Berkshire OLLI upcoming events

Summer Two 2026 OLLI Term (Monday, July 13, 2026)

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

OLLI at Berkshire Community College

Summer Two 2026 Term

Beginning July 13, 2026

Online Registration Closed. Call 413-236-2190 to register.

Our Summer Two term runs July 13 - August 21, 2026, and includes a mix of in-person, online, and hybrid (online and in-person) courses. All classes take place in Eastern Time.

Summer Two 2026 course descriptions can be found here.

Hiking classes are using a separate registration form. Register for hiking classes here.

Course cost:
$60 for one courses
$110 for 2 courses
$150 for 3 or more courses

To sign up for courses, you need to be an OLLI at BCC member. (Not a member yet? Join here.) Not sure which classes you want to take? Sign up for one or more Flexpasses, which allow you to attend six individual class sessions of your choice within a semester, as long as the class is not full. Click here to learn more about Flexpasses.

Note that our online courses are recorded, unless otherwise noted. If you cannot attend live, or if you miss a session or two, you can access that course's Padlet for the recording link and watch it at your convenience.

Questions? Contact us at olli@berkshirecc.edu or 413.236.2190. We look forward to hearing from you!

OLLI at BCC Sponsors include: Berkshire Health Systems

Rational Investing for Irrational Times (Tuesday, August 11, 2026)

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Rational Investing for Irrational Times

Two sessions:

Tuesday, July 28 and Tuesday, August 11

2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
at Berkshire Community College

In-person only.

Learn how to create an all-weather portfolio to avoid the pitfalls that breed panic and emotionally-charged investment decisions. You will learn to recognize the psychological drivers behind investor behavior. Sound investing will help you navigate difficult times and ultimately build wealth for your future.

With Jo-Ann Gallerstein, Wealth Advisor (retired)

Founder and Managing Member of a wealth advisory firm guiding families with financial planning and investment management.

Cost: $35 for OLLI at BCC members, $45 for non-members

Sign up today!

Register online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) to register by phone with a credit card.

Jacob's Pillow with OLLI at BCC (Friday, August 14, 2026)

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:45:00 GMT

The OLLI at BCC Special Events Committee presents an afternoon at

Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival

Martha Graham Dance Company

Friday, August 14, 2026

Norton Owen, Preservation Director,
will talk at Blake’s Barn at 11:45 a.m.

Bring a Bag Lunch – OLLI chefs provide desserts and drinks

Martha Graham Dance Company

Schedule:

11:45 a.m. Talk with Norton Owen, Historian and Founding Director of Preservation, at Blake’s Barn

12:30 p.m. Lunch (bring a bag lunch with you, our OLLI chefs will provide dessert and drinks)

1:00 p.m. Dessert

2:00 p.m. Performance

Martha Graham Dance Company celebrates their 100^th anniversary! Founded in 1926 by the legendary contemporary dancer Martha Graham, it is the oldest American dance company. It has been called "one of the great dance companies of the world” by The New York Times and “one of the seven wonders of the artistic universe” by The Washington Post. Many of the great 20th and 21st-century modern dancers and choreographers began their careers with this prestigious company, including Merce Cunningham, Pearl Lang, and Paul Taylor.

Tickets are limited and seating will be in order received.

Wheelchair accessible seating is available, be sure to note that when you register.

Ticket Prices:

OLLI at BCC Members: $103
Guests: $113
Dessert only with your own Jacob's Pillow Subscription: $9

No refunds unless space is filled from a waiting list!
This program is in-person at Jacob's Pillow
358 George Carter Rd., Becket, MA

Thank you to OLLI at BCC's Special Events Committee for organizing this and so many other great OLLI events!

Exploring Chinese Medicine: Pathways for Resilience and Wellbeing (Monday, August 17, 2026)

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Exploring Chinese Medicine: Pathways for Resilience and Wellbeing

Monday, August 17 and 24
10:30 am - noon. ET
In-person at Berkshire Community College

Program Cost:

OLLI at BCC Members: $35
Non-members: $45

The two-part series will include Chinese Medicine Strategies for Treating:

Part I: Stress and Exhaustion:

Suggested lifestyle considerations for protecting your adrenal/ kidney function and staying in the healing (parasympathetic) rather than stress (sympathetic) state
Chinese medical treatments for hypertension, fatigue, upper back and neck tension, headaches, weak digestion, and insomnia
Practice time for "Rage on the Page" an enpowering tool to release emotions that can lead to chronic pain, migraines, fatigue and other physical disease

Part 2: Allergies and Immune Function:

Invigorating qigong practices to open your lungs, clear your sinuses, and boost immunity
Introduction to single and multiple ingredient Asian medicinal teas for immune support
Acupressure for colds, coughs, and allergies
The deeper mental-emotional patterns which science is now showing contribute to long term recurrent illnesses such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic lyme, long-haul Covid, and extensive allergies.

