Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

ENews April 10, 2026

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OLLI E-News April 10, 2026
Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

Suresh Mohla, Ph.D. and Endocrinologist, presented a highly informative analysis of recent/current research on the genetics of jumping genes and promising breakthroughs in clinical treatments

April 10, 2026


Editor of the Week: Deborah Kruesi
Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices

  • Throughout the spring term, you may use this online form to add or drop classes, clubs, or other events.
  • Remember to check the catalog updates list on the website.
  • Note that one of the canceled Reston classes is available in Fairfax (802F).
  • The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, April 17; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, April 14, at 6:00.


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Spread the Word: OLLI Mason’s Inaugural Ideas Festival!         


By Nancy Klein, Communications Associate


On May 8–9, 2026, we will host our very first OLLI Ideas Festival at Tallwood. This free, two-day open-house event is designed to inspire continued learning and connection for adults aged 50 and above, offering a glimpse into all that OLLI Mason has to offer.

The festival will feature over 20 classes, clubs, demonstrations, and activities covering a wide range of interests, from art and music to history and health. Walk and Talk will venture to the main campus for a public art tour, and the festival will close with a panel discussion, “Global Perspectives on Longevity,” on Saturday, May 9 at 3:00, featuring experts from George Mason University. You are welcome to stop by for one session, one day, or both days. Bring a picnic lunch or order lunch from food trucks on site.

We know how much you value the learning and camaraderie at OLLI Mason, and we encourage you to share this exciting news with friends, family, and anyone you know who might be interested in exploring new passions and connecting with others. Flyers are available at the main office. Visit the OLLI Mason Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/OLLIMason/ or scan the QR code below for more information.
 

Let's make our first Ideas Festival a huge success by spreading the word far and wide!
For more information and to RSVP, visit olli.gmu.edu.

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Hexagon Presents Its 70th Not-To-Be-Missed Show: Lollapaloosers!


By Norma Jean Reck, Theater Lovers’ Group Coordinator


Are you a feeling a bit overwhelmed and tired out by the current political situation we find ourselves in today? Could you use an emotional lift and a few really good belly laughs? Then be sure to join OLLI's Theater Lovers Saturday, April 25 for the 3pm performance of Hexagon's Lollapalosers! at Atlas Theater in D.C. It will be an unforgettable afternoon of hilarious original music, songs, dance, and side-splitting skits aimed at skewering the current political goings on. It's non-partisan, of course. We will have an optional lunch in Shirlington where you can park your car, then Uber to the theater for convenience. We'll carpool. Tickets are $44.75 and can be purchased online at atlasarts.org. We welcome guests, so do your friends a favor and invite them to share a few laughs with you. Please email me at [email protected] to let me know you will be joining us.

Editor's Note: At the author's request, all words are published unedited, exactly as submitted.



 






Modifying or eliminating these 5 risk factors at age 50 can add an additional 10 years to a person’s lifespan: (1) high blood pressure, (2) overweight or obesity, (3) diabetes, (4) smoking, (5) high cholesterol: Global Effect of Cardiovascular Risk Factors on Lifetime Estimates | New England Journal of Medicine. It’s never too late to start.
From the Healthcare Advisory Workgroup

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Computer Club
3rd Saturday, April 18
2026 Consumer Electronics Show
Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts

 
By Paul Howard , OPCUG Program Chair


The Computer Club (OLLI Personal Computer User Group, or OPCUG) will meet with its partner, the Potomac Area Technology and Computer Society (PATACS), on Saturday, April 18, in person at Tallwood (TA-1) and via Zoom. The Zoom session opens at 12:45 (Zoom link below).

2026 Consumer Electronics Show―Presented by Rob Pegoraro
Sights and Sounds: What's new in the world of Consumer Electronics and related technology?

Rob Pegoraro tries to make sense of computers, consumer electronics, telecom services, the Internet, software and other things that beep or blink through reporting, reviewing and analysis. You can find him at PCMag, Fast Company, Wirecutter, and many other outlets; from 1999 to 2011, he was the Washington Post’s tech columnist. He once received a single-word e-mail from Steve Jobs and may be the only person to have written for both Reader's Digest and Boing Boing.

Learn in 30: Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts―Presented by Frank Fota Want to move faster and work smarter in Windows 11? Join us for an interactive presentation by PATACS Director at Large Frank Fota, who will demonstrate the power of keyboard shortcuts. You’ll discover how simple key combinations can streamline your daily workflow, minimize mouse use, and boost productivity across common tasks—from window management and desktop navigation to file organization and system controls.

