April has arrived and we're springing into online action. Check out our virtual experiences. They're all FREE!

NEW THIS MONTH! "Netto's Notes" is AARP Rhode Island's Matt Netto's blog aimed at keeping you up to dates on our advocacy efforts as well as other relevant information. Check it out.

THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1 p.m. - COVID and the Black Community

This live Q&A event will address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the Black community. Experts will answer listeners' questions about coronavirus vaccines, how they are being distributed, ways to prioritize mental wellness, and how to stay safe and protected from COVID-19. Sign up here if you’d like to register and receive reminders or click here to listen to the live event.

• Join us April 6 at 7 p.m. ET for COVID-19 Vaccine Misinformation, a free MediaWise Webinar presented by AARP.
• Coordinate local help for a friend or family member with AARP Community Connections.
• To get up-to-date coronavirus information and more, Monday to Friday, listen to AARP's Take on Today podcast.
• Read the latest information about the coronavirus.

TUESDAY, April 6, 10 a.m. - Building Age-Friendly/Livable Communities

Join AARP Rhode Island and Age-Friendly RI for this FREE virtual forum as we explore age-friendly/livable communities. You will hear how local communities came together to create a vision and set forth a pathway to change as well as practical ways that you can make a difference.

Miss this event? Watch the Recording


THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 7:30 pm - Girlfriend Talk Live: Chef Vincenzo Giangiordano and author Sheryl Ness 

 Join us for a conversation with Chef Vincenzo Giangiordano and Sheryl Ness, author of "Love in a Tuscan Kitchen: Savoring Life Through the Romance, Recipes and Traditions of Italy." Sheryl will share what it’s like to move to Italy, fall in love with a chef, and learn to cook the Italian way. She may even share some recipes!! Stay online for The Girlfriend’s popular Girlfriend Happy Hour! 

Register now.

FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 8 pm: Gatsby in Connecticut


Filmmaker Robert Steven Williams examines the claim that "The Great Gatsby" was inspired by the time F. Scott Fitzgerald spent living in Westport, Conn. Not rated.

Featuring Sam Waterston. The summer Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald lived in Connecticut inspired one of the world's most beloved novels: The Great Gatsby. We know the book, we know the films and series, but do we know the truth? Track down the mystery millionaire who threw extravagant parties, uncover new evidence of the location and players, and dig deep to discover the untold story of the real-life Jay Gatsby himself.

Register now.


TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 6 p.m. - VOLUNTEERING AT AARP RHODE ISLAND

Learn how you can be part of the team by attending this AARP Rhode Island virtual informational session. You'll hear about the wide variety of opportunities that are available to match your interests, passions and time commitment. 

Register now. Or call 877-926-8300. 


THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 4 p.m. - VIRTUAL HEALTH COOKING WITH AARP RHODE ISLAND

It's a nutritionist breakfast or brunch favorite – Rhode Island Spring Frittata! Chef Mary of Newport Cooks will share her special recipe that features asparagus and tomatoes but as always, she will provide substitute ingredients to suite your individual palate. Complementing this satisfying morning dish will be Peach Scones. Cook along with Mary or observe to make at a later date.

Register now. Or call 877-926-8300.

Miss Mary? past Zooms: March 2021, February 2021, January 2021, November 2020, October 2020

SATURDAY. APRIL 17, 11 am: Daybreaker Live! Rock N’ Rollin’ Spring Fling – A Sock Hop Dance

Kick off your blue suede shoes and join friends from across the country for this FREE, online, morning sock hop dance event! The experience begins with an all ages and abilities breathing and meditation lesson. After the warm-up, The Swayzees will start the dance party and DJ Jonathan Jacobs will spin classic Sock Hop tunes to keep everyone jiving. Don’t miss live performances from Chubby Checker and Postmodern Jukebox!

Register now.

TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 7 p.m. - AARP Presents a Conversation with Walter Isaacson

Walter Isaacson joins AARP to discuss his latest book, Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race. The bestselling author of Leonardo da Vinci, Einstein, and Steve Jobs discusses his gripping account of how Nobel prize winner Jennifer Doudna and her colleagues launched a revolution that will allow us to cure diseases, fend off viruses—including the coronavirus—and improve the human species.

Register now.

THURSDAY, APRIP 22, 7 p.m. -Social Security and Retirement Planning

Planning for retirement? Learn how to count Social Security benefits into your income strategy at our free webinar. We’ll discuss what you can expect from Social Security in your retirement, other potential sources of retirement income and where to find helpful tools and planning resources.

Register now.

FRIDAY, APRIL, APRIL 23, at 8 pm - Movies For Grownups: Parasite 

Celebrate the Oscars on April 25 by joining us for a special screening of last year's Best Picture winner, the Korean drama Parasite. Greed and class discrimination threaten the newly formed symbiotic relationship between the wealthy Park family and the destitute Kim clan. This film is in Korean with English subtitles. Rated R. 

Register now.  

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 8 pm: Movies for Grownups: Sky Blossom 

This documentary is a raw, inspiring window into 5.4 million students stepping forward as frontline heroes. Caring for family with tough medical conditions, they stay at home doing things often seen only in hospitals. They are cheerleaders, work part time, and go to college — but also live double lives — quietly growing up as America’s next greatest generation. Troops used to look up and say, “Here come the Sky Blossoms”—paratroopers rushing to their aid. Today, there is a new generation answering that call. These are their stories. Not rated.

