OLLI at UMass Boston 2020 Summer Programs

The OLLI office is creating opportunities for all members (and future members!) to stay engaged during the summer. The programs will be held via Zoom and are free (some course material costs may apply). Members are encouraged to use the OLLI online registration system to sign up for these events. Summer events and programs are on a first-come, first-served basis. Please click here and use your OLLI username and password to sign in to the system. Once you are logged in, all summer events are listed under Special Events. Your username and password are still active even if your membership has expired. Not an OLLI member? Please email the OLLI office (ollireg@gmail.com) if you would like to sign up for one of our programs and get to know OLLI.

Morning Coffee Chats Ongoing thru end of August Monday Morning Coffee Chats: 9:00–10:00 a.m. Thursday Morning Coffee Chats (audio only): 9:00–10:00 a.m. Here is your opportunity to connect with other OLLI members and OLLI staff over a morning cup of coffee! These chats will be held on two different days each week. On both days, folks can use just their phones (audio) to connect with the coffee chat; on one day, we will offer video-conferencing (Zoom) as well.

History of Italian Wines

Tuesday, July 7 10:30 a.m.–12 noon Why were the Ancient Romans willing to import many products except for grapes? Why did Mussolini tear up vineyards to make way for wheat? Why did people start to go blind from drinking wine in the 1980s? These are some of the questions we will address in a lecture titled “The History of Italian Wine.” Together we will discover the stories of Italian wine, starting in antiquity and moving all the way to

the present. We will even take a quick look at how the current pandemic is influencing the wine industry in Italy. Facilitator: Based in Rome, Elizabeth Simari is a lecturer of food and wine studies at Loyola University, Chicago and Gustolab International Food Systems and Sustainability. She is also a certified sommelier. Simari holds a BA from the University of Notre Dame in Italian and English and an MA in Italian with a specialization in food and literature from Middlebury College.

Beginner Tai Chi 8 Thursdays, July 9–August 27 10:00–11:00 a.m. Tai Chi Chuan is an internal Chinese martial art that is extremely beneficial for good health. It is also a method of relaxation and is used to increase focus and concentration. Benefits include the following: stress reduction; improved concentration, flexibility, and strength; and enhancement of the immune system, balance, memory, circulation, and coordination. Facilitator: Master Huan Zhang is the 6th generation of

Yang Style Tai Chi, 12th generation of Chen Style Tai Chi (New Frame), and 4th generation of Five Element Tong Bei. He has published more than 20 martial arts articles in both China and the United States' top martial arts magazines. Huan also wrote a chapter on balancing for a UMass Boston text book. He is the Chief Instructor of the MIT Tai Chi Kung Fu club and Chief Exercise designer for an NIH granted Joint Pain Study for the elderly.

Summer Wine and Cheese Pairings (lecture + tastings)* Wednesday, July 15 1:30–3:00p.m. Our summer pairing lesson takes cheese and wine lovers on a journey to the Italian south, tasting three summer wines (a white, a rosé, and a lightly chilled red from southern Italian regions) paired with three cheeses made in different styles and with an assortment of milk types for a delightful sensory experience. Pairing lessons are taught in tandem by Eleonora, our resident cheese expert, and Gina, our natural wine lover. Both will share some of their southern Italian wine and cheese adventures.

Facilitators: American-born and Italian-raised Eleonora Baldwin is a TV celebrity, bilingual journalist, and culinary connoisseur. She is the creator of the popular food, travel, and lifestyle blog Aglio Olio e Peperoncino, which has subscribers in over 100 countries. Eleonora is the host and creator of prime-time TV hits “ABCheese” and “Uazz’America”, broadcast by SKY TV for Gambero Rosso Channel, Italy's number one food network. Gina Tringali is a travel and food writer, culinary guide, and natural wine lover. Born into an Italian-American family, she fell in love with all things Italian at a young age. Time spent in kitchens with her Neapolitan and Sicilian grandparents, watching, cooking, and tasting every dish, fed this love and dream of living in Italy. Gina has an MBA from New York University, a master’s degree in Italian gastronomic culture from the Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, holds the WSET Advanced Certificate in Wines and Spirits, and is a certified sommelier and member of the Associazione Italiana Sommelier (AIS). *Please note that OLLI members will need to purchase their own cheese and wine if they wish to do the tastings along with Gina and Eleonora. Wine and cheese lists will be made available ahead of time. The actual tasting part of the program is not a required element to participate; it simply enhances the experience.

