Virginia Senator David Marsden Presents Address on Accessing Medical Cannabis in Virginia, Tallwood, April 16 (See Article Below; Click here for more photographs.)
The Loudoun Program Planning Group will meet Tuesday, April 30, 11:05–11:50 in Room 2018.
The annual business meeting and picnic will take place at Tallwood Friday, May 3. The business meeting begins at 10:00 followed by the picnic. If you register for the picnic (special event 1105), please bring a dish to share based on your last name: salad (A-G), side dish (H-O), or dessert (P-Z).
Voting in the OLLI Board of Directors election begins May 3 and ends May 17. Candidates will provide brief introductions at the May 3 business meeting, followed by a question-and-answer session.
The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published May 3; regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, April 30, at 6:00.
State Senator David Marsden Discusses Medical Cannabis in Virginia
By Rita Way, OLLI Member and Board Secretary
On Tuesday, April 16, OLLI members filled TA‑1 for an address by Virginia Senator David Marsden on accessing medical cannabis in Virginia (coordinated by Stephanie Trachtenberg). Senator Marsden, who represents Virginia's 37th District, addressed the benefits of the Virginia medical cannabis program. He spoke about the five-year effort to make cannabis-derived oils available to Virginians whose doctors feel that these oils will help relieve the symptoms of illnesses such as intractable epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, and others involving pain.
We heard from Beth Collins (pictured here with Senator Marsden–photo by George Bradshaw), who spoke about her teenage daughter's struggle with intractable epilepsy most of her life. After trying numerous prescribed medicines that caused serious side effects, Beth turned to cannabis oil. Not only were her daughter's symptoms alleviated, but there were no side effects.
In 2017, Virginia approved a regulator program for in-state production of medical cannabis oils by five providers called "pharmaceutical processors." Although marijuana possession remains illegal in Virginia, the legislature has decided to provide an affirmative defense for registered patients, caregivers, and pharmaceutical processors.
For more information on medical cannabis, go to website vanorml.org.
The final meeting of the History Club for spring term will be held on Wednesday, May 1, at 2:15 in TA‑1. Our presenter is Steve Waldman, who will be speaking on Theodore Roosevelt—The Last Hurrah and the Election of 1912. Steve notes that this election was a watershed one in that it ended the career of the charismatic “Teddy” Roosevelt and ushered into office Woodrow Wilson, the first Democrat president in 15 years. Furthermore, the Socialist candidate, Eugene V. Debs, gained almost one million votes. Steve’s background in historical studies equips him well to delve into the twists and turns of this unique election.
This is the last meeting of the History Club until October. You will miss us during the long summer, so take advantage of this opportunity to learn a fascinating fact or two about our nation's past. Remember: all OLLI members are welcome to attend History Club meetings.
By Nancy Scheeler and Luci Martel, Reston Book Club Coordinators
The Reston Book Club will have its third meeting of the spring term on Thursday, May 9, 2019, at 2:15 at the United Christian Parish Church in Reston. The book selection is My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout, a Pulitzer Prize winner for fiction. The book details the complicated relationship between the titular Lucy Barton and her mother. Hospitalized following surgery, Lucy is visited by her mother after years of not speaking and begins to reconnect with her. This book is considered a good example of Strout’s ability to weave the nuances of human relationships with family tapestries of compassion, wisdom, and insight.
sitting near my desk an antique floor lamp
throws useful light and annoying shadows about
while my tv is explaining gravitational waves
the discovery channel einstein and hawking who
in his wheelchair shares in robot voice
how all black holes will
eventually just evaporate
and here i sit wondering why a poem
i am trying to compose can have meaning
when the center of our galaxy
a black hole by the way will
eventually just evaporate
taking with it this excellent
but meaningless microscribble.
think i’ll warm up my cup of coffee
in the micro downstairs
then return and somehow
work all this out
Anne Ellis Lamar, OLLI member since spring 2001, who was born in Springfield, Missouri, died on April 8, 2019. She was for many years a member of OLLI’s Tom Crooker Investment Forum. When scheduled, she will be laid to rest with her husband, Brigadier General Kirby Lamar, Ret., at Arlington National Cemetery.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, May 1, at 1:00, at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House, 321 S Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA. More information is available at this link.
For tickets for either Center for the Arts Concert Hall (CFA) or Hylton Center, call 1-888-945-2468, buy tickets online through the event calendar (see links below), or visit the venue's box office. For more information, see the CFA ticket pageor the Hylton Centerticket purchase page.
At the Fairfax Campus Venues
Fairfax Symphony Orchestra: Holst's The Planets
Sat, Apr 27, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion begins at 7:00 with conductor Christopher Zimmerman and special guests.
Concert Hall
Admission: $65, $53, $50, $39, $25.
Keyboard Conversations with Jeffrey Siegel: Chopin in Paris
Sun, Apr 28, 7:00
The Young Artists Musicale, featuring school-aged piano students, begins at 6:00 in the main lobby.
