Wednesday   

Throughout history scientific progress has often advanced in dramatic bursts following long periods of dormancy. This class examines the revolutionary discoveries that transformed our understanding across the major branches of science: mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, and geology. Topics include the rise of the Copernican universe, atomic theory, plate tectonics, Darwin's theory of evolution, and Newton's laws of motion and gravity. The emphasis is on historical perspective: why did these breakthroughs happen when and where they did? This class is for scientists and non-scientists alike.

Physical well-being allows us to live our longest, most capable, and fulfilling lives. Come ensure your well-being through mobility exercises. We'll practice balance, strength, agility, and flexibility movements that improve your mobility. Each class follows a similar routine that can be done at home, allowing you to look after the health of your body for many years to come. All ability levels are welcome. Your body will thank you!

This watercolor class is for the absolute beginner as well as more experienced painters. We will follow step-by-step instructions to create our paintings while also learning why and what we are doing. All materials are provided.

Join us for our Wednesday morning park walks! If you want to start a walking habit, add to your daily step count, spend a morning with old and new friends, or just enjoy beautiful Lower Park, lace up your shoes and join us. Each week, you have the opportunity to choose a 1-mile route looping at Hwy 99 or a 2.8-mile route looping at the 2nd bridge (Cedar Grove).

Join us for our Wednesday morning park walks! If you want to start a walking habit, add to your daily step count, spend a morning with old and new friends, or just enjoy beautiful Lower Park, lace up your shoes and join us. Each week, you have the opportunity to choose a 1-mile route looping at Hwy 99 or a 2.8-mile route looping at the 2nd bridge (Cedar Grove).

No previous Tai Chi experience is necessary. All the movements are slow and gentle, and no martial arts applications will be taught or practiced in this study group. These methods may help lessen body pain, correct spinal misalignment, cultivate a sense of internal energy, and rest the mind. Participants can wear comfortable roomy or stretchy clothing and some soft tai chi shoes or socks to wear on their feet.

Your mouth is the front door to your whole body – and what happens there can add years to your life or quietly take them away. In this class, Dr. Kevin Kremer from OLLI sponsor New Smile Now shares what most people are never told: how gum health, missing teeth, and chronic infection connect to heart disease, diabetes, dementia, and longevity. You'll leave with simple, practical habits to protect your health, your independence, and your smile for decades to come. No jargon. Real answers.

Physical well-being allows us to live our longest, most capable, and fulfilling lives. Come ensure your well-being through mobility exercises. We'll practice balance, strength, agility, and flexibility movements that improve your mobility. Each class follows a similar routine that can be done at home, allowing you to look after the health of your body for many years to come. All ability levels are welcome. Your body will thank you!

Follow Epictetus's concept of the study of philosophy – study, yes, but go live your life as well. This discussion class is about understanding why and how we choose to respond to life every day. How or when did we decide what is important to us in living our lives? Not our purpose, but what is the basis of our decisions for living a meaningful, fulfilling life?

The place: a grim Indian urban slum, overshadowed by luxury hotels near the Mumbai airport. The time: 2008-2010. The real-life characters: slum residents with aspirations and energy. The plot: how they struggle and face tensions over religion, caste, sex, power, and economic envy, yet emerge with abiding hope. Using the learning through conversation format, we will discuss equity and inclusion, set in a contemporary international context.

It was a time of radical change, a time of violence. England was under siege internally and externally. Being on the wrong side, politically or religiously, could result in torture and death. Into this confusing and disordered world strode a young married man who had left his home of Stratford-upon-Avon to attempt his hand at playwriting for the London stage. His name was William Shakespeare. Join us for a discussion of the TV show Will, described as "Shakespeare on sex, drugs, and rock and roll."

California is facing continuing growth in the number of seniors residing in the state with 8.6 million adults aged 65 and older expected by 2030. The overall goal of the Age Well, Drive Smart program is to ensure older adults have access to continued driver's education and training to help keep roads safe for everyone. Upon completion of this course you will be issued an Age Well, Drive Well certificate that can be presented to your insurance company for a possible discount.

To hear Rian Farley speak about Durham Cemetery is to see it as a living, breathing chronicle of community life. In this engaging class, Rian explores the broader history of cemeteries, the symbolism of headstones and footstones, and the personal stories etched in stone. Discover how cemeteries preserve memory, meaning, and local heritage.

The class will present a brief history of the disposal of trash through time, regulations affecting the disposal of trash, and the history of the Neal Road Recycling and Waste Facility (landfill). Learn about the recycling and diversion of wastes from the landfill, landfill operations, monitoring, amounts of waste disposed, as well as effects of disasters, electrical power generation, equipment used, and the future of landfill and related topics.

An herbarium is a collection of preserved plant specimens. This class offers a unique hands-on learning experience as an introduction to the art and science of mounting plants. The class will cover how herbarium specimens are mounted, handled, processed, stored, displayed, and repaired. It is useful, but not necessary, to have visited an herbarium before.

In this class we will look at what research in neuroscience is teaching us about how the brain and mind work. We will also learn about using that knowledge to provide better care for patients. The role of AI, brain imaging, immunology, and genetics will be included. Selected topics on health, medicine and biotechnology may also be discussed.

Join us for an easy, approximately 90-minute docent-led tour of the vineyard grounds and Abbey of Our Lady of New Clairvaux in Vina. The unique soils of this land have led to its cultivation as a vineyard for many years. In 1955 much of the land was purchased by Trappist-Cistercian monks, an order known for their winemaking skills, who established a winery and monastery. A gift shop, informational displays, chapel, and an optional wine tasting are possible extensions to the tour.

