Berkshire OLLI upcoming events

Spring 2026 OLLI Term (Monday, April 06, 2026)

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

OLLI at Berkshire Community College

Spring 2026 Term

April 6 - Mid May

Online registration closed. Call 413-236-2190 to register.

Our spring term runs April 6 - mid May 2026, and includes a mix of in-person, online, and hybrid (online and in-person) courses. All classes take place in Eastern Time.

Spring 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

How Many Ways to Poetry? (Book Talk & Reading) (Tuesday, April 14, 2026)

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 21:00:00 GMT

Help OLLI celebrate National Poetry Month!

How Many Ways to Poetry? (Book Talk & Reading)

Tuesday, April 14, 2026 5:00 p.m. Eastern
In-person at BCC
and via Zoom
Free and open to the public.

Join Lisken Van Pelt Dus as she discusses how poetry comes to be written, with examples from her publications. She will read from her newest book, How Many Hands to Home (Mayapple Press 2025), as well as from earlier collections, sharing insights into the genesis of the work along the way. The event will last for one hour, including an opportunity for the audience to ask questions and to participate in a short writing experience. Books will be available for purchase and light snacks will be provided.

Lisken Van Pelt Dus is the author of two full-length collections of poems, How Many Hands to Home (Mayapple Press 2025) and What We’re Made Of (Cherry Grove 2016), as well as two chapbooks, Letters to My Dead and Everywhere at Once. She was raised in England, the US, and Mexico, and now lives with her husband in Pittsfield, where she teaches Spanish at Berkshire Community College, martial arts at Elm Street Martial Arts, and poetry privately. Her work has received multiple honors and can be found in many anthologies, e-zines and journals such as Naugatuck River Review, Cider Press Review, and Sky Island Review.

Note: If you are coming in-person and are also planning to attend the OLLI evening lecture with Tom Gerety, you are welcome to stay in the same room at BCC for a viewing party, and to bring your dinner!

OLLI at BCC is sponsored in part by Berkshire Health Systems

Guardrails and Government — The Trump Administration as a Constitutional Stress Test (Tuesday, April 14, 2026)

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 23:00:00 GMT

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

Tom Gerety with Eugene R. Fidell on:

Guardrails and Government — The Trump Administration as a Constitutional Stress Test

Jointly offered with Bard LLI

Tuesday, April 14 at 7:00 p.m. ET

Online via Zoom
Free and Open to All

Dr. Gerety will continue a series of programs on our laws and Constitution under Trump, in conversation with Eugene R. Fidell of Yale Law School. This talk will focus in particular on the war with Iran.

Eugene R. Fidell is a visiting lecturer in law at Yale Law School. In addition, he is of counsel at the Washington, D.C., firm Feldesman LLP, where his practice focuses on military law. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard following graduation from Harvard Law School, and co-founded the National Institute of Military Justice. His books include Military Justice: Cases and Materials and Military Justice: A Very Short Introduction. He has edited the Global Military Justice Reform blog since 2014 and has taught at Yale, Harvard, NYU, and the University of Virginia.

Tom Gerety taught constitutional law through most of his career. He retired as Collegiate Professor of law and humanities at NYU. He headed up the Brennan Center for Justice and was president of both Trinity and Amherst Colleges. He has law and philosophy degrees from Yale.

Free and open to all, but pre-registration is required.

This event will be recorded and posted to our YouTube channel: OLLI: The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College

OLLI at BCC is also sponsored by Berkshire Health Systems

Note: If you are coming in-person to the poetry event before this lecture, you are welcome to stay in the same room at BCC for a viewing party, and to bring your dinner!

April in Paris - OLLI Meetup! (Tuesday, April 21, 2026)

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:00:00 GMT

April in Paris!

April 21 and 22, 2026

OLLI Member Meetup!

Join us for a lively Meetup in Paris that mixes art, conversation, and culture—at an easygoing, collegial pace with fellow OLLI friends from the Berkshires. If you’re attending the Masterpieces of Paris course with Aliki Braine, in March, you’ll especially enjoy the wonderfully designed program in Paris. What’s better than April in Paris?

Mornings, we’ll explore world-class museums with Aliki Braine, swapping insights, stories, and discoveries as we go at the Jacquemart-Andre and Marmottan Monet. We’ll linger over a truly memorable lunch at the elegant Hôtel de la Marine one day and a cozy bistro the next —perfect settings for good food and even better conversation.