Note: please wear comfortable clothes and bring a notepad and writing utensil to class

Come be guided by acupuncturist, herbalist, and qigong teacher Kelly Clady through the world of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Having received her master's of science degree in San Francisco, Kelly has been practicing Chinese Medicine in the Berkshires now or nearly two decades; she spent over 6 years living in China in 4 different cities, and is thrilled to again bring her humorous style as well as her deeply passionate love of the Chinese language, culture, and medicine to OLLI.

OLLI at BCC Sponsors include: Berkshire Health Systems

Strengthening Hope During Times of Conflict: The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies Work Between Israelis and Palestinians (Tuesday, August 18, 2026)

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 20:00:00 GMT

OLLI at BCC Distinguished Speakers Series
Sponsored by Kimball Farms Life Care

Strengthening Hope During Times of Conflict: The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies Work Between Israelis and Palestinians

Tuesday, August 18 at 4 p.m. ET
Hybrid - In-person and Online via Zoom

$10 for OLLI Members
$15 for non-OLLI members
Admission is free for students, staff and faculty from Berkshire Community College, MCLA, and Williams; youth 17 and under, and those holding WIC, EBT/SNAP, or ConnectorCare cards.

Thirty years ago the doors of the Arava Institute opend on Kibbutz Ketura. Since then it has brought together Israelis (Jews & Arabs), Palestinians, Jordanians, Moroccans and other college age students from around the world to study and live together. These past years have been a stress test for the work of the Institute, but it has remained true to its mission. In addition to its academic program, the Institute is the home of a number of Transboundary research centers as well as the Center for Applied Environmental Diplomacy which is active in Gaza. Rabbi Michael Cohen, who has been involved with the Institute since its doors opened dividing his time between Vermont and Ketura, will share firsthand experiences, lessons, and insights from the past three decades.

Rabbi Michael Margaretten Cohen is a faculty member of the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies. He is also the Director of Community Relations, for the Friends of Arava Institute. He teaches courses on conflict resolution, the Bible, and the environment. Rabbi Cohen has been a Policy Advisor to the Office of the Special Envoy for Middle East Peace, U.S. Department of State and a Speechwriter Adviser to the Office of the White House Speechwriters. He has served on the Advisory Board of the Middle East Peace Partnership (MEPPA) of USAID established by Congress. Cohen, the rabbi emeritus of the Israel Congregation in Manchester Center, Vermont is the author of numerous articles that have appeared in the Middle East and the United States. He has been a regular Torah commentary in the Jerusalem Post as well as being an ongoing columnist in the Jerusalem Post. He is the author of "Einstein's Rabbi: A Tale of Science and the Soul." He also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Burr & Burton Academy, the Mount Equinox Preservation Trust, KaTO Architecture, and the Jerusalem Peacebuilders. He is a recipient of the Eliav Sartawi Award for Middle East Journalism from the Search for Common Ground.

OLLI at BCC is also sponsored by Berkshire Health Systems

OLLI at BCC and BNRC Joint Hike - Clam River (Wednesday, August 19, 2026)

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 13:30:00 GMT

OLLI at BCC and Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC) Joint Hike

Wednesday, August 19 at 9:30 a.m.

Clam River

The trail system at Clam River is like a bar bell with loop hikes at both ends. For this hike, participants will hike the Wolf Tree Trail and the northern loop of trail system. The Hammertown loop is among the most beautiful sections of this beautiful trail. Part of the trail is along the top of the ridge above the river in a dense hemlock grove, perfect for a hike on a warm August day.

Hikers will park at the Sandisfield town hall lot and carpool to the Hammertown trailhead.

Directions to the trailhead and additional information about the hike are at https://www.bnrc.org/reserves/clam-river

OLLI at BCC and the BNRC are offering joint hikes this summer and fall. These hikes are free for OLLI at BCC and BNRC members. You must register in advance and space is limited.

