Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

ENews September 12, 2025

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OLLI E-News September 12, 2025
Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.
Diversions Chair Marilyn Harriman Hosts a “Picnic in the Park” at Tallwood, September 5

September 12, 2025


Editor of the Week: John Nash
Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices

  • Fall-term registration is under way and continues throughout the term.
  • Note: The first class of course 654F/654Z Black Jews: Who are They and Where Do They Come From? has been changed from September 23 to September 30. 
  • The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, September 26; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, September 23, at 6:00.

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OLLI President's Message September 12

By Deborah Engleson, President


This isn't my normal President's Message but a request for some help. Do you have some large, empty boxes—preferably square—that you could part with? We are cleaning out a closet in the cottage at Tallwood and need boxes.

Please contact Debbie Engleson (330-573-6366, or [email protected]) and I will arrange for pickup. Thank you!

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From the Desk of the Executive Director


By Lisa Mariam, Executive Director


There are so many terrific opportunities to learn and enjoy at Mason, and many of them are free. Please note the upcoming lecture about George Mason's views on anti-monopoly and the Constitution. It will be held at Mason’s Fenwick Library, Room 2001, September 25, at 5:30, and presented by Columbia University Professor Richard John.

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OLLI Kick-Off Coffee on Thursday, September 18

 

By Toni Acton, Member Services Chair


Join your friends and new members at the Kick-Off Coffee at Tallwood on September 18.  Meet our new executive director, hear from our Board president, and learn more about what is happening at OLLI this fall. 

You also can attend the committee and club fair before and after the presentation to learn about all the activities other than classes that are available to OLLI members.  And of course, there’s always the wonderful food provided by the Diversions Committee.
 
We hope to see you on September 18! Please register on line or contact the Registrar at [email protected] or 703-544-0085 for Special Event 1203F.

Six OLLI Members Score Awards at Game Day Bash

  
By Marilyn Harriman, Diversions Chair



On Tuesday, September 2, 22 OLLI members gathered in TA-1 to play a variety of board games, including Wordspiel, Taboo, Yahztee, and  Hexaquest. Six winners took home trophies and neck
ribbons. Tony Harriman and Ann Smith took first and second place, earning the most points after playing five games. Four gamers tied for fourth place. Everyone agreed it was a fun way to
engage our brains. As we concentrated on each game, we practiced critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. And we had fun enjoying one another’s company. More than half of us convened at Auld Shebeen Irish Pub in Fairfax for lunch afterwards.

By popular demand, a winter Game Day event has been scheduled for February 24, from 10:00 to 1:00 in TA-1 at Tallwood. If you enjoy board games and want to beat the winter blues, be sure to mark it on your calendar. Registration details will be in the winter catalog under “Special Events.”

An Evening with Ken Burns: Film Preview

 
Shannon Morrow, Lead Program Associate


Save the Date: October 29. At this free event, you will hear from author and documentary-maker Ken Burns to get an early look at his new six-part PBS documentary that explores the country’s founding struggle and its eight-year War for Independence.

You will watch an exclusive preview in front of George Washington's mansion on the historic bowling green at Mount Vernon.

Tickets will be available starting on September 24.
 


Information for the Team Bloch Wednesday Afternoon Conversation on September 17

 
By Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch, 
Co-Moderators

Every other Wednesday (soon to be rescheduled to the first and third Wednesdays of each month), Team Bloch (Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch, a totally unrelated duo), moderate a friendly social chat on Zoom. Any member is very welcome to join us, to listen or to air views on the selected topic. We are very open to discourse and to new voices in any of our conversations. Please feel free to join in.

We will hold the next session on Wednesday, September 17 at 4:00, and the zoom link is always found in the OLLI daily-schedule email (Hint: it is the same link as the 24/7 chat line here). 

This week's Conversation's topic: "What foreign culture do you feel most comfortable with? Or with what regional American culture do you identify most closely?” This might be reflected in your favorite foods, your favorite music, your holidays, or even your reading matter. Some of us were raised in the south and retain that connection, while others are west coasters or New Yorkers. Some of us came from an Asian culture and are often partial to one of those specific cuisines. Certain members might be bilingual and maintain a second language in their homes. Diversity makes our community stronger, we believe, and we love to hear about your special background(s).

Drop in to share or just listen in. New participants are always welcome, and no advanced preparation is needed.
Computer Club
3rd Saturday, September 20
Fall Luncheon
Test Driving Linux


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, September 20, in person and via Zoom. The Zoom session opens at 1:45. Our Fall Luncheon will begin at 12:30 and conclude at 1:35. Reservations for the lunch must be submitted by noon on September 15 via the form link below: https://forms.gle/a4gHN62sxvKgYbCd9.

Test Driving Linux—Presented by John Krout
This presentation is aimed at Windows 10 users whose computers cannot be upgraded to Windows 11, as well as any Windows user who is open to alternatives to Windows. This presentation will show that Linux Mint with the Cinnamon presentation system closely resembles the look and feel of Windows. It will outline some of the popular apps that can be used in Linux Mint, including Web browsers, Zoom, LibreOffice, VLC, and others.

This presentation also describes two closely related activities. First, it shows how to download a Linux Mint ISO file, how to download the Rufus for Windows application, and how to use Rufus to install the Linux Mint ISO file on a USB external storage device. Second, it shows how a Windows computer can be configured to start up a Linux operating system found on a USB external storage device such as a flash drive. 

