Week of December 8, 2025
WINTER CATALOGS – You should have received your Winter catalog in the mail by now. If you didn’t, please stop by the office and pick one up. You can also view it online! Now is a great time to check to see if your membership is up-to-date! Registration begins online at 7:00AM on Tuesday, December 16. The office will open at 9:00AM for phone and in-person registration. Any questions, please call the office at 401-874-4197.
HOLIDAY FUN BEGINNING TODAY!! Stop by the office any time this week wearing your Festive Holiday Sweater! Have your photo taken and you will be entered into a raffle to win an OLLI voucher, just in time for Winter registration beginning Tuesday, Dec 16. If you bring a donation to Rhody Outpost you will receive a 2nd raffle entry! We’ll have holiday snacks and more!
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT – The University will be breaking ground for two new dormitories on Flagg Rd in the NewYear. Construction will impact our current parking in Lot #21. We are working with facilities to address our parking concerns. We will keep you updated as we learn more within the next few weeks.
DATE CHANGED FOR HOLIDAY WINES AT COAST GUARD HOUSE – The date for the class Holiday Wines: What to Serve and Why (on 12/4) has been changed to Tuesday, December 9, from 2PM – 3PM. If you are not able to attend on the new date please call the office and we will be happy to refund your payment.
SHARE YOUR LOVE OF READING – The OLLI community is collecting new and gently used children’s books this holiday season for the Jonnycake Center for Hope. Please bring unwrapped children’s books to the OLLI Office through the end of this week, for collection. Thank you for supporting families and youth that are in need with the gift of children’s literature.
CLASS SPOTLIGHT-
Christmas Boxwood Tree Workshop – Thurs, Dec 11, 6-8PM Get into the holiday spirit by creating your very own festive Boxwood Tree! Each participant will receive a reusable base, twinkling lights, fresh greenery, flowers, and ample decorations to make their tree truly shine.Our experienced instructor will guide you step by step, sharing insider tips and tricks of the trade to help you craft a professional -looking centerpiece with ease. Floral Designs by Donna, Mariner Square, Narragansett, RI Max Participants: 20 Click Here For More Info and to Register
THIS WEEK AT OLLI
Monday
1:00PM Let’s Explore the Google Suite (Session 2)
1:30PM Cognitive Biases
Tuesday
10:00AM Decorate a Gingerbread House (offsite)
10:00AM Dutch Island: Pasture, Forest, Park (Session 2)
1:00PM Game On!
1:30PM Food Is Medicine
1:30PM Cyber Seniors – Kiera
2:00PM Holiday Wines (offsite)
Wednesday
9:30AM Origin and Fate of the Universe
11:30AM Paris in the Dark
12:30PM Bowling
1:30PM Classic Film: John Huston
2:00PM Cribbage
3:00PM Between The Wars – Short Stories (ZOOM)
Thursday
9:00AM Let’s Skate!
9:30AM Living Well in a Toxic World
10:30AM Rhody Ramblers – South County Commons Bike Path
1:00PM Mah Jongg
1:00PM Learn to Smock (extra session)
2:00PM Curriculum Committee
3:00PM Movie Group
Friday
9:30AM Poetry of Mary Oliver
1:00PM Carol Burnett
1:00PM Yoga
CYBER SENIORS – Our Cyber Senior student expert – Kiera, has agreed to work with us for the remainder of the semester. Please stop in and see Kiera in the lobby for all your tech questions. Tuesdays, 1:30-3:30PM until December 16 – No appointment necessary.
OLLI MERCH – Stay warm this fall/winter and represent OLLI with one of our new OLLI Scarves CLICK HERE to view and purchase $15.
DISCOUNT URI BASKETBALL TICKETS – CLICK HERE for OLLI discounted URI Basketball 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.
Most needed items for December: 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.
THE URI BIOMECHANICS AND WEARABLES LABORATORY is conducting a validation study on wrist biomechanics with wearable devices. They are looking for interested healthy subjects between the ages of 18-70 to participate in a two-part data capture. The in-lab portion will take approximately two hours to complete. After the in-lab portion of the study, they will send participants home with four wearable sensors which will be returned after six to eight hours. They are looking for volunteers who do not have wrist or hand problems to evaluate their wrist function during typical activities completed during a normal day. Click to view the flyer or email (ahollingworth@uri.edu) for more information.
URI GRADUATE SCHOOL OF OCEANOGRAPHY PRESENTS:
Film Screening: Wealth Untold – Please join us for free screening of Wealth Untold, a new documentary that follows a multigenerational network of women leaders fighting to protect Belize’s world-renowned barrier reef from environmental threats that endanger the livelihoods of coastal communities. Even though protected, the reef faces growing threats from overfishing, oil exploration, invasive species, coastal development, and climate change. Wed, Dec 10, 4-6PM, Coastal Institute Auditorium, URI Bay Campus Click here for details and registration
URI BAY CAMPUS FILM SCREENING: Wealth Untold – December 10, 4-6pm at the Coastal Institute Auditorium. You’re invited to a free, public screening of Wealth Untold, a new documentary that follows a multigenerational network of women leaders fighting to protect Belize’s world-renowned barrier reef from environmental threats that endanger the livelihoods of coastal communities.
Belize, a small coastal country in Central America, is home to the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that sustains over half the country’s population. Even though protected, the reef faces growing threats from overfishing, oil exploration, invasive species, coastal development, and climate change. Wealth Untold follows inspiring women leaders and change-makers fighting to safeguard this vital ecosystem while balancing economic prosperity. Their personal stories serve as a model for coastal communities around the world, highlighting the powerful role of women in shaping a sustainable future.
Phil Karp, the producer of Wealth Untold as well as an ocean advocate, will be available for a post-film discussion to answer questions about the film’s themes, ocean conservation challenges, and how viewers can get involved in marine advocacy. Click for details and registration. To learn more about the film, please click here.
DISCOVERING AI @ URI DAY December 10 | 4:00 – 7:30PM, Fascitelli Center for Advanced Engineering, Rooms 040 & 045 – The University of Rhode Island community is invited to join us for a dynamic recognition of the diverse and creative work of our faculty, students, and staff exploring artificial intelligence in research, teaching, and innovation. All members of the URI community are invited to attend, participate, and share their work. RSVP HERE
WAKEFIELD CONCERT BAND PRESENTS: HOLIDAY CONCERT Dec 8, 7PM Hallway Entertainment starting 6PM – free with price of admission. South Kingstown HS Auditorium $10 Admission|Children under 12 Free|$20 family max. Please bring a toiletry item for the Johnnycake Center CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
WAKEFIELD BOOKS: POP-UP BOOKSHOP at SHEPHERD’S RUN HOLIDAY MARKET Sun, Dec 14, 11AM-4PM, 4780 Tower Hill RoadSouth Kingstown, RI 02879
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 #, State, Car Make, Model & Color and if your car is gas, electric or hybrid.If you would like to receive updates of URI News and Events subscribe to Rhody Today.