OLLI CONNECTS
Monthly Magazine

October 2025

The Way We Wore

Toggle looping video on and off with control at the right.

My Mother’s Blue Wedding Dress
— Diane Henrikson Russell

All Shook Up
— Jackie Walker

Favorite Memory of Mom
— Ray Ann Favata, reprint from 2022

Features

Essays | Themes | Research

Battle of Versailles

Backstage at the Battle: A Front-row Seat to Fashion History

— Susan Goodwin
and a forward by Google Gemini

The Observer

Commentary | Reviews | Extras

America’s Descent into Moral Numbness

— Donald Menzel

The Observer Needs Your Perspective

— Editors

Award-Winning Cartoon

— Art Henrikson

Many OLLI Connects contributors are active OLLI instructors. You can view some of their fall classes and OLLI writing classes below.

Great Decisions 2025: Part 2: Foreign Policy Discussion Group | Aracelis Rogers, Peter Neame | Mon 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM • 10/27-11/17 • 4 mtgs • $50 • Online

A History of China | Gerald Stulc | Thu 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM • 10/9-11/20 • 7 mtgs• $75 • Online

Yoga for Healthy Aging at Pose by Pose | Jennifer Leavy | Tue 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM • 10/7-10/28. • 4 mtgs •

The Impact of Covid 19 | Rich Kennedy | Tue 1:00 PM – 3 PM • 10/28 – 11/4 • 2mtgs • $45 • Ashton Gardens
The Impact of Covid 19 | Rich Kennedy | Wed 1:00 PM – 3 PM • 10/29 – 11/2 • 2 mtgs • $45 • Compton Park Meeting Rooms

Sherlock Holmes II: The Darkness and Demise of the First Great Detective | Diane White | Thu 10:00 AM -12:00 PM • 10/16/2025-10/23/2025 • $40

Outdoor Adventures with Apps | Diane White | Mon 9:30 AM-11:30 AM • Weekly • 11/10/2025 – 11/17/2025 • $30 • Outdoor face-to-face class

Using ChatGPT to Plan, Prepare, and Explore in Retirement | John Beaumont | Tue 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM • 11/18/2025 • Tampa, USF Tampa • $25

Community of Readers and Writers — This SIG (Shared Interest Group) meets via zoom for discussion and special events and to share reading of current novels, non-fiction, short stories, memoirs and essays. We offer feedback through group conversation with experienced readers and train newcomers in our supportive methods. Our private Facebook site is a resource of ideas for developing your storytelling and literary skills. Contact readersandwriters.too@gmail.com.

Creative Fiction | You Have a Book in You | Wed 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM • 10/15-11/19 (Skips 11/5) • 5 mtgs • $65 • Discovery Village

Writing Your Story | Chantelle MacPhee | Wed 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM • 10/29-11/19 • 4 mtgs • $50 • Blue Palms Village at Fletcher

The Memoir Blueprint: How to Stop Overthinking and Start Writing | Kerry Kriseman | Wed 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM • 10/29 • 1 mtg • $15 • St. Petersburg, SLC 2100

Get Inspired with Generative Poetry Writing | Stephen Lindow | Tue 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM • 12/2 • 1 mtg • $20 • First Presbyterian Church of Brandon