All hikes are on Wednesdays and begin at 9:30 a.m. We strongly recommend using hiking poles. If you don’t have them, we can provide poles for the hike. Good hiking shoes are essential. If we need to cancel the hike due to rain, we will notify participants by email by 7:00 a.m. the day of the hike.

Registration will open on Monday, August 3 at 9 a.m.

Ice Cream and Intro to OLLI (Thursday, August 20, 2026)

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 19:30:00 GMT

Ice Cream and Intro to OLLI
All are welcome to attend!

Join us to learn more about OLLI at BCC, attend sample mini-classes from the upcoming Fall Term, and meet with friends new and old while enjoying afternoon tea and treats!

Thursday, August 20, 2026
3:30 - 5:30 p.m. at Berkshire Community College

Free and open to the public.
Registration required.

Schedule

3:30 p.m Welcome and Intro to OLLI

4:00 p.m. Treats and Tabling with OLLI members, volunteers, and staff. Tech help with registration will also be available.

4:30 p.m. Sample classes

Registration for Fall courses will open
on Tuesday, August 18 at 10 a.m.

Exploring Chinese Medicine: Pathways for Resilience and Wellbeing (Monday, August 24, 2026)

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Exploring Chinese Medicine: Pathways for Resilience and Wellbeing

Monday, August 17 and 24
10:30 am - noon. ET
In-person at Berkshire Community College

Program Cost:

OLLI at BCC Members: $35
Non-members: $45

The two-part series will include Chinese Medicine Strategies for Treating:

Part I: Stress and Exhaustion:

Suggested lifestyle considerations for protecting your adrenal/ kidney function and staying in the healing (parasympathetic) rather than stress (sympathetic) state
Chinese medical treatments for hypertension, fatigue, upper back and neck tension, headaches, weak digestion, and insomnia
Practice time for "Rage on the Page" an enpowering tool to release emotions that can lead to chronic pain, migraines, fatigue and other physical disease

Part 2: Allergies and Immune Function:

Invigorating qigong practices to open your lungs, clear your sinuses, and boost immunity
Introduction to single and multiple ingredient Asian medicinal teas for immune support
Acupressure for colds, coughs, and allergies
The deeper mental-emotional patterns which science is now showing contribute to long term recurrent illnesses such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic lyme, long-haul Covid, and extensive allergies.

Note: please wear comfortable clothes and bring a notepad and writing utensil to class

OLLI at BCC Sponsors include: Berkshire Health Systems

Workshop: At Risk for Falls? - Added Sessions (Tuesday, August 25, 2026)

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Workshop: At Risk for Falls?

New! Additional Times!

Two sessions:
Tuesday and Wednesday, August 25 and 26, from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
at Berkshire Community College

In-person only.

Falls are some of the greatest risks older adults face. As we age body systems change. By 65, 1 in 4 older adults falls each year. A fall can lead to injury, pain and decreased quality of life. Even if an individual does not sustain an injury, the fall can negatively impact an individual’s confidence and limit their activities. Efforts to maintain quality of life, participation in physical activities and confidence can be impacted by a fall.

Recognizing risk factors and identifying mechanisms to reduce the risk of falls are important in maintaining quality of life and well-being. On Day 1 participants will complete a questionnaire and participate in a brief falls screening to examine to risk. On Day 2, factors contributing to falls and strategies participants can employ to reduce the incidence of falling will be discussed. Participants should be dressed in comfortable, movable clothing with closed-toe shoes.

Dr. Dale Scalise-Smith has held key leadership positions in higher education. She has published in the area of motor development and control in typically and atypically developing children. She led students, faculty and practitioners on humanitarian trips to Albania and Romania. As a consultant, she works with university leaders exploring diverse and innovative educational opportunities in physical therapy. She has served in key positions for the American Physical Therapy Association’s Academy of Pediatrics and currently holds the position as Vice President for the International Organisation for Physical Therapists in Paediatrics, a subgroup of World Physiotherapy. Dr. Scalise-Smith currently resides in the Berkshires with her husband and dogs.

Cost: $30 for OLLI at BCC members,
$35 for non-members

Sign up today!

Register online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) to register by phone with a credit card.

