In this year-long series of art classes, we'll explore nature's rhythms across the four seasons: winter, spring, summer and fall.  Each class session focuses on observing and capturing seasonal changes in plants, animals and weather through drawing, watercolor and ink. Students will connect with the environment through hands-on activities, embracing the stillness of winter, renewal of spring, abundance of summer and transition of fall. Join us for one season or experience the full cycle. Each session offers a deeper appreciation of nature's constant transformations.  For supplies, we will use large drawing pads, pencils, pens and charcoal.

France Hilbert has taught classes at College of the Atlantic since 2018. She is a professional artist and art educator with an extensive resume of training and experience including major commissions and installations. Her artistic education began at the age of seven, when she was taught by her grandfather, the late artist Jaro Hilbert. From him, she received a thorough education in the classical tradition. She pursued her formal education at the National Fine Art Academy of Paris, France, (ENSBA), was an artist in residence in Copenhagen, studied German Expressionism in Berlin, and traveled extensively to paint and study around Europe and abroad. At the Art Students League of New York, she received a Merit Scholarship to master portraiture in painting and completed a Certificate in Sculpture. She was selected for “Model to Monument”, a sculpture program at The Academy of Art, Newington Cropsey Foundation, Hastings on Hudson, NY and received an Edward G. McDowell Travel Grant from the Art Students League of New York. Of her many public and private commissions, some are permanent installations. “Talma”, a 7-foot bronze sculpture is installed in the public square of the Theatre of the Valley of L’Yerres, in Brunoy, France. A pair of 4-foot bronze relief sculptures entitled ”The Calling” are installed at the Georgetown University Medical School building in Washington, DC.

Airbnb SuperHost Diana Merenda is committed to sharing her experience in building her status with Airbnb.  She has lots of very