Wednesday afternoon, we’ll visit the American Library in Paris for a special talk to hear stories of great American writers who lived and worked in France, including Edith Wharton, who was a patron of the library. Designed for curious minds and spirited exchange, this Meet Up offers a joyful, thoughtful way for OLLI at BCC members to experience Paris through art, history, and the enduring connection between American and French culture.

A free Paris Q&A will be held on February 13 at 10 a.m. (via Zoom). Click here to register.

Participants will meet at the Jacquemart-Andre museum on Tuesday, April 21 at 10 am. Pricing includes (pre-purchased tickets) entrance to the three museums as well as the expert docent tours, two lunches, American Library talk. A list of concerts and activities will be provided for the week if you extend your stay, including a bakery stroll through the art district of Montmartre. Participants are responsible for all other costs: flight, insurance, meals, hotel, and transportation.

Schedule

April 21: Tour Jacquemart-Andre, lunch at Cordon Bleu, Tour of Hotel de la Marine.
April 22: Marmottan Monet, bistro for lunch, American Library talk.

Please note: This is not a formal OLLI travel program, but an opportunity for OLLI members who may already be traveling to connect for planned meals and tours similar to to what we sometimes offer in our own region.

No refunds for events not attended. Space is limited.

Cost: $650 USD

Refunds available up to April 1, 2026.

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

Cycling in Cuba (Monday, April 27, 2026)

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 19:30:00 GMT

Cycling in Cuba: An up close and personal look at the impact of sanctions in Cuba from the perspective of a recent traveler

Monday, April 27 at 3:30 p.m.
Hybrid: In-person at BCC and Online via Zoom
Free and Open to the Public

In January 2026, Laurie Martinelli traveled to Cuba on a two- week cycling trip, organized by Intrepid Traveler, an experienced global tour operator. With a group of 13 fellow travelers, she explored the island by bus and bicycle, biking 25 – 35 miles each day. Staying in private homes (Casa Particulares) allowed Laurie to meet many Cuban families, hear their stories, practice her Spanish, and appreciate the irrepressible spirit of the Cuban people.

This 60 - minute presentation will include photos, share stories from the families with whom she stayed and their experience of sanctions, music, and Q &A.

Laurie Martinelli retired two years ago, returning to her hometown of Dalton after living and working in Boston for 35 years. With degrees in law and public health, Ms. Martinelli dedicated her career to advocating for underserved and marginalized people seeking access to legal, housing and health care services.

Her public interest career includes staff attorney with the Arizona Farmworkers Union, policy director at Mass Audubon, and Executive Director of two non-profit organizations (Health Law Advocates and the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Massachusetts)

Retirement is wonderful. Laurie spends her time cycling, skiing, playing pickleball, enjoying OLLI classes, volunteering at the Dalton Food Pantry and on Dalton’s Green Committee, and caring for her elderly parents.

The American Revolution: Screening and Panel Discussion with Sarah Botstein, Christopher Brown, and Christian Crouch (Monday, April 27, 2026)

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 21:00:00 GMT

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

Screening and Panel Discussion with
Sarah Botstein,
Christopher Brown, and
Christian Crouch

Presented by Bard College, Bard LLI, and OLLI at BCC

Monday, April 27 at 5:00 p.m. ET
Online via Zoom
Free and Open to the Public

Please note this event will not be recorded!

This program is part of our ongoing Rev250 programming.

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

OLLI at BCC is also sponsored by Berkshire Health Systems

Breeding Birds at BCC (Tuesday, May 12, 2026)

Tue, 12 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Breeding Birds Workshop at BCC
with Professor Tom Tyning

Tuesdays - May 12, 19, 26, and June 2
10:00 a.m. - Noon ET
at Berkshire Community College
In-person only.

Field class to get out learn about the breeding behavior of birds, including looking inside and monitoring bird boxes, participate in species and bird counts, possibly bird banding.

Program will include walks in meadow, woods, and marsh on the BCC campus on maintained trails, rain or shine.

Attendees will need to able to walk on uneven ground for short distances, have waterproof boots for the wetlands, binoculars (or borrow from BCC), and a phone to download free birding apps - Merlin and eBird link.