The Minute Man Exhibition at Chesterwood (Tuesday, August 25, 2026)

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Join OLLI instructor Danielle Steinmann and curator Dana Pilson for a tour of:

The Minute Man: Examining Patriotism, Victory, and Loss

This program is part of the OLLI course "Spirit of '76"

Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Tour begins at 11:00 a.m.

In-person only at Chesterwood

Centered on Daniel Chester French's iconic Minute Man, a lasting symbol of American patriotism, this exhibition explores liberty, victory, and the sacrifices of military service through portraits, monuments, and memorials by French and other artists of his era. Contemporary works extend the conversation, offering fresh perspectives on these enduring themes. Curated by Dana Pilson, Chesterwood’s Curatorial Researcher and Collections Coordinator.

Admission

$20 OLLI Members and Guests

Priority to OLLI members registered for Spirit of '76

Space is limited, register today!

Register online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) to register by phone with a credit card.

This event is part of OLLI's Rev250 Project celebrating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.

Workshop: At Risk for Falls? (Tuesday, August 25, 2026)

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Workshop: At Risk for Falls?

Two sessions:
Tuesday and Wednesday, August 25 and 26, from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
at Berkshire Community College

In-person only.

Cost: $30 for OLLI at BCC members,
$35 for non-members

Sign up today!

Register online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) to register by phone with a credit card.

2026 OLLI Donor Appreciation Party (Tuesday, August 25, 2026)

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 21:00:00 GMT

You are invited to our

OLLI at Berkshire Community College Donor Appreciation Event

Join other members of the OLLIvers Circle

Tuesday, August 25
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

The Mount

2 Plunkett Street

Lenox, MA

Enjoy heavy hors d'oeuvres, drinks, private tours of the house and grounds (weather permitting), and great company!

Complimentary for OLLI at BCC donors for the 2025 - 2026 academic year and a guest.

Workshop: At Risk for Falls? - Added Sessions (Wednesday, August 26, 2026)

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Workshop: At Risk for Falls?

New! Additional Times!

Two sessions:
Tuesday and Wednesday, August 25 and 26, from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
at Berkshire Community College

In-person only.

Cost: $30 for OLLI at BCC members,
$35 for non-members

Sign up today!

Register online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) to register by phone with a credit card.

Workshop: At Risk for Falls? (Wednesday, August 26, 2026)

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Workshop: At Risk for Falls?

Two sessions:
Tuesday and Wednesday, August 25 and 26, from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
at Berkshire Community College

In-person only.

Cost: $30 for OLLI at BCC members,
$35 for non-members

Sign up today!

Register online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) to register by phone with a credit card.

OLLI at BCC and BNRC Joint Hike - The Boulders, Pittsfield/Dalton (Wednesday, September 02, 2026)

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 13:30:00 GMT

OLLI at BCC and Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC) Joint Hike

Wednesday, September 2 at 9:30 a.m.
The Boulders, Pittsfield/Dalton

The Boulders is a 645-acre oasis tucked between Pittsfield, Dalton, and Cheshire. Owned by the Crane family for more than a century, its six-miles of trails wind through diverse ecosystems. Participants on this hike will take the Blue Trail to the Boulders at the top of the reserve where they will see the quartzite boulders for which the reserve is named. Beautiful views to the east and south, are the reward for the moderate ascent and descent on a forest road once used by cars to visit this Berkshire destination. Today, hikers see the mixed hardwood forest close up including oaks, maples, black cherry, hemlocks and white pines.

Directions to the trailhead and additional information about the hike are at https://www.bnrc.org/reserves/the-boulders

OLLI at BCC and the BNRC are offering joint hikes this summer and fall. These hikes are free for OLLI at BCC and BNRC members. You must register in advance and space is limited.

Registration will open on Monday, August 17 at 9 a.m.

Allyn Burrows: TV or not TV: The Future of Shakespeare in the Berkshires (Wednesday, September 02, 2026)

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 19:00:00 GMT

OLLI at BCC Performing Arts Initiative Presents:
The Nancy Vale Memorial Talk

Allyn Burrows, Artistic Director at Shakespeare and Company will speak on:

TV or not TV: The Future of Shakespeare in the Berkshires

Wednesday, September 2, 2026
3:00-4:30 pm (note time change from original posting)

Free and open to the public, registration required.