The 1944 Presidential Election w/Gary Hylander Thursday July 16 12:00‒1:00 p.m. Join us as we discuss the election of FDR to a fourth term as president. Roosevelt dropped Henry Wallace as his running mate in favor of Senator Harry Truman. With FDR in such obvious poor health, it was clear that voters who supported the Democratic ticket were really voting for two presidents. Republican nominee Governor Thomas Dewey of New York campaigned against the New Deal and a return to a smaller federal government. The war was not an issue; it was going well for the United States and its allies. Facilitator: Gary L. Hylander earned his PhD at Boston College. His advisor and dissertation director was the noted Boston historian Thomas H.

O’Connor. Gary is a frequent presenter at library forums, historical societies, senior living centers, and civic and professional organizations as well as a public affairs commentator on local cable news and radio.

Canine Companions (Cleveland Museum of Art Class) Tuesday, July 28 1:30–2:30 p.m. At our feet, on our laps, and at the door, dogs have been humankind’s companions for millennia. See how artists from ancient times to the present have used a variety of media to represent canines as status symbols, friends, protective spirits, and eager assistants at the hunt. Facilitator: Arielle Levine of the Cleveland Art Museum teaches students all around the world during video conferences in the museum’s Distance Learning Program. She has a degree in art history from Case Western Reserve University and has been with the museum's education department for over 15 years.

The World of Italian Cheese Tuesday, August 4 10:30 a.m.–12 noon There is no exact number. Italy churns, blends, pulls, stretches, and ages milk into virtually thousands of different cheese varieties. Each region, city and hamlet, is home to ridiculous amounts of native formaggi. It’s impossible to name them all but we will explore Italy’s macro-cheese areas in a lecture titled “An Italian Cheese Route.” Together we’ll discover the stories of the famous and lesser known Italian products, traveling along a virtual cheese journey that starts in the Alps and ends in the crystal waters of volcanic Sicily. Walk with me down the fragrant route of Italy’s most prominent dairy expressions, touching the various (but not all) cheese varieties of Italy, with anecdotes to boot. Facilitator: Eleanora Baldwin. See bio above.

Japanese Art: Humble and Bold Monday, August 10 1:30–2:30 p.m. Japanese art encompasses aesthetics ranging from earthy and subtle to colorful and luxurious. In this presentation you will encounter works in a variety of media, including ceramics used in the tea ceremony, enamelware, and folding screens made from paper and wood. Discussion focuses not only on the formal qualities of these works, but also on their practical uses. Critical thinking is encouraged through analysis of the works of art as an indicator of Japanese social values and tastes. Facilitator: Arielle Levine (see bio above).

You Traveled Where? Yes, We Traveled To Newfoundland. Loved It! Tuesday, August 11 12:00 noon–1:00 p.m. Jean, Katie, and Nancy traveled to Newfoundland in June of 2019. They will share their travel log with OLLI Members via a PowerPoint presentation showcasing Newfoundland, the oldest European settlement in North America. They saw fishing villages, Jelly Bean houses, puffins, and whales. The group traveled to Iceberg Ally, Ferryland, the Colony of Avalon, and the Irish Loop. They visited museums, beautiful gothic churches, and government buildings. One of the exciting moments of the trip was meeting members of the U.S. Air Force who flew the U.S. planes to Paris to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of D-Day. They have lots of history, photos, and stories dating from 1497 to the present. Facilitators: OLLI members Jean Hunt, Katie Kelly, and Nancy White have been Boston By Foot Docents and OLLI members for several years. Jean was a nurse practitioner in her professional life, Katie is a lawyer, and Nancy, a teacher, school psychologist, and school administrator. They have multiple experiences writing tours.

Form, Function, and Faith Wednesday, August 12 1:30–2:30 p.m. This program explores the relationship between building form and function by focusing on three Cleveland-area historic houses of worship: Saint Theodosius, a Russian Orthodox Church; Temple Tifereth Israel, a synagogue; and the Kirtland Temple, a 19th-century Community of Christ (Latter Day Saints) Church. Themes such as architectural history and the use of geometry in planning these sacred spaces assist in understanding how these buildings compare in their design. Co-developed by the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland State University’s Center for Sacred Landmarks, the American Institute of Architects (Cleveland Chapter), and the Lake County Educational Service Center. Facilitator: Arielle Levine (see bio above).

More events coming soon! OLLI is waiting on confirmation and other details on the following programs:

A COVID-19 two-part speaker series featuring health professionals

Wednesday evening social series