OLLI at UAH presents Microwave Dave in free program, celebrates Space Exploration Month

Stories from Huntsville’s iconic bluesman and a glimpse of the planning and training behind NASA missions will be featured during two special October events presented by Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (OLLI at UAH). A festive evening of good food and live music is on the schedule, too.

From his band, Microwave Dave & the Nukes, to his public radio show, “Takin’ the Blues,” to the Microwave Dave Music Education Foundation, a nonprofit supporting music education in area classrooms, Dave Gallaher has made a long and loud impact on Huntsville’s music scene and beyond. Hear all about it from Microwave Dave himself on Friday, Oct. 3, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Chan Auditorium on the campus of UAH, a part of The University of Alabama System.

Microwave Dave’s appearance is open to the general public free of charge as this semester’s OLLI Super Bonus event to encourage everyone to find out more about the fun OLLI has to offer. Food and refreshments will be available after the program in the OLLI lounge in Wilson Hall.

October is Space Exploration Month in the City of Huntsville, and OLLI is celebrating with Dr. Rick Chappell, who will share his experiences planning space exploration missions and undergoing full training as an alternate payload specialist for the space shuttle Atlantis, STS-45. Chappell is retired from NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

This program will be held on Monday, Oct. 6, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the main Huntsville-Madison County Public Library, 915 Monroe St. The event is also open to the public.

Again this year, OLLI at UAH is one of the featured nonprofit organizations to benefit from the U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s Biergarten. On Thursday, Oct. 9, from 5 to 7:30 p.m., everyone can enjoy an evening of good food, live music and fun under the Saturn V rocket in the Davidson Center. A percentage of sales will be donated to OLLI. Visit the Biergarten event page for more details.

“These three events are excellent examples of the types of quality and varied activities provided year-round by the OLLI at UAH program,” said Chris Stuhlinger, events committee chair.

OLLI at UAH is a member-based learning community for adults age 50 and up.

“Over the past 32 years, OLLI, with UAH’s staunch and unwavering support, continues to be at the forefront of delivering the gift of lifelong learning to Huntsville and the wider Madison County elder communities,” said Phil Graham, OLLI board president.

“Dr. Chappell’s presentation on space exploration at Huntsville’s main library, Biergarten promotion at the Davidson Center and sponsorship of the musical arts with Microwave Dave are visible testaments to how elderhood thrives at OLLI across multi-generational connection points.”

To learn more about OLLI at UAH, visit the OLLI homepage. OLLI representatives will also have an information table at the Madison Street Festival on Saturday, Oct. 4.