In-person at the Shakespeare and Company, Lenox, MA

Allyn Burrows has been Shakespeare & Company’s Artistic Director since 2016. He was an artistic associate for several years and acted in numerous productions, including King John (King John), Much Ado About Nothing (Benedick), Henry V (Henry V), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Oberon), Henry IV, Part 1 (Hal), Measure for Measure (Angelo), Betrayal (Jerry), The House of Mirth (Lawrence Selden), Love’s Labours Lost (Berowne), Macbeth (Macduff), and The Complete Works of Shakespeare.

Allyn was the Artistic Director of Actors’ Shakespeare Project in Boston for seven years where directing credits included Romeo & Juliet, Pericles, Jon Lipsky’s Living in Exile, Richard II, and The Tempest. Acting credits for ASP include The Winter’s Tale (Leontes), Henry VI Part 2 (Gloucester and Jack Cade), Henry VIII (Henry VIII), Twelfth Night (Malvolio), Henry IV, Parts 1 & 2 (Hotspur and Pistol), Timon of Athens (Timon), All’s Well that Ends Well (Parolles), King Lear (Kent), Measure for Measure (Duke Vincentio), and Richard III (Duke of Clarence). In the Boston area, he has performed in productions of Can You Forgive Her at the Huntington Theatre, Breaking the Code at Underground Railway Theatre, Shipwrecked at The Lyric Stage, Oceanside, The Seafarer, Pursuit of Happiness, and The Homecoming at Merrimack Repertory Theater, and Five by Tenn, at Speakeasy Stage. He was an Elliot Norton Award recipient for The Homecoming, King Lear, and Five by Tenn and an IRNE Award Winner for Breaking the Code. Off-Broadway credits include Bug, Killer Joe, Louis Slotin Sonata, Closetland, and The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd. He has worked at a number of theaters around the country, including Actors’ Theatre of Louisville, The American Conservatory Theatre, Long Wharf Theatre, The Denver Center, and The Walnut St. Theatre. Television credits include The Broad Squad, Law and Order, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, and Against the Law, and he can be seen in the films Don’t Look Up, The Company Men, Julie & Julia, and Manchester by the Sea.

Please note this program will be held in a tented outdoor theater.

Light refreshments will follow the talk.

-----------------------------

This event is supported through the generous philanthropy of Nancy and Michael Vale, whose bequest established the Michael and Nancy Vale Performing Arts Program at OLLI at Berkshire Community College. This endowed fund supports theater-based OLLI programming.

2026 Walking Tours: Indian Town, Stockbridge (Saturday, September 05, 2026)

Sat, 05 Sep 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Walking Tours:
Indian Town, Stockbridge, Mass.

Seven Sessions to Choose From!

All tours are in person and onsite, rain or shine.

Saturday, September 5 at 10:00 a.m.
Sunday, September 6, 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 12, 10:00 a.m.
Sunday, September 20, 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 26, 10:00 a.m.
Saturday, October 3, 10:00 a.m.
Sunday, October 4, 1:00 p.m.

Indian Town was chartered in 1737 as a mission to the Mohican tribe to teach them English, about Christianity and about English agricultural practices. Recently, the Stockbridge-Munsee community in Wisconsin worked with Housatonic Heritage and other local partners to create a tour of the most important Mohican sites along the main street of Stockbridge. Trained by one of the creators of the walking tour, OLLI members will lead participants along Main Street to learn about the Mohicans, who lived in what is now Stockbridge for thousands of years, and aspects of their culture which are still present today. Stops include the Carriage Barn at the Mission House, the burial grounds and the site of the 2021 archeological dig for the Mohican meeting house.

This walk is approximately 1.5 mi. round trip, and the sidewalks are accessible. Participants should be prepared to be walking and standing for about two hours.

This walking tour has been developed by the Stockbridge-Munsee Community highlighting the years in which they lived in Stockbridge. Presented in partnership with Housatonic Heritage. The walking tours are free and open to the public.

NOTE--Does not include a tour of the museum interior. An inside tour, for a fee, can be arranged before or after the free Heritage Walk.

A more detailed description of the tour can be found here.

For more information about the Stockbridge-Munsee Community, click here: https://www.nativeamericantrail.org/stockbridge-walking-tour/

Member Tour at the Berkshire Museum (Tuesday, September 08, 2026)

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 14:30:00 GMT

OLLI Special Events presents:

Berkshire Museum - Member Tour

Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Tour begins at 10:30 a.m.