This class uses a group study of the book Complete Spanish Step by Step, Premium 2nd Edition, by Barbara Bregstein, beginning with chapter 13.

California's temperate climate allows an amazing array of plants to be grown locally. Edible gardens, pollinator gardens, native gardens, contemplative gardens, and demonstration gardens are some of the many varieties to tour. Inspired by the successful model of the "Arts & Eats" OLLI class, "Garden Gourmands" will focus on touring the art of garden landscapes combined with eating locally. Join Master Gardeners as we explore different area gardens followed by a no-host lunch at various local eateries to enjoy the bounty of Butte County.

This acrylic class is for the absolute beginner as well as more experienced painters. We will follow step-by-step instructions to create our paintings while also learning why and what we are doing. Paintings will be completed over several class sessions. All materials are provided.

The Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Period (AEP) for Part D prescription drug plans and Part C Medicare Advantage plans begins October 15 and ends December 7. This class will offer beneficiaries options for their healthcare needs in the coming year. Passages HICAP Medicare counselors will be on site and ready to perform AEP Part D prescription drug plan comparisons and plan changes for attendees who wish to reevaluate their current plan.

Paris, Normandy, Lascaux, and Provence are well traveled areas of France. France is more than those destinations. In this class we will explore five areas that you might not have heard of that are often favorites of the French. From history to culture, food, and heritage, we will discover what makes each worth the detour.

Follow Epictetus's concept of the study of philosophy – study, yes, but go live your life as well. This discussion class is about understanding why and how we choose to respond to life every day. How or when did we decide what is important to us in living our lives? Not our purpose, but what is the basis of our decisions for living a meaningful, fulfilling life?

Persia, now called Iran, has an ancient and rich history of producing fascinating architecture and artifacts whether they be paintings, ceramics, decorated tile works, metal works, or carpets. The beauty of Persian culture from earliest times has significantly influenced a large part of the world's creative endeavors. This class will introduce select works from early Persian history through the early twentieth century.

When did France become France? Using maps, this class will examine the changing boundaries and structures within the territory now known as France from the fall of the western Roman Empire circa 450 CE to the French Revolution in 1789. Key events and personalities will punctuate the story of the origins of the France we know today.

Play pickleball with other members. In this class, you will receive paddles and balls, enjoy light instruction for beginners, and have plenty of time to practice skills and play games with fellow OLLI members. Whether you're brand new to pickleball or looking to sharpen your game, this fun, social class is a great way to get active and learn one of the fastest-growing sports in the country.

This class will explore the works of science fiction and fantasy authors. We will discuss the differences and similarities between the two genres, and note the many crossover authors who write in both realms. We are in for a fun ride with authors who have crafted characters and worlds which will carry us to worlds of adventure far, far away.

This writer's workshop serves a community of writers interested in sharing their writing and responding to other writers' work. We will focus on fiction, memoir, creative nonfiction, poetry, travel writing, stories for children, and other types of writing. Following a workshop format, this class will be an opportunity for students to receive feedback for their written work and provide meaningful support to fellow writers.

Can certain foods improve memory? Can what you eat actually lower your risk of Alzheimer's disease? In this class, ASU Clinical Nutrition Professor and Registered Dietitian Tina Shepard shares what the latest research says about how food and lifestyle choices affect the brain and how specific nutrients impact cognitive function and overall brain health. You'll leave with practical, evidence-based dietary recommendations you can start using right away.

Fredrik Backman's novella And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer is an ongoing conversation between an elderly man and his young grandson, poignantly relayed in the poetic voice of Grandpa. As the conversation progresses, the reader is intimately drawn into Grandpa's inner world as he meanders into the hazy twilight of dementia. Reading in advance is optional. We will listen to an excellent reading of the book on CD together as a springboard for discussion.

Join a friendly, sociable and helpful group to play games in a fun environment. We have a literal wagon full of games, from the well-known to the obscure, and if you don't know the game, we'll teach you! You can also bring your own game to share.

Improv is all about being spontaneous and not overthinking, so it's a great exercise for the brain. Plus, it's a lot more interactive than doing crosswords or sudoku, because we play it together. Come stretch your brain and have a lot of fun doing it!

Want to hear some interesting stories? Each class session will feature someone telling their life story. Through listening and honoring each other's journeys, we can connect profoundly. Plus it's just fun to share and learn about one another. There is an option to be recorded and receive a flash drive to pass onto your family or friends. You will be supplied with a list of possible topics to address when giving your talk. Everyone has a story to tell. Come and share yours!

This class features a wide range of topics, from the classics of European art to American landscapes. Please join us for this exciting series, as we learn about the lives and works of four fascinating artists.

This class covers writing and conversation in Spanish. The class will be conducted mostly in Spanish; English may be used for support. Participants will have the opportunity to speak and to write short compositions for review and discussion. The class may have native speakers and professional Spanish educators as guest speakers. There is nothing like having a professional Spanish educator to help learn Spanish conversation.

We'll do a deep dive into the Beatles, their history, and the stories behind their songs. We will do a sing-along each week, starting with "Please Please Me" and working our way to "Let It Be." Bring instruments if you want to play along – lyrics and chords will be provided – or just bring yourself if you want to sing along to these amazing oldies. You don't have to be a great singer, just someone who likes to sing.