Week of February 23, 2026

SHARE YOUR LOVE OF OLLI – DONATE TODAY Your donation will allow us to continue to offer quality programs while keeping our costs down. Join your fellow OLLI friends who have already made a gift. Together we can reach our goal and touch the lives of many lifelong learners with quality programming. You can easily make your gift online at Alumni.uri.edu/OLLI or by check made payable to the URI Foundation and returned to the OLLI office at 210 Flagg Rd, Rm 212, Kingston, RI 02881.

SHINGLES VACCINE CLINIC– Conveniently located in the OLLI Lobby Wed, Feb 25, 12-2PM Get the first of 2 doses* and help pharmacy students practice their skills and grow as future healthcare professionals. Please bring health insurance information and wear appropriate attire. Email Dr. Lemay at glemay@uri.edu with any questions or concerns. Click Here for More Info & To Register

(*Clinic for 2nd dose is scheduled Wed, Apr 29, 12PM-2PM) 

SPECIAL COLLECTION FOR RHODY OUTPOST  – Donate Hand Soap or Dish Soap and get $5 off an OLLI Scarf! (only $10) 

PARKING – OLLI Members continue to enjoy FREE parking in the Plains Rd Lot (#25). Click Here for more information about parking and disabled parking or call the office at 401.874.4197 with any questions.

CANCELLED CLASS– A Selective Look at Southwest Native People has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. Students were notified and refunds have been issued. We hope to reschedule in the future. 

RESCHEDULED CLASS– When You Click: Algorithms, Psychology, and the Hidden Influence of Marketing has been rescheduled for Thurs, Mar 5, 9:30-11AM If you are enrolled and are not able to attend on the new date, please call the office and we will be happy to refund your payment. 401.874.4197.

CLASS SPOTLIGHT-  

A COMMUNITY TOGETHER – 1 Session with MJ Henderson Wed, Feb 25, 11:30AM-1:00PM A Community Together is a support network serving older neighbors in South Kingstown and Narragansett, founded on the belief that an overwhelming majority of older Americans want to remain in their homes for as long as possible, but are unaware of home and community-based services that make independent living possible. ACT is a non-profit organization, a member of the national Village to Village movement, that supports affordable aging-in-place services for older adults by utilizing community agencies, volunteers, technology, and paid services. Come and learn how ACT can assist you and/or valued loved ones. Click Here To Register

MEDICATION LITERACY & MANAGEMENT – 1 Session with John McLane, Wed, Mar 4, 1-2:30PM Many of us take multiple medications—42% of adults take five or more. But how confident are you in your ability to understand and manage those medications safely and effectively? Medication literacy refers to the ability to obtain, understand, and apply essential information about your medicines. This includes reading labels, interpreting dosage instructions, and identifying potential side effects or drug interactions. In this session improving your medication literacy will empower you to ask the right questions, express concerns, and participate in active management of your meds. Click Here To Register

THIS WEEK AT OLLI 

Monday

• 9:30AM Healthy Eating Made Simple
• 9:30AM Playing with Theatrical Monologues and Scenes
• 10:00AM Let’s Re-Read Banned Books
• 10:30AM Cyber Seniors (Kiera)
• 11:00AM Brain & Behavior (Osher Online)
• 11:30AM Square Foot Gardening
• 11:30AM Understanding AI for Safe and Secure Use
• 3:00PM Landscape & Adventure in Photography (Osher Online)
• 5:00PM Post Impressionism/Abstraction (Osher Online)

Tuesday

• 9:30AM Roma Aeterna
• 10:00AM Ireland – A Brief History (ZOOM)
• 10:00AM The Secrets of Self-Publishing
• 11:30AM Animal Farm: An Allegory for Our Time?
• 1:00PM Game On!
• 1:00PM More Than Parks: A History of American Conservation (Osher Online)
• 5:00PM Einstein Without Tears (Osher Online)
• 7:00PM Japanese History Through the Lens of Shogun (Osher Online)