Test-driving Linux from a USB external drive leaves Windows intact on the computer internal storage. Windows can be used any time the USB external drive is not connected. If you elect to install Linux on your drive C, the flash drive Linux can do that for you.

John Krout is a frequent presenter at our meetings on a wide range of computer, technology, and photography topics

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 2025 (and 2024, 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/88388435350? pwd=hfaEFO7vfkvhVspokJXKnzpia7uTO h.1 to join the meeting and use passcode 804997 (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 883 8843 5350 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode (preferred method), or dial in at 301-715-8592.

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Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

You
 
when I think of love
I think of you
all my beautiful moments
all my lonely times
as if before I met you
you shared them with me
our spirits joined in time
made to love the other
 
when I think of you
all of me
everything I was
and am
and will be
says love

–Margie Wildblood

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A New Season of Mason Music

 

By Linda H. Harber, Friends of Music at Mason President


What's happening in the Mason Music World? The opening concert of the new season—the Grand Piano Celebration—is coming on Sunday, September 21, at 3:00 at Mason's Center for the Arts. It is always an incredible concert with faculty and students. Relax and enjoy the talented musicians.

Afterwards, we will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Friends of Music at Mason (FOMM). Started 20 years ago by Alice Heyer, our fun group of friends enjoys music, and love meeting and supporting the talented students, faculty, and staff of the Dewberry Family School of Music. We provide music scholarships and Snack Attacks during finals times. We schedule Meet the Students events so our supporters can meet and interact with Mason music students. We are starting a 20th FOMM anniversary scholarship fund.

FOMM members also know how to have fun. If you attended our March Mardi Gras, you saw the musical fun in action. On October 18, we will have a FOMM Oktoberfest—so mark your calendar for that event also.

We will kick off our 20th year celebration with festivities and refreshments in the Center for the Arts Lobby after the September 21 concert. Alice Heyer will be joining us for some other special surprises.

We look forward to seeing you on Sunday, September 21 at 3:00!
Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances September 12 through September 28


By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer


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 below) or visit the venue's box office. For more information, see the CFA ticket page or the Hylton Center ticket purchase page.

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
(25-26 Season subscriptions to Great Performances now on sale)

Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel: Beethoven—The Young Genius
Sun, Sep 14, 7:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $60, $52, $38.

Special Event – ARTS by George! An Evening with Darren Criss
Sat, Sep 27, 8:30
Concert Hall
Admission: $106, $81, $55 for performance only.
For information on the entire evening of ARTS by George! Go to artsbygeorge.gmu.edu.
Mason Student and Faculty Performances

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

George Mason School of Theater: The Originals! 2025
Fri, Sep 12, 7:30
Sat, Sep 13, 2:00 and 7:30
deLaski Performing Arts Building, A105, TheaterSpace
Admission: $14.

Grand Piano Celebration 2025
Sun, Sep 21, 3:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $24 Adult, $15 senior.

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At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

Arts Alive! 2025
Sun, Sep 14, 12:00
Hylton Performing Arts Center
Admission: Free.

ARTfactory’s Actor’s Theatre: Little Shop of Horrors
Fri, Sep 19, 7:30
Sat, Sep 20, 7:30
Sun, Sep 21, 2:00
Fri, Sep 26, 7:30
Sat, Sep 27, 7:30
Sun, Sep 28, 2:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $35 Adult, $30 senior.

KC Dance Center: Kollywood Night 2025
Sat, Sep 20, 5:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $55, $35.
Jeremy Jordan in Concert
Sun, Sep 21, 7:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $81, $65, $55.

Jeremy Jordan in Concert
Sun, Sep 21, 7:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $81, $65, $55.

Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra: Halloween Favorites
Sat, Sep 27, 8:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $30 Adult, $27 senior.

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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; you may also log in at the member portal and click on ZOOM CLASS LINKS.
 
Sat Sep 13 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Sep 15
 
 		  9:30 am
11:00 am
 4:00 pm		 What’s in the Daily News? – online
Poetry Writing Club – online
Family History/Genealogy Club – online
Tue Sep 16
 
 		  1:30 pm
 2:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Program Committee Meeting
Caregivers Support Group – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Sep 17
 

 
 		  9:30 am
10:00
10:30 am
12:00 noon
 4:00 pm		 Dabbling Artists Club
Bridge Club
Investment Forum
Memoir and More Writing Group – online
Spanish Club – online
Thu Sep 18
 		 11:50 am
 4:30 pm		 All the News – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Sep 19
 
 		  9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am		 Crafts and Conversation
Board of Directors Meeting
Homer, etc. – online
Sat Sep 20
 		 10:30 am
12:30 pm
 1:45 pm		 Tai Chi Club – online
Personal Computer User Group luncheon
Personal Computer User Group meeting
Mon Sep 22  4:00 pm Family History/Genealogy Club – online
Tue Sep 23
 
 		  2:00 pm
 4:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Caregivers Support Group – online
Mah Jongg Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Sep 24
 



 		 12:00 noon
12:00 noon
 1:30 pm
 1:30 pm
 1:30 pm
 4:00 pm		 Memoir and More Writing Group – online
Chair Yoga and More– online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Dabbling Artists Club
Theater Lovers’ Group – online
Thu Sep 25
 
 		 11:50 am
 4:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 All the News – online
Literary Fiction Book Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Sep 26


 
 		  9:30 am
 9:30 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
 2:00 pm		 Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More– online
Classic Literature Club – online
Sat Sep 27 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 Editor: David Gundry

Weekly Editor Team: David Gundry, 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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