Register now.

Go back to school for a series of One Day University lectures, presented by AARP. Engage with top university professors on a variety of fascinating topics geared towards the 50-plus community.

Tuesday, April 6, 7 pm: COVID-19 Vaccine Misinformation, a MediaWise Webinar Presented by AARP - Misinformation and disinformation are running rampant online. And the COVID-19 vaccine rollout has brought scams and threats to the public health. This MediaWise fact-checking training will improve your media literacy, and teach you tools and techniques for separating fact from fiction online. Join us for this live interactive webinar led by The Poynter Institute’s Al Tompkins. Register now.

Tuesday, April 7, 6:30 pm: A Grand Tour of Italy - For centuries, Italy has been an irresistible magnet for people from all corners of the world, attracting the most illustrious men and women of every age as well as visitors from every walk of life. But what is behind Italy’s remarkable appeal? What makes this country such an inexhaustible place of discovery, unforgettable to so many?

Award-winning author, teacher, and Italian scholar Joseph Luzzi leads participants on a whirlwind tour of Italy’s “greatest cultural hits,” as we explore the fascinating world of Italian art, music, film, architecture, literature, and even food and wine! We will learn how Italy has been a “grand tour” travel destination for centuries as we discover the fine art of living, Italian style. Professor Luzzi will participate in a LIVE Q&A immediately following the pre-recorded lecture. Register.




Tuesday, April 13, 5:30 pm: Savoring Sicily: 2,000 years of History in 100 Iconic Dishes - Food Historian Lecture Series, Presented by AARP - Join food historian Francine Segan as she examines how a myriad of cultures including those of ancient Greece, ancient Rome, the Arab and Byzantine worlds, France and Spain influenced the flavors of this island’s iconic dishes. Register now. 

Wednesday, April 21, 6:30 pm: The Art of Aging: In this class we’ll review what biological, psychological, and social research has taught us about growing older. Along the way, we'll discuss what's common with aging (everybody shrinks a little), what's not normal (Alzheimer's is a disease not everyone gets), and key components of successful aging (friends and family are important, but perhaps in different ways). The trajectory of aging gets shaped very early in life, but there are powerful forces that guide it along the way, and steps you can take to maximize your later years. Professor Carpenter will participate in a LIVE Q&A immediately following the pre-recorded lecture. Register.

Tuesday, April 27, 5:30 pm: The History of Chocolate - Food Historian Lecture Series with Francine Segan. Enjoy a virtual guided tasting as you discover the role Christopher Columbus and Casanova played in chocolate history, how decadent high society sipped chocolate in the 17th century and modern innovations like bacon chocolate! Did you know that Napoleon indirectly helped invent a new chocolate flavor or why M&Ms and Nutella were created because of WWII? Discover the answers and more during this lively presentation. Register.
 
All lectures are free and held online. You must register in order to participate.

In order to reach more 50+ Rhode Islanders during the pandemic, we've taken to the airwaves with weekly appearances on radio stations in Woonsocket, Westerly and Newport.

AARP Rhode Island Communications Director John Martin (the former Rhode Island radio talk show host) joins the conversation on Woonsocket’s WOON (1240 AM) Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. as a guest on the storied “Coffee an…” morning show. Later on Tuesdays he chats at 9:30 a.m. with host Bruce Newbury on Newport’s WADK (540 AM). Wednesdays Martin checks in at 8:10 a.m. with morning host Frank Proznitz on Westerly’s WBLQ (1230 AM /103.1 FM). Our newest addition is WARV (1590 AM / 92.7 FM) in West Warwick, where updates will air weekday mornings at 8:05.

In addition, 60-second AARP Rhode Island Updates air daily on the above stations as well as WPRO (630 AM) and on our newest additions, WARV (1590 AM / 92.7 FM) in West Warwick, where updates will air weekday mornings at 8:05.

Tune in to stay in the know! 

Feeling lonely and isolated can be overwhelming, especially at this time of year. But help is available – and it’s free. Click here to learn more about Social Check-in.

Continuing our precautions against the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, AARP has made the difficult decision to cancel all in-person AARP Smart Driver Safety Classes for the remainder of 2020.  However, the AARP Smart Driver online course is available right now.  Participants taking the online course will be eligible for a special 25% discount through December 31, 2020.  You may also qualify for multiyear discount on your car insurance.

TAKE THE AARP SMART DRIVER™ ONLINE COURSE TODAY!

The AARP Smart Driver course is based on the latest driver safety research and insights. By taking the course online, you can move at your own pace from the comfort of your home. Over nine in ten people reported changing at least one driving behavior after completing the course. The course will teach you:

» Evidence-based safe driving strategies
» How to deal with aggressive drivers
» New traffic laws and rules of the road

Plus, upon completion, you may be eligible for a multiyear car insurance discount. Consult your insurance agent for details.

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Email Lorna Oinonen to learn more about becoming a volunteer with AARP Driver Safety in Rhode Island at jl.oinonen@gmail.com

The Rhode Island AARP Tax-Aide Program is seeking volunteers to provide help and assistance in the preparation of personal income tax returns.  Watch the video and then, to apply, just click the link below.