Concert Hall
Admission: $44, $37, $26.
Lysistrata
Fri, Apr 26, 8:00
Sat, Apr 27, 2:00
deLaski Performing Arts Building, A105, TheaterSpace
Admission: $20 Adults; $10 seniors.The Wolves
Sat, Apr 27, 8:00
Sun, Apr 28, 2:00
deLaski Performing Arts Building, A105, TheaterSpace
Admission: $20 Adults; $10 seniors.Mason Opera: The Medium and Suor Angelica
Fri, Apr 26, and Sat, Apr 27, 8:00
Sun, Apr 28, 2:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: $20 Adults; $15 seniors.Mason Jazz Vocal Night - Spring
Mon, Apr 29, 8:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $12 Adults; $8 seniors.
International Jazz Day
Tue, Apr 30, 8:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $12 Adults; $8 seniors.
A Concert Presentation of Merrily We Roll Along
Friday, May 3, 3:00 and 8:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $20 Adults; $10 seniors.
Dance Innovations - Spring
Friday, May 3, and Sat, May 4, 8:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: $15 Adults; $10 seniors.
A Musical Feast - Gala and Concert
Sat, May 4, 5:30 gala; 8:00 concert
Gala includes food, wine, and student performance showcases.
Concert Hall
Admission: $95 for gala and performance;
$30 Adults; $15 seniors, for concert only.
Dr. Balakerskaia Studio Recital
Sun, May 5, 7:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free.
Gallery Exhibit: David Barr
Apr 2 – May 18
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery.
The Buchanan Partners Art Gallery is open to the public Tue-Sat, 10:00-6:00.
A Raisin in the Sun
Sat, Apr 27, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, Apr 28, 3:00
Sat, May 4, 2:00 and 7:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $20 in advance; $25 at the door.
Keyboard Conversations with Jeffrey Siegel: Rags to Riches
Sat, Apr 27, 8:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $44, $37, $26.
VA National Ballet: Carmen
Sun, Apr 28, 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $40.
American Festival Pops Orchestra: Movie Music Magic
Fri, May 3, 8:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $30.
Manassas Symphony Orchestra: Beethoven Festival
Sat, May 4, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $20 Adults; $16 seniors.
InTune Music Studios: Spring Recital
Sun, May 5, 1:00 and 4:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $10.
Northern Virginia Ballet: Coppelia
Sun, May 5, 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $28 Adults; $20 seniors.
The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office, with direct web links added when available. The list is accurate as of mid-week but for the most up-to-date information, please view the latest forecast of coming events on our website (News/OLLI Calendar). Note: All OLLI members are welcome at, and encouraged to attend, meetings of the Board of Directors, committees and resource groups, kick-off coffees, etc. (bolded below).
Sat Apr 27
10:30am
Tai Chi Club–TA-3
Tue Apr 30
11:05am
Loudoun Program Planning Group–Room 2018
Wed May 1
1:30pm
1:45pm
2:15pm
Mah Jongg Club–TA-2
Bridge Club–TA-3
History Club–TA-1
Fri May 3
10:00am
Annual Business Meeting–TA-1
Sat May 4
10:30am
Tai Chi Club–TA-3
Tue May 7
11:05am
Bagel Brunch–Room 116 Reston UCP
Wed May 8
1:30pm
1:45pm
1:45pm
Tallwood Book Club–Annex
Bridge Club–TA-3
Spanish Club–TA-2
Thu May 9
2:15pm
Reston Book Club–Room 117 Reston UCP
Fri May 10
9:15am
9:30am
9:30am
11:00am
11:00am
Recorder Consort–TA-3
Photography Club–TA-1
Craft and Conversation–Annex
Classic Literature Club–TA-2
Homer, etc.–Annex
OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013.
Editorial Staff
Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate Editor: David Gundry
Weekly Editor Team: David Gundry, John Nash, Sheri Siesseger, Leslie Vandivere,
Paul Van Hemel Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Linda Randall, Tom Appich, Roz Stark,
Jane Hassell
Backup Chief Editor: Alice Slayton Clark
Submissions: Members are encouraged to submit letters to the editor, letters to Ms. Ollie Ettakit (on etiquette matters), OLLI-related news items, articles, and photos. Submit material to: ollienewseditor@gmail.com. Deadline: Tuesday, 6:00, for that week's issue (Monday, 6:00, for letters to the editor); early submissions are greatly appreciated. Please limit articles to about 250 words. Note: You can view past issues of OLLI E-News on the DocStore. To search the content of issues, use Search Our Site or put your search term in Google followed by "site:ollidev2.earthcare.com/" without the quotes.
teenage daughter's struggle with intractable epilepsy most of her life. After trying numerous prescribed medicines that caused serious side effects, Beth turned to cannabis oil. Not only were her daughter's symptoms alleviated, but there were no side effects.