In-person only at the Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield

Join OLLI for a tour of two special exhibitions at the recently reopened museum.

Voices of Rebellion: Berkshires Revolutionary Legacy

This exhibition commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence while contributing to nationwide efforts to mark the United States’ semiquincentennial. It explores the role of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, and its residents in the lead-up to the American Revolution, with particular attention to how the conflict shaped the lives of historically marginalized communities, including women and Black and Indigenous people. This exhibition features dozens of pieces from the museum’s collection, including a rare “broadside” of the Declaration of Independence, printed by Ezekiel Russell on July 17, 1776.

Mediterranea: American Art from the Graham D. Williford Collection

On loan from the Graham D. Williford Foundation, this exhibition features seventy-three works of late 19th and early 20th century paintings. The works provide an overview of the Mediterranean region and the rich diversity of its nature and culture, as seen through the eyes of American artists. Their paintings capture the environment, the distinct colors and atmosphere, the varied flora and fauna, and the uniqueness of the people who lived an ocean apart.

Admission

$15 OLLI Members and Guests

$5 OLLI Members with Berkshire Museum Membership

Space is limited, register today!

Register online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) to register by phone with a credit card.

This event is part of OLLI's Rev250 Project celebrating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.

William Clothier Watts, Grazing Sheep, Temple of Luxor, Egypt, c. 1915. Watercolor on paper. The Jean and Graham Devoe Williford Charitable Trust.

Author Talk with Linda Kaye-Moses (Wednesday, September 09, 2026)

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Join local author and artist Linda Kaye-Moses for a talk on her new novel:

The Argentera and the Tales of the Six Arabesques

Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.
In-person at BCC
Free and open to the public

For over six hundred years, a Jewish goldsmith’s journal, describing the making of an enameled necklace, has been wandering far from where it was created in the Alsace to the Berkshire hills of western Massachusetts. And on one bright spring day, in a used bookstore in upstate New York, the journal is finally found by Miriam, a studio jeweler and book lover. Feeling that the journal found her, she sets out to solve the mysteries the journal poses and find the lost jewel. From an ancient tale in the 5th century BCE to the journal’s original home in the 14th century, to Venice and Spain, Miriam’s search reveals long-held secrets, changing her life and the lives of those around her forever. The Argentera and the Tales of the Six Arabesques, a generation-spanning story, is ultimately about the stubborn, uncompromising and unshakeable strength of the human will and the possibility of transformation hidden in every object formed by a creative hand.

Linda Kaye-Moses is an uppity, unruly octogenarian author and an award-winning studio jeweler, living a life amazed by the magic inherent both in writing and in her objets. She graduated from the University of Vermont with unofﬁcial majors in psychology, drama, and ancient history, so, naturally, she has been making her jewels for ﬁve decades and has always been a writer. She is the author of The Argentera and the Tales of the Six Arabesques; Pure Silver Metal Clay Beads; and a self-published memoir, Roots Stems and Branches; A Recollection. Her writing was included in Strong Shoulders and in Writing Fire: An Anthology Celebrating the Power of Women’s Words. She was a Writer’s Digest 2023 Award Winner. She lives with her husband in an old farmhouse, surrounded by lilacs and the green hills of western Massachusetts.

It's Not What You Think: An American Woman in Saudi Arabia (Thursday, September 10, 2026)

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 23:00:00 GMT

The OLLI Distinguished Speakers Series presents:

It's Not What You Think: An American Woman in Saudi Arabia

September, 10 at 7:00 p.m. ET

Online via Zoom

Envisioning a Better Future with Dr. Christopher Nye (Monday, September 14, 2026)

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 20:00:00 GMT

The OLLI Distinguished Speakers Series presents:

Envisioning a Better Future
with Dr. Christopher Nye

September 13 at 4:00 p.m. ET

Online via Zoom and in-person at Berkshire Community College
Free and open to the public.

OLLI at BCC and BNRC Joint Hike - Thomas and Palmer Brook Trails, Great Barrington (Wednesday, September 16, 2026)

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 13:30:00 GMT

OLLI at BCC and Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC) Joint Hike

Wednesday, September 16 at 9:30 a.m. Thomas and Palmer Brook Trails, Great Barrington

BNRC and OLLI hikers will return to the Thomas and Palmer Brook trail this fall to hike the familiar trails through the meadow, past the wetland, and up to Whale Rock. Participants will then hike the newly opened connector trail that now links the Thomas and Palmer Brook system to the Three Mile Hill trails. Join this hike to explore this new trail that provides for human hikers but also adds a new link to an important wildlife corridor connecting Beartown State Forest and Monument Mountain. The trail ranges from accessible to moderate in difficulty.