Tom Tyning has been a Professor of Environmental Science at Berkshire Community College since 1999. Previous he was a Field Biologist and Master Naturalist for the Massachusetts Audubon Society for 24 years. He also served for 15 years as an Adjunct Professor in the Environmental Studies Program at Antioch New England Graduate School (Amphibian Biology, Ornithology, Field Entomology, Reptile Biology), at Springfield College (Ornithology), and MCLA (Botany).

For 25 years, he wrote a weekly Nature column for the Springfield (MA) Union-News. An avid observer of New England natural history his main research interests are amphibians and reptiles. His book, part of the Stokes Nature Series, A Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles, is published by Little, Brown and Co.

A member of several professional natural history societies, he served for fifteen years as Managing Editor of the scientific journal, Herpetological Review. He is past president of two local bird clubs, and the Massachusetts Butterfly Club.

Throughout the year he conducts various short and long-term field research projects on vernal pools, rare salamanders, Berkshire butterfly populations, and endangered snake species in Western Massachusetts. He was instrumental in jump-starting the installation of Salamander Tunnels in Amherst (MA) and the Massachusetts Herpetological Atlas through Mass Audubon. Tom received both his BS (Wildlife Biology) and MS (Organismic and Evolutionary Biology) from the University of Massachusetts (Amherst), where he focused on the biology and conservation of the timber rattlesnake.

Cost: $60 for OLLI at BCC members,
$75 for non-members

Sign up today!

A refund may be given if your space can be filled from the waiting list.

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

Breeding Birds at BCC (Tuesday, May 19, 2026)

Tue, 19 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Breeding Birds Workshop at BCC
with Professor Tom Tyning

Tuesdays - May 12, 19, 26, and June 2
10:00 a.m. - Noon ET
at Berkshire Community College
In-person only.

Field class to get out learn about the breeding behavior of birds, including looking inside and monitoring bird boxes, participate in species and bird counts, possibly bird banding.

Program will include walks in meadow, woods, and marsh on the BCC campus on maintained trails, rain or shine.

Cost: $60 for OLLI at BCC members,
$75 for non-members

Sign up today!

A refund may be given if your space can be filled from the waiting list.

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 Annual Meeting (Thursday, May 21, 2026)

Thu, 21 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT

OLLI at BCC Annual Meeting
and Ice Cream Social

Thursday, May 21 at 2 :00 p.m. ET

In-person at Berkshire Community College

and Online via Zoom

Free & open to all

The OLLI Annual Meeting is a great opportunity to meet the OLLI Board, learn more about how OLLI works and our plans for the next year.

Hybrid with an in-person meeting at BCC and online via Zoom. (approx. 30 min.)
Elections online in advance of the meeting. All members will receive a link to vote.
Stay for a fun and festive celebration with an ice cream sundae bar featuring Highlawn Farm ice cream!

Come, have a treat, and visit with some OLLI friends!

The party is on us, but please RSVP so we know how many people to plan for!

The 2026 Mona Sherman Memorial Lecture: Dana Bash (Saturday, May 23, 2026)

Sat, 23 May 2026 21:00:00 GMT

2026 Mona Sherman Memorial Lecture
featuring

Dana Bash
Saturday, May 23, 5:00 p.m.
at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center

OLLI, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College, is honored to present Dana Bash as our 2026 Mona Sherman Memorial speaker. Bash will be interviewed by Lisa Sharkey.

Ticket information:

OLLI Members have early access to free tickets to this lecture.

Tickets for members are first-come, first-served, and will be available on this page beginning at 9 a.m. on April 15, through April 28.

One ticket per member. General admission seating.

If tickets are still available, registration open to the public on
Wednesday, May 6 at noon.

---------

Dana Bash is CNN’s chief political correspondent, anchor of Inside Politics with Dana Bash and co-anchor of State of the Union with Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, the network’s Sunday morning newsmaker show. Bash is an award-winning journalist who plays a key role in the network’s political coverage, conducting high-profile interviews with candidates, serving as an anchor for CNN’s Election Night in America special coverage and frequently moderating presidential debates and town hall specials.