This guided session organizes essential shortcuts into practical, easy-to-learn categories, helping you build lasting muscle memory for effortless efficiency. Whether you’re a casual user or a power user in the making, you’ll leave with tools to make Windows 11 feel faster, smoother, and tailor-made for you.

See full details on this meeting by clicking here. For information on the Computer Club, see the OPCUG Website. OPCUG dues are $5 and are now due for 2026 (and 2025, if you didn’t get around to paying earlier!)—see http://olligmu.org/opcug/comm.html for details on making payment.

To attend via Zoom’s cloud meeting service, beginning at 12:45, please click:
https://olligmu-org.zoom.us/j/87181894687?pwd=jeej4aqXUEcbKuULWcx9ACtgISnrCF.1 to join the meeting and use passcode 468224. (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 871 8189 4687 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode (preferred method).

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Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

Passage of Time
 
I remember Mother when vexed saying,
Where does the time go?
No doubt she meant not only the hours
in the day, but the weeks, months, years
of our allotted time.
We cannot see times past
if we look over our shoulder.
Yesterday may be behind us,
but we can neither hear nor touch it.
At times we find it hard to remember
what worried us last week, last month,
last year.
Like a river, time flows on around us
reminding us that we can do better
at meeting our intentions.
Mother’s rhetorical question
haunts me still.
                  ̶ Jan Bohall

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Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances April 11 through April 20


By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer


The College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) has several web sites of performances, talks etc.
CFA ticket purchase page
Center for the Arts YouTube channel 
Hylton ticket purchase page
the new https://masonartsamplified.gmu.edu/
music.calendar.gmu.edu/
theater.calendar.gmu.edu/
https://dance.calendar.gmu.edu/
masonexhibitions.org/
and if you miss a live performance, there is a pay-per-view for many:
https://cfa.gmu.edu/events/paid-digital-performances 

For tickets for either Center for the Arts Concert Hall (CFA) or Hylton Center, call 1-888-945-2468. You can also buy tickets online through the event calendar (see links above) or visit the venue's box office.

Dr. Linda Apple Monson produces a periodic “Notes from the Director.” This email is full of information on interesting online performances by the students and faculty of the School of Music. If you would like to receive these bulletins, just sign up at this link to stay in touch. Also, the Center for the Arts has a website, Mason Arts at Home, which has a calendar of online events and access to many past performances.

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At the Fairfax Campus Venues

Peppa Pig – My First Concert
Sat, Apr 11, 1:00 and 4:00
Family-friendly activities in the Center's main lobby start one hour prior to the performance, featuring an interactive instrument petting zoo with Mason Community Arts Academy faculty members.
Center for the Arts
Admission: $65, $56, $41.

Circa
Sun, Apr 12, 7:00
A pre-performance discussion with Circa Tour Director Nathan Boyle begins one hour prior to the performance.
Center for the Arts
Admission: $60, $52, $38.
Fairfax and Arlington Campuses Visual Arts
(details can be found at https://www.masonexhibitions.org/)
 
The Prescription is Home
Through April 18, 2026
Mason Exhibitions, Arlington Campus
 
Voices Held in Earth: Mary Bowron’s Silent Witnesses
Through April 24, 2026
School of Art & Design 1st Floor Lobby
Fairfax Campus
 
Living the Prescription
Through May 8, 2026
Founders Gallery, Arlington Campus
 
Paper as Politic
Gillespie Gallery, School of Art and Design
April 13 ̶ 23, 2026
Mason Student and Faculty Performances

(see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals)

Mason Jazz Vocal Night
Mon, Apr 13, 8:00
Center for the Arts
Admission: $19 Adult, $14 Senior.
 
Jazz Workshop Concert
Wed, Apr 15, 8:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free and Open to the Public
 
Mason Bands Anniversary Concert: 55 Years of Mason Bands
Fri, Apr 17, 7:30
Center for the Arts
Admission: $24 Adult, $19 Senior.
 
George Mason School of Theater: Airness
Fri, Apr 17, 7:30
Sat, Apr 18, 2:00 and 7:30
Sun, Apr 19, 2:00
deLaski Performing Arts Building, A105, TheaterSpace
Admission: $19 Adult, $9 Senior.
 
