OLLI Fall 2026_pageturn - Flipbook - Page 30
From Peoria to Pots Stills:
The History of American Whiskey
Explore the science, history, and craft of American
whiskey in this engaging overview of one of
the nation’s most iconic spirits. We’ll examine
different whiskey types, how they derive their
signature flavors, and the production methods
behind them. We’ll also discuss pivotal moments
in whiskey history, including Peoria’s rise as
the “Whiskey Capital of the World,” its eventual
decline, and the modern resurgence of craft
distilling across the United States.
$30 – Class instructor is Dr. Daniel Moon, Bradley
University Provost and Senior Vice President for
Academic Affairs.
Healthy Minds, Informed Choices:
Your Choice
Brain Health & Alzheimer’s
IN PERSON
Your brain health affects how you
OR ONLINE
live, how independent you remain,
and how prepared you are for the future. In this
class, we will learn how to take an active role
in protecting and understanding our cognitive
health. We’ll explore what truly supports a healthy
brain, how Alzheimer's and other dementias
develop, what current research is revealing, and
how to recognize the 10 warning signs that should
never be ignored. We’ll discuss how to ask better
questions, make informed decisions, and respond
with confidence - whether for ourselves or for
those we care about.
$30 – Class instructors are Cassandra Anderson
and Peggy Peryam, Alzheimer’s Association
Community Educators.
Literary Lions:
Insights Into the Lives of Four Authors
Join us as we delve into the lives of four wellknown authors and examine what shaped their
lives and their work:
October 7: Percival Everett, the Pulitzer Prize
winning author of James - presented by Roberta
Koscielski.
October 14: Carl Sandburg, Illinois’ own poet,
songwriter, historian - presented by John Brady.
October 21: Jane Austen, beloved author of Pride
And Prejudice and many others, 250 years after
her birth - presented by Denise Hocker.
October 28: F. Scott Fitzgerald, renowned author
of The Great Gatsby and Jazz Age bad boy presented by Gary Nelson.
$30 – Class instructors as listed above.
30
CLASSES
Look What I Did
October 7: How Fruit Wine is Made
Valerie Wiest shares the art and tradition of fruit
winemaking, a craft she learned over a decade
ago from her father. Building on family recipes,
she has continued to refine the process through
years of personal experience and experimentation.
We will also have the opportunity to sample a
selection of handcrafted family wines.
October 14: Drones for Hobby and Small
Businesses
Kent Kowalske introduces the fundamentals of
drone use for both recreational flyers and small
business applications. Topics include getting
started with drones as a hobby, understanding
where and how drones can be safely and legally
flown, and exploring practical business uses across
different industries. As well as his credentials as
a licensed private pilot and drone pilot, Kowalske
also shares real-world examples from his own
drone work.
October 21: Investing in What Matters Most:
Strengthening Family Relationships Across
Generations
This inspiring talk explores the importance of
prioritizing what matters most: family. Through
personal stories and practical observations,
discover simple ways to strengthen relationships,
cherish time together, and build a legacy of love,
faith, and connection across generations. Bradley
University alumni Michael and Rosemary Greene,
retired former owners of a technology company,
will share insights from their book Grandma and
Grandpa Camp: Inspiring Stories to Strengthen
Generational Bonds.
October 28: How I Survived Being Luciano
Pavarotti’s Rehearsal Accompanist
From 1994 to 2005, Edie Barnard lived on the
Caribbean island of Barbados. During that
time, she became a citizen, taught island
students about Harriet Beecher Stowe, learned
to eat mangoes in the sea, and met a range of
fascinating people—including, most memorably,
Luciano Pavarotti. Serving as Pavarotti’s rehearsal
accompanist led to a series of challenging,
humorous, and sometimes intimidating
experiences. Learn how she navigated the
terrifying, yet rewarding, rehearsals without losing
her sanity.
$30 – Class instructors as listed above.