Directions to the trailhead and additional information about the hike are at https://www.bnrc.org/reserves/thomas-palmer-brook

OLLI at BCC and the BNRC are offering joint hikes this summer and fall. These hikes are free for OLLI at BCC and BNRC members. You must register in advance and space is limited.

Registration will open on Monday, August 31 at 9 a.m.

The Battle of Bennington at the Bennington Museum (Thursday, September 17, 2026)

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 14:00:00 GMT

The Battle of Bennington at the Bennington Museum - Member Meet up!

Thursday, September 17, 2026
Gather at 9:45 a.m.
Tour begins at 10:00 a.m.

Stay for lunch after the tour

(option to buy a boxed lunch when you register)

In-person only at the Bennington Museum

75 Main Street

Bennington, VT 05201

Meet OLLI at BCC members at the Bennington Museum private tour of "The Battle of Bennington" with curator Jamie Franklin.

The Battle of Bennington, fought on August 16, 1777, has come to be known as a turning point in the American Revolution and an event that defines our town to many in the popular imagination. This reinstallation of objects and archival materials from the Museum’s permanent collection, the first in 25 years, centered around the museum’s beloved WPA-era mural by Leroy Williams, will tell the complex stories of the diverse participants and lives that were touched by the battle. From Joseph and Sarah Rudd’s first-hand accounts of their experience of the battle, including taking Loyalist neighbors as prisoners and fleeing to Williamstown on horseback with four children, to a portrait of Lieutenant Jonathan Holton, depicting the scars received from being shot in the face by a musket ball, this exhibition will bring visitors up close and personal with the people who lived through this historic event.

Participants will meet at the Bennington Museum.

You will have the option to pre-purchase a boxed lunch ($21.00) to enjoy with OLLI friends in a private room in the museum following the tour.

Cost: $25 for OLLI at BCC members and their guests

Optional boxed lunch: $21.00 per person

Space is limited, register today!

Register online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) to register by phone with a credit card.

This event is part of OLLI's Rev250 Project celebrating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.

Image: Prisoners Taken at Bennington Battle, August 16, 1777, 1938 Leroy Williams (1878-1965), Oil on canvas, 72 x 144 in., Bennington Museum Collection, Courtesy of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), Vermont Federal Art Project (FAP), A2048

The Dressmaker's Mirror: Sudden Death, Genetics, and a Family's Secret (Tuesday, October 06, 2026)

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 23:00:00 GMT

OLLI at BCC and Knesset Israel presents:

The Dressmaker's Mirror: One Family's Secret and How Genetic Testing Could Save Yours

with Dr. Susan Weiss Liebman

October 6 at 7:00 p.m. ET

Online via Zoom

In the wake of her 36-year-old pregnant niece’s sudden collapse and death, geneticist Susan Liebman embarked on frantic search for answers. The hunt culminated in the discovery of a previously unknown heart disease gene and an Ashkenazi Jewish mutation within it. Against this backdrop, Liebman's The Dressmaker's Mirror: Sudden death, genetics, and a Jewish family's secret, intertwines heartfelt stories of generations of love, loss, and resilience, with insights into genetics and the ongoing genetic revolution. The book offers a compelling call to action, guiding readers of all ethnicities how to use the frequently overlooked tool of genetic testing to safeguard their families’ health and save lives.

Susan Weiss Liebman, PhD, is a geneticist who studied at MIT as one of relatively few women at the time, then taught genetics while running her own research laboratory for fifty years — first at the University of Illinois at Chicago and later the University of Nevada, Reno. After the sudden death of her young niece revealed a hidden genetic mutation running through her family, she became a medical detective and an advocate for genetic testing that can save lives. She is the author of The Dressmaker's Mirror: Sudden Death, Genetics, and a Jewish Family's Secret. She and her husband of fifty-seven years have two children and four grandchildren.

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Ticket information: Free and open to the public. Registration required.

This lecture will be recorded and posted to our YouTube channel.

This program has been generously sponsored by Marc Rudoltz and Lisa Hochman