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Oprah Winfrey, the billionaire who ended her 25-year talk show stint on May 25, 2011, has been taking a well deserved summer break, but come fall she’ll be taking on two new titles at OWN, chief executive officer and chief creative officer.

She’ll claim the title previously held by Christina Norman, who was dismissed in May during a shakeup and restructuring.

Fans who took Oprah up on her parting offer to become email pals at oprah@oprah.com, have been receiving updates at regular intervals. This writer jumped at the chance. Today brought more news from O.

Last week she attended the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference on July 7, with all of the movers and shakers of the world. She was particularly impressed by Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook.

So what else has Oprah been doing with herself this summer? She is taking swimming lessons. Admitting that she has always been a “challenged swimmer,” she has mastered the doggy paddle and is now working on the breast stroke. Who says you can’t teach a 57-year-old new tricks?

Winfrey also shared the fact that Harpo co-presidents Erik Logan and Sheri Salata “will bring their unique partnering leadership into alignment with the network. Harpo team and OWN team become ONE.”

Those who have been watching OWN episodes of Season 25: Oprah Behind the Scenes, know that Salata served as the brilliant and steady executive producer of The Oprah Winfrey Show.

So what will Harpo’s crack stable of talented producers do next? They’ll work their magic on the new Rosie O’Donnell show that will air daily from Chicago beginning in October.

Meanwhile, Oprah will be commuting from her Montecito estate to OWN’s L.A. headquarters, where she’ll be working on Oprah’s Next Chapter and 100 Best Lessons. Those two offerings will start airing on October 10, 2011, the same day that Rosie launches her new show.

Oprah admits: “At my core I’m a teacher, masquerading as a talk show host. And now I’ll have a nightly class on OWN.”

Winfrey has been enjoying life on her 42-acre estate, with panoramic ocean and mountain views. Every Thursday she heads to her garden to harvest onions, beans, beets, basil and even corn on the cob. She’s also mulling over the prospect of taking some Tuscany cooking courses.

We’re expecting big things at OWN … with Oprah firmly at the helm.

Photo: WENN