Wednesday

• 9:30AM Connected & Creative: Lifelong Learning With Today’s Tech
• 10:00AM Cyber Seniors (Oge)
• 11:30AM A Community Together
• 12:00PM Shingles Vaccine & BP Clinic
• 12:30PM Bowling
• 1:30PM Where Were You in the 1960s/70s?
• 1:30PM A Taste of Italy
• 2:00PM Cribbage
• 3:00PM Short Stories from England (ZOOM)
• 4:00PM The Winter’s Tale: Page to Stage
• 4:30PM Your Mediterranean Adventure

Thursday

• 9:00AM Let’s Skate
• 9:30AM Right Plant Right Place Garden Design
• 11:00AM John James Audubon and the Birds of America (Osher Online)
• 1:00PM Mah Jongg
• 1:30PM Here Be Dragons: Mapping Our World
• 3:00PM  Pharmaceuticals and Poisons: Chemistry at the Edge (Osher Online)

Friday

• 9:00AM QiGong for Vitality
• 10:15AM QiGong for Vitality – Deepening Practice
• 11:30AM QiGong for Vitality
• 3:00PM Integrative Health (Osher Online)

Saturday

• 9:00AM Learn to Play Mah Jongg

PINTS & PERSPECTIVES – a fundraising series presented by URI Graduate Student Association (GSA) and hosted by local RI breweries, pubs, and restaurants. Bringing URI faculty and RI community voices together for a 30-40 minute kickoff on a topic they care about, followed by open free-flowing conversation. Dr. Roya Izadi (URI Political Science) will discuss “When militaries become economic actors, politics changes”. Tues, Feb 24, 7PM Whaler’s Brewing Company, 1174 Kingstown Rd, South Kingstown,RI CLICK HERE for Tickets & More Info

OLLI IN THE NEWS- Check out the recent article featuring OLLI in Rhody Today. 

TRAVEL WITH OLLI– Join us at OLLI Thurs, Mar 5, 11:30AM for a preview of two scheduled trips Portugal’s Old-World Charms, (Apr 25-May 5, 2027) and Hawaiian Adventure (Feb 21-Mar 2, 2027). Our Collette sales rep will be here to showcase these trips and answer any questions. CLICK HERE to visit our website for more information.

OLLI EVENT –  Italian Night at Arturo Joe’s Italian Restaurant – Thur, Mar 12, 5PM Come together with your OLLI community for great food and even better company! We’ll meet at the restaurant, and everyone will pay for their own meal. Whether you grew up in an Italian family or simply love authentic Italian cuisine, this is your chance to indulge in a delicious meal, savor Italian desserts, and enjoy a story or two steeped in Italian tradition.Celebrate Saint Joseph’s Day with us and experience the warmth of good food and great friends! Click Here to Register

OLLI OSCAR PARTY – Join us for an Oscar Party on Thurs, Mar 12, at 3PM at OLLI as we gather to share our perspectives and discuss who will take home the coveted awards at The 98th Academy Awards. Food & Prizes!! Registration is required Click Here for More Info & to Register Cast your ballot today in the OLLI lobby!

TEDxURI – NOW THAT’S FUNNY Sun, Mar 1, 2026 2PM Edwards Hall, 64 Upper College Road, on the Kingston Campus.This year’s Speakers will challenge assumptions about humor and expand what we consider funny—forgoing stand-up routines and punchlines and, instead, bringing outside the box thinking to sharing illuminating stories and ideas that are insightful, entertaining, and deeply human. Click Here to Purchase Tickets 

TEDxURI – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Friendly, reliable volunteers needed to serve as ushers for TEDxURI – Now That’s Funny on Sun, Mar 1, 2026 Edwards Auditorium, URI campus. Ushers would arrive at 12:30PM for a brief meeting, help with last-minute checks, and assist guests as doors open at 1:30PM for the 2:00PM event. Duties include greeting attendees, helping with seating, and supporting the House Manager throughout the program and one 15-minute intermission. Volunteers are asked to follow a simple dress code of black dress pants, white button-up shirt, and black shoes. As a thank-you for your time, anyone who volunteers will receive a ticket free of charge to enjoy the show. If you’re interested in helping out, please email Gavin DiFranco at difrancogavin717@gmail.com