Bash’s first book America’s Deadliest Election, which she co-authored with David Fisher, details the 1872 Louisiana gubernatorial election. It debuted on the New York Times bestseller list. In 2021, Bash launched her CNN series, Being…, which features in-depth conversations with individuals affecting American policy, politics, and culture, giving viewers an understanding of the human being behind the public face. Her digital CNN series, Badass Women of Washington, profiles women from various backgrounds and generations to show how they have shattered glass ceilings on their way up the ranks. Her CNN Special Report Rising Hate: Antisemitism in America is an in-depth look at how antisemitism, once the hate of extremists, became mainstream and explores ways to curb it.

Bash won the Radio and Television Correspondents Association’s Joan S. Barone Award for her original reporting on a STOCK Act loophole that led Congress to pass legislation to close it. She is also a winner of the National Press Foundation’s Sol Taishoff Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism and a three-time recipient of the Foundation’s Everett McKinley Dirksen Award for Distinguished Reporting of Congress.

Bash graduated cum laude with her bachelor’s degree in political communications from The George Washington University.

---------

A creative pioneer across multiple media platforms, Lisa Sharkey has overseen the acquisition and publication of more than one hundred New York Times Bestsellers, including multiple at number one.

She is senior vice president and publisher of Harper Influence, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Authors she’s published include Former Israeli Hostage Eli Sharabi, journalist Jim Acosta, former NFL football player Tim Tebow, Congressman Jamie Raskin, skier Lindsey Vonn, former Yankee Jorge Posada, gymnast Jordan Chiles, supermodel Christie Brinkley, journalist Chris Whipple and His Majesty King Charles.

At HarperCollins Sharkey created a robust video and livestreaming division with tens of millions of views of book-related content.

Lisa is also a veteran interviewer, moderator, and speaker on various topics from book publishing to transferable skills in the media landscape and has written for top magazines such as Redbook, and Parents.

Prior to her publishing career Sharkey was President of Al Roker Entertainment, Senior Producer of Good Morning America and worked at various network news organizations from CBS to PBS and KingWorld.

A two-time Emmy Award winner Sharkey is also the recipient of Peabody and Dupont Awards for her work as part of the ABC News team during 9/11.

Sharkey co-authored, with her late husband, architect Paul Gleicher, the book Dreaming Green: Eco-Fabulous Homes Designed to Inspire published in 2008 by Clarkson Potter.

In 2024, Sharkey, received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the School of Arts and Sciences at her alma mater Washington University in St. Louis.

Sharkey also spearheads the annual Mona Sherman Memorial Lecture in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, in honor of her late mother, which brings high profile speakers to the Berkshires at no cost to the community each Memorial Day weekend.

---------

This lecture will be recorded and available on the OLLI at BCC YouTube channel in early June.

---------

About Mona Sherman

The annual Mona Sherman Memorial Lecture was established to honor the memory of the late Mona Sherman, a dynamic businesswoman and volunteer leader who played a transformative role in the growth and expansion of OLLI at BCC. The lecture series, established through the generosity of her family and friends, honors both her love of the Berkshires community and of lifelong learning.

For over a decade, the Mona Sherman Memorial Lecture series has featured extraordinary nationally known writers and commentators: past speakers have included Chris Whipple, Congressman Jamie Raskin, Ari Melber, Cokie Roberts, Jim Acosta, Mika Brzezinski, Joe Klein, Katy Tur and others. The lectures have always been free and open to the public.

OLLI, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College, provides educational, social, and volunteer opportunities designed especially by and for people fifty years old and better, online and in-person throughout the Berkshires and beyond.

_______________________________

We are grateful to the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center for being our co-presenter, to Berkshire Gas for being our lead sponsor, Berkshire Health Systems for their sponsorship of OLLI at BCC, and to the many friends and family of Mona Sherman for their continuing support.

Breeding Birds at BCC (Tuesday, May 26, 2026)

Tue, 26 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Breeding Birds Workshop at BCC
with Professor Tom Tyning

Tuesdays - May 12, 19, 26, and June 2
10:00 a.m. - Noon ET
at Berkshire Community College
In-person only.

Field class to get out learn about the breeding behavior of birds, including looking inside and monitoring bird boxes, participate in species and bird counts, possibly bird banding.

Program will include walks in meadow, woods, and marsh on the BCC campus on maintained trails, rain or shine.

