Also known as “The Tick Guy,” Mather is a renowned researcher and expert in public health entomology. Learn More and Watch
KINGSTON CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL– 38th Season with Artistic Director Natalie Zhu – July 22-Aug 2: 8 concerts (6 at URI & 2 at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd). As the nation commemorates the semiquincentennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, our 2026 festival celebrates “Life, Liberty, & Music.” Classical music offers a unique opportunity to explore how dialogue across centuries, borders, and genres—among composers, performers, and audiences alike—fuels cultural vitality. From fresh interpretations of classic works to pieces by living composers, the festival will showcase the diverse voices that continue to shape and enrich the American musical landscape. Click Here for Schedule & Tickets
JOIN UNIVERSITY CHORUS THIS FALL – Join University Chorus to learn and perform a variety of music in diverse styles and from different time periods! All are welcome, including alumni and community members. First rehearsal is September 9. Email conductor Elizabeth Woodhouse at ewoodhouse@uri.edu for more information.
SUMMER CONCERTS BY THE SEA – Wakefield Concert Band presents:
- HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA! Mon, July 6, 6:30PM, Matunuck Comm Association
- FULL MOON CONCERT! Mon, July 13, 6:30PM, SK Town Beach
Bring A Chair! Bring A Snack! Bring A Friend!
THE CONTEMPORARY THEATER COMPANY PRESENTS – INTO THE WOODS Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Directed by Maggie Cady. Once upon a time in a far-off kingdom…This witty, poignant, and unforgettable musical with Sondheim’s gorgeous score reveals what lies beyond “happily ever after”. June 26-Jul 25 Standard Tickets $35 Click Here For Tickets & More Info
SMITH CASTLE PRESENTS: ROOTS & ROUTES Sat, Jul 11, 10:30-11:30AM Roots & Routes is about discovering Smith’s Castle – not just as a historic building, but as a living landscape. The ‘roots’ represent both the native plants that have grown here for centuries and the deep cultural roots of the people connected to this land. The ‘routes’ are the paths walked over time — by Indigenous communities, early settlers, farmers, and visitors today. Each walk invites people to experience history underfoot, connecting nature, place, and story in a way you can only understand by walking the grounds. It’s history you don’t just learn — it’s history you experience! Guided by Arborist Matt Largess and Public Historian Bob Geake, you will walk the trails that the indigenous peoples formed centuries ago and people still walk today. Click Here for More Info
UPCOMING EVENT- Bus Tour of The Historic Armories of Rhode Island Sat, Sept 12, 2026 Begins at 9AM sharp; finishes 5PM, Boxed lunch included A rare visit to see 14 of Rhode Island’s 18 historic armories and ride in coach comfort Your guides: Roberta Mudge Humble (author: The Historic Armories of Rhode Island & President, Westerly Armory) Colonel Ron Barnes (Past Commander, Pawtuxet Rangers) Ticket: $45 per person Purchase by mail or in person: (cash or check, to Westerly Armory) Westerly Armory PO Box 614 Westerly, RI 02891
URI PHYSICAL THERAPY DEPT – Shoulder Motor Control Study: Rotator Cuff Seeking study Participants between 18-64 yrs old with or without shoulder surgery with no mobility limitations. Compensation $20 email: tyler.foster@uri.edu for more information See Flyer For Details
URI DEPARTMENT OF KINESIOLOGY (HIPLAB) – COPD Study Seeking study participants with COPD, 45 years or older, no hospitalizations or antibiotics in last 3 months Compensation up to $120 email:hiplab@uri.edu or call 401-874-5541 for more information See Flyer For Details
URI DEPARTMENT OF KINESIOLOGY – Cerebral Palsy Study Seeking participants 18-60 years old with cerebral palsy for one 90 minute session assessing muscle strength and function Compensation $25 For more info email sedandrea@uri.edu or call 401-874-5210
OLLI IN THE NEWS- Check out the recent article featuring OLLI in Rhody Today and this essay in WBUR.org written by an OLLI member about her experience with OLLI’s Learn to Skate program.