CYBER SENIORS IS BACK – Stop by the lobby to get help with all your technology questions on Mondays, 10:30AM-12:30PM and Wednesdays, 10AM-12PM No appointment necessary.  Click Here to Meet Oge

URI RETIRED FACULTY ASSOCIATION SPEAKER SERIES: New Insights into the History and Archaeology of the URI Campus. Tues, Mar 24, 4:00PM-5:30PM in the Cherry Auditorium, Kirk Applied Engineering Laboratory, 94 Upper College Rd. Catherine DeCesare and Rod Mather (who will be leading a history tour of the campus for OLLI this spring) will explore the human history of our University’s campus. This free presentation is open to all URI faculty, staff, and students, as well as OLLI members and the Rhode Island community. Email aging@uri.edu to let them know you plan on attending is helpful but not required. Parking is available off Brian Lane behind the Welcome Center. This event is sponsored by the Provost’s Office and refreshments provided by Belmont Market.

DISCOUNT URI BASKETBALL – CLICK HERE for OLLI discounted URI Basketball tickets

COFFEE – Thank you to all the OLLI members who donated coffee and supplies! We are so grateful for your generosity!

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.  

URI THEATRE PRESENTS: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM by William Shakespeare Mar 4-7, 7:30PM Mar 1 & Mar 8, 2PM, Robert E. Will Theater Click Here to Buy Tickets

URI 2026 CHARLES AND MARIE FISH LECTURE: From the Ground Up – Communities Leading the Next Chapter of Climate Resilience Featuring Jainey Bavishi, former Deputy Administrator of NOAA and former Director of New York City’s Office of Climate Resiliency As climate impacts accelerate and uncertainty grows, communities across the country are redefining what it means to be resilient. In this fireside chat, Jainey Bavishi will explore how equity, local leadership and civic collaboration form the backbone of effective climate action, even as traditional systems face strain. Drawing on lessons from city halls, federal agencies, and frontline communities, the conversation will highlight how resilience can endure and evolve from the ground up. Tues, Mar 10, 6-7PM, Corless Auditorium, URI Bay Campus Click Here For Details & Registration

FREE VIRTUAL LECTURE SERIES – The Experts Speak: Must-See Art 2026 brings together curators from around the world in a free virtual series. How did his Jewish neighbors influence Rembrandt? Who is the iconic painter known throughout Mexico? (Guess again.)  Where did Tarot cards originate? What country shaped an African-American artist’s identity? This is your opportunity to fully appreciate  the most acclaimed art on exhibit this year. Get the inside look—free, online, and guided by the experts themselves. New sessions are posted each day. Feb 23-27 Register for free to save your seat. ArtExpertsSpeak.com

A SPRING FLING! A Beginner Ballroom Dance Workshop designed with and for people with Parkinson’s Disease while welcoming people of all abilities! (with a seated warm-up.) Sun, Mar 1, 2026 1:30 – 2:30PM Newport County YMCA, 2nd floor Group Exercise Room 792 Valley Road, Middletown, RI, Instructors: Rachel Balaban & Lauren Difede, Fee: $25 Profits benefit the American Parkinson Disease Assoc.-RI Space is limited. Registration required. Wear comfortable clothes & shoes. Ages 19-95 welcome! Click Here For Registration Information

OLLI INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY-  If URI is closed due to inclement weather, OLLI will also be closed. For class cancellation/reschedule information, check our website at uri.edu/olli and watch for email notifications. 

IF YOU ARE ATTENDING CLASSES AT OLLI, YOU MUST HAVE A PARKING PASS! If you are not sure if your permit is current, please call the office at 401-874-4197. Parking is FREE with membership but you must register your vehicle if you are taking classes in 2026. If you get a ticket you will be responsible for appealing it with the URI parking administration.

If you would like to view past This Week At OLLI weekly newsletters go to https://web.uri.edu/olli/news/