Cost: $60 for OLLI at BCC members,
$75 for non-members

Sign up today!

A refund may be given if your space can be filled from the waiting list.

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

Mass MoCA Building Tour (Wednesday, May 27, 2026)

Wed, 27 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Mass MoCA Building Tour
with Nancy Seasholes

Wednesday, May 27
2:00 - 3:30 p.m.

In-person only

Here's a chance to find out about the MASS MoCA buildings themselves -- when were they built? by whom? why? who has occupied them? how have these occupants used the buildings? This walking tour will address these and other questions in an exploration of present MASS MoCA buildings.

The tour is on one level, but participants will need to walk and stand for the two hour tour. Small stools are available to borrow from the museum.

Nancy S. Seasholes is an historian of Boston whose books include Gaining Ground: A History of Landmaking in Boston, Walking Tours of Boston's Made Land, and The Atlas of Boston History. She has taught at Harvard Extension and conducted numerous walking tours of Boston. She moved to Williamstown in 2018 and has since researched and developed this tour about the history of the MASS MoCA buildings.

Cost: $15 for OLLI at BCC members with a Mass MOCA membership*, $37 for OLLI at BCC members who need an entrance ticket.

Sign up today!

*Don't forget your membership card!

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

What Now? Taking Small Steps After BIG Change (Friday, May 29, 2026)

Fri, 29 May 2026 13:30:00 GMT

What Now?
Taking Small Steps After BIG Change

Fridays, May 29, June 5, and June 12
9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
In-person at Berkshire Community College

Are you on the other side of a big change and feeling adrift? A major life transition can be stressful and scary, but it’s also an opportunity to build a new life with intention and thoughtfulness.

In this three week workshop, Life Coach Janet Forest will lead you through exercises in self-reflection, group conversation, and goal setting, so you can start taking small action steps. Each session will provide accountability and support as participants practice self-honesty and open their hearts and minds to new possibilities they have never considered. At the end of the three weeks, each person will have a customized toolkit to create new habits and routines, so they can settle into their new life.

This workshop is perfect for people who have recently retired or relocated and are feeling overwhelmed by the newness of it all.

Janet Forest is a Certified Professional Life Coach and an Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner. She specializes in working with seasoned professionals who want to leverage their experience to find a career with meaning and impact and recent retirees who need support and accountability to settle into their next chapter. Janet is also the Director of the Dalton Free Public Library. She lives in Dalton, MA with her husband Andrew and her entitled Tibet Spaniel Dawa.

Registration information:
$35 for OLLI members
$45 for non-members

OLLI at BCC is sponsored in part by Berkshire Health Systems

Butterfly photo credit: Suzanne D. Williams

2026 Art Exhibition Registration and Payment (Monday, June 01, 2026)

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Call for Artists!

Submit your artwork for the June 2026
OLLI Member Exhibition

Where: Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, Pittsfield, MA
What: Multi-media exhibition
Submission deadline: April 3, 2026

2026 OLLI Art Exhibition Entry Form

Fee: $25 per artist
......................................................

Thank you to the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts for generously hosting this event.
..............................................................................................................................................

Questions? Email the OLLI office at olli@berkshirecc.edu

Breeding Birds at BCC (Tuesday, June 02, 2026)

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Breeding Birds Workshop at BCC
with Professor Tom Tyning

Tuesdays - May 12, 19, 26, and June 2
10:00 a.m. - Noon ET
at Berkshire Community College
In-person only.

Field class to get out learn about the breeding behavior of birds, including looking inside and monitoring bird boxes, participate in species and bird counts, possibly bird banding.

Program will include walks in meadow, woods, and marsh on the BCC campus on maintained trails, rain or shine.

Cost: $60 for OLLI at BCC members,
$75 for non-members

Sign up today!

A refund may be given if your space can be filled from the waiting list.

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

Ornamental Alternatives Gardening Workshop (Tuesday, June 02, 2026)

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Ornamental Alternatives:
Replacing Invasives with Beautiful
Natives that Restore a Healthy Home Landscape
with Chris Ferrero

June 2 and 3, 2026
10:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Hybrid: Online and in-person at Berkshire Community College

Official invasive plant lists have unmasked the "bad actors" in home landscapes, but some of these culprits are beloved for their blooms, shade performance or fall foliage. This program highlights common trees, shrubs, vines, and perennials from MA's "prohibited" lists, and offers native alternatives with superior flowers, fragrance, fruits & fall color, plus value to pollinators and birds.

