Calendar
Unless otherwise noted, programs take place at the Reuter Center and are free and open to everyone. Please note that you must have either a UNC Asheville annual parking permit or a visitor permit to park on campus 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year. Visit the Campus Parking for OLLI Members page for instructions on how to purchase an OLLI-subsidized annual parking permit. Daily and monthly visitor permits must be obtained through the UNC Asheville parking site; OLLI does not provide visitor permits.
July
Friday, July 17, 5 p.m. | Death Café
Partner Program: “Death Café”
Death Café is an engaging gathering with storytelling and conversation about a topic that too often alienates people in our death-phobic culture. At Death Café, participants break into small groups of five or six people and discuss personal stories related to the death of loved ones; loss of jobs, relationships or marriages; or loss or death of parts of ourselves. These programs are facilitated by Karen Sanders, Greg Lathrop and Saïd Osio from Third Messenger. Learn more about Death Café by visiting the Death Café website, the Third Messenger website, or facebook.com/deathcafeasheville. If you have questions about meetings of Death Café at the Reuter Center, please contact Karen Sanders at 828-778-8882.
Friday, July 24
Last day of CFS summer 2026 classes
Friday, July 24, 2:30 p.m. | Council on Aging of Buncombe County
Partner Program: “Introduction to Medicare: Understanding the Puzzle”
In workshops presented by the Council on Aging in Buncombe County in conjunction with the North Carolina Department of Insurance Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program, learn how Medicare works, the enrollment process, how to avoid penalties and ways to save money. Anyone who is ready to join Medicare or is a caregiver or family member helping older adults with the Medicare insurance may want to attend this informative session. To register visit the Council on Aging of Buncombe County’s website or call 828.277.8288.
Monday, July 27, 6:30 p.m. | Science Book Club
Partner Program: “Amazing Worlds of Science Fiction and Science Fact by Keith Cooper”
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to watch a double sunset on Tatooine, stand among the sand dunes of Arrakis or gaze at the gas-giant planet Polyphemus from the moon Pandora? In Amazing Worlds of Science Fiction and Science Fact, Keith Cooper explores the fictional planets from films such as Star Wars, Dune and Avatar, and discusses how realistic they are based on our current scientific understanding and astronomical observations. Moderated by Richard Heim.
August
Saturday, August 1
Last day to submit a course proposal for winter 2027
Visit the Forms page to access the CFS Fall 2026 Course Proposal form.
Wednesday, August 5, 7 p.m. | WNC Sierra Club
Partner Program: “River Cane and Restoring Streambanks” (in-person + online)
Learn more about local efforts to restore our rivers and stream banks while mitigating flood risk, post Helene. Local organizations are planting river cane, a culturally and ecologically significant plant, to prevent future streambank erosion.
Join online via Zoom and read more on the WNC Sierra Club’s website.
Thursday, August 6, 7 p.m. | Astronomy Club of Asheville
Partner Program: “Small Town Universe Documentary Screening”
The film Small Town Universe paints an intimate and captivating portrait of life in Green Bank, West Virginia, home to the world’s most sensitive radio telescope and the only U.S. town where Wi-Fi and cell phones are either severely limited or basically useless. In this uniquely radio-quiet community, scientists use the U.S. National Science Foundation Green Bank Telescope (GBT) to search for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence and advance the field of radio astronomy while residents navigate through pivotal moments of existence, forming deep connections with the universe, science, and one another.
Please note that the August meeting is in-person only. For more information visit the Astronomy Club of Asheville’s website.