Central Vermont OLLI

with Jeffrey Amestoy, Author and Former Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court

Revisit 1926, when Cecelia Gullivan, an executive with the Cone Automatic Machine Company, was brutally murdered in her Windsor home. Hear Jeff Amestoy, author of Winter’s Time: A Secret Pledge, A Severed Head, and the Murder that Brought America’s Most Famous Lawyer to Vermont, explain how State v. Winters, one of the most notorious murder trials in Vermont history,  examines justice, gender, and celebrity in the Roaring Twenties of rural Vermont.

with Kimberly Lipinski, Director of Nutrition and Wellness, The Central Vermont Council on Agin

Explore the psychology behind our food preferences and the hidden forces that shape our eating habits. Discover how behavioral science techniques used in advertising, marketing, and design reveal the subtle cues like presentation, language, and environment, that influence what and how much we eat. Learn practical, research-based strategies to reshape food choices, promote healthier habits, and design environments that make better eating the easy choice.

with James Pepper, Chair of the Vermont Cannabis Control Board

Trace Vermont’s rich and complicated history with the cannabis plant as it moved out of the shadows and into the spotlight. Join the chair of the Vermont Cannabis Control Board to learn about the twists and turns of cannabis policy, the current state of the market, the ever-evolving federal landscape, and what the future may bring.

with Sky Barsch, CEO of VTDigger

Examine this time of increased polarization and rapid disinformation. Hear from Sky Barsch, CEO of VTDigger, about how the organization has grown and innovated to become Vermont’s trusted digital paper of record, providing a vital public service that helps Vermonters stay informed, connected, and civically engaged.

with Attorney General Charity Clark

Gain an inside look at the vital role of Vermont’s Attorney General in upholding the rule of law and protecting citizens’ interests. Learn about recent federal cases, notable state lawsuits she has filed, and the broader responsibilities of this statewide elected office. Discover how the Attorney General’s work impacts Vermonters every day, and explore the resources her office provides to support and inform constituents. Bring your questions for an engaging discussion.

Due to a malfunction with the elevator in College Hall/Chapel, this program will take place directly across College Street at the Gary Library, 35 College Street, Montpelier.

with Richard L. Cleveland, Founder, Vermont Quilt Festival, and author

Discover the history of quilting in Vermont through the lens of the Vermont Quilt Festival, which ran from 1977 to 2019 and gained national recognition for its annual display of antique quilts. Learn how, in 1980, the Festival launched the Vermont Quiltsearch—a county-by-county search for quilts made in Vermont before 1941—that uncovered more than 1,900 quilts. Hear from Richard L. Cleveland as he shares insights from Plain and Fancy: Vermont’s People and Their Quilts, the 1991 book he co-authored with Donna Bister, featuring the best of those quilts and the stories of the Vermonters who created them.

with Sam von Trapp, Rabid Ski Enthusiast

Trace Vermont’s rich history of Nordic skiing, from early grassroots recreation and racing to the founding of the nation’s first full-service cross-country ski center by Johannes von Trapp in 1968. Examine the Norwegian influences and moments of serendipity that fueled Trapp’s success and propelled Vermont onto the national and international stage. Discover how the explosion of backcountry touring in recent decades has become the newest chapter in this “Virtuous Sport.”

with Clare Dolan, Founder and Chief Operating Philosopher, Museum of Everyday Life

NOTE: CHANGE OF LOCATION – THIS PRESENTATION ONLY WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE GARY LIBRARY, 33 COLLEGE STREET, DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE REGULAR LOCATION

Discover the Museum of Everyday Life in Glover, Vermont – a unique grassroots experiment that celebrates the beauty and meaning of ordinary objects. Explore how items of little monetary value can hold immense cultural and emotional significance. Learn how this one-of-a-kind museum re-assembles familiar devices into installations and performances  that challenge notions of culture and upend our understanding of the mundane and the extraordinary.

Starring Barbara Stanwyck, Baby Face follows a young woman who escapes an abusive past and uses her beauty and ambition to climb the social and corporate ladder. A bold pre-Code film, it tackles themes of exploitation, sexuality, and power with unflinching directness.

Featuring Carole Lombard, Virtue tells the story of a former prostitute striving to rebuild her life after being forced out of New York City. The film highlights issues of redemption, prejudice, and trust, while challenging contemporary assumptions about morality and second chances.

Three on a Match stars Bette Davis in a gripping drama of three friends whose lives take dramatically different paths. With its themes of drug addiction, infidelity, and class disparity, the film exemplifies the daring storytelling of Hollywood’s pre-Code era.