Chris Ferrero trained as a Cornell Master Gardener in New York where she led demonstration garden teams, plant propagation workshops, and alternatives-to-invasives work groups. She regularly consults on challenges like shade gardening, deer deterrence, and pollinator gardening with native perennials and flowering shrubs, and her 20 talks keep her busy speaking to garden clubs and master gardener symposiums. Formerly a corporate marketing director, she has retired to Stockbridge, MA near the Berkshire Botanical Garden, where she serves on the faculty and also sits on the Horticulture Advisory Committee.

This lecture will be recorded and available for viewing at the convenience of registrants.

Program Cost:

OLLI at BCC Members: $30
Non-members: $40

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.

Ornamental Alternatives Gardening Workshop (Wednesday, June 03, 2026)

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Ornamental Alternatives:
Replacing Invasives with Beautiful
Natives that Restore a Healthy Home Landscape
with Chris Ferrero

June 2 and 3, 2026
10:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Hybrid: Online and in-person at Berkshire Community College

This lecture will be recorded and available for viewing at the convenience of registrants.

Program Cost:

OLLI at BCC Members: $30
Non-members: $40

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.

What Now? Taking Small Steps After BIG Change (Friday, June 05, 2026)

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:30:00 GMT

What Now?
Taking Small Steps After BIG Change

Fridays, May 29, June 5, and June 12
9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
In-person at Berkshire Community College

Are you on the other side of a big change and feeling adrift? A major life transition can be stressful and scary, but it’s also an opportunity to build a new life with intention and thoughtfulness.

This workshop is perfect for people who have recently retired or relocated and are feeling overwhelmed by the newness of it all.

Registration information:
$35 for OLLI members
$45 for non-members

OLLI at BCC is sponsored in part by Berkshire Health Systems

Butterfly photo credit: Suzanne D. Williams

Making Sense of Grape Scents (Wednesday, June 10, 2026)

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 23:00:00 GMT

The OLLI Distinguished Speakers Series presents:

Making Sense of Grape Scents

with Professor Cynthia Holland

Wednesday, June 10 at 7:00 p.m. ET

Online via Zoom

What Now? Taking Small Steps After BIG Change (Friday, June 12, 2026)

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 13:30:00 GMT

What Now?
Taking Small Steps After BIG Change

Fridays, May 29, June 5, and June 12
9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
In-person at Berkshire Community College

Are you on the other side of a big change and feeling adrift? A major life transition can be stressful and scary, but it’s also an opportunity to build a new life with intention and thoughtfulness.

This workshop is perfect for people who have recently retired or relocated and are feeling overwhelmed by the newness of it all.

Registration information:
$35 for OLLI members
$45 for non-members

OLLI at BCC is sponsored in part by Berkshire Health Systems

Butterfly photo credit: Suzanne D. Williams

A Chester Duet 2026 with OLLI at BCC (Wednesday, July 29, 2026)

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 15:30:00 GMT

The OLLI at BCC Special Events Committee presents:

A Chester Duet

Wednesday, July 29, 2025 at 11:30 a.m.

A Delicious Lunch plus a Great Afternoon of Theater

This program is in-person at Chester Railway Museum and Chester Theatre Company in Chester, MA

11:30 a.m. Chester Railway Museum

A national historic landmark where OLLI chefs create lunch and Dave Pierce, Director, tells station history and tales.

2:00 p.m. Chester Theatre Company
Amchitka
By Mark St. Germain
Directed by Julianne Boyd

In a monitoring station at Amchitka, a volcanic island 170 miles off the coast of Alaska used for underground nuclear testing in the 1960s, three scientists find themselves cut off from the outside world as an event seems to be underway. But what? A new philosophical thriller by Mark St. Germain, author of Magdalene and Freud’s Last Session.

Cost: $78 for OLLI at BCC members
$84 for guests/non-members
$20 Lunch only with your own Chester Theatre subscription

Wheelchair accessible seating is available, be sure to note that when you register. Seating will be in order received.

Event Leader: Judy Keshner, Special Events Chair: Arline Breskin

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

Friday, August 14, 2025

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!