Shawn Purcell Jazz Combos and Steel Pan Ensemble Concert
Mon, Apr 20, 8:00
Center for the Arts
Admission: Free.

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At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

American Festival Pops Orchestra: Celebrating America’s 250 Years!
Sat, Apr 11, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion begins one hour prior to the performance with Bryan Kidd.
Merchant Hall
Admission: $65, $56, $41.
 
The U.S. Army Concert Band
Fri, Apr 17, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: Free.
 
Ordway Ballet: The Wizard of Oz
Sat, Apr 18, 1:00 and 5:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $41, $38, $35 Adult; $39, $36, $32 Senior.
 
TheaterWorks USA: Click, Clack, Moo
Sun, Apr 19, 1:00 and 4:00
(4:00 performance is sensory-friendly.)
Merchant Hall
Admission: $24.


VISUAL ARTS 

Fountain of Truth
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Hylton Performing Arts Center
Through April 11, 2026
 
Kevin Jones: Reflections in Black and White
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Hylton Performing Arts Center
Tue, April 14 ̶ June 20, 10:00
 
Offerings to the Potomac: Acknowledging Indigenous Place
Through May 15, 2026
Buchanan Hall Atrium Gallery, Manassas Campus

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For further details on any of the above events, see the CFA Event Calendar and the Hylton Center event calendar.

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Meetings & Clubs

Please note: OLLI Meetings and Clubs may currently take place in several formats: some are in person only, some are online only, and some are hybrid, meaning that they take place in person and are accessible online simultaneously. OLLI events and activities meeting online bear the identification "Z" in their course or event number (except clubs; you may need to check the OLLI calendar and daily schedule email for location and other event information).

The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office. The list is accurate as of mid-week. Note: All OLLI members are welcome at, and encouraged to attend, meetings of the Board of Directors, committees and resource groups, kick-off coffees, etc., bolded below. The OLLI office has sent (or will send) emails with links and meeting passwords to club members.
 
Sat Apr 11 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Apr 13
 		  9:20 am
 4:00 pm		 What’s in the Daily News? – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Apr 14
 
 		  2:00 pm
 3:45 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Caregivers Support Group – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Apr 15
 
 
 
 
 
 		 11:50 am
12:00 noon
 1:30 pm
 1:30 pm
 1:30 pm
 2:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
OLLI Artists Club
Memoir and More Writing Group – online
Spanish Club – online
Thu Apr 16
 
 		 11:50 am
 3:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 All the News
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Apr 17
 
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
 2:00 pm		 Crafts and Conversation
Board of Directors Meeting
Mah Jongg Club
Game On: Talking Sports Club – online
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Classic Literature Club – online
Sat Apr 18
 		 10:30 am
 1:00 pm		 Tai Chi Club – online
OLLI Personal Computer User Group
Mon Apr 20
 
 		  9:30 am
 4:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 What’s in the Daily News? – online
Family History/Genealogy Club – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Apr 21
 
 		  2:00 pm
 4:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Mah Jongg Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Apr 22
 
 
 
 
 		 11:50 am
12:00 noon
 1:30 pm
 1:30 pm
 4:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Spanish Page Turner Club – online
Theater Lovers’ Group – online
Thu Apr 23
 
 
 		 11:50 am
 3:00 pm
 4:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 All the News
Chair Yoga and More – online
Literary Fiction Book Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Apr 24
 
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
 9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
 2:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Mah Jongg Club
Homer, etc.
Chair Yoga and More – online
Classic Literature Club – online
French Conversation and Happy Hour – online
Sat Apr 25 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online

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About OLLI E-News

OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013.

Editorial Staff
Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate Editors: David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi

Weekly Editor Team: Chloe DiStaso, David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi, Chitra Mohla, John Nash,
Paul Van Hemel
 
Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Thomas Appich, Martha Kossoff, Anne Hartshorn, Bonnie Becker, Carol McManus

Submissions: Members are encouraged to submit letters to the editor, letters to Ms. Ollie Ettakit (on etiquette matters), OLLI-related news items, articles, and photos. Submit material to: [email protected].
Deadline: Tuesday, 6:00, for that week's issue (Monday, 6:00, for letters to the editor); early submissions are greatly appreciated. Please limit articles to about 250 words.
Note: You can view past issues of OLLI E-News on the DocStore. To search the content of issues, use Search Our Site or put your search term in Google followed by "site:olli.gmu.edu/" without the quotes.

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AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

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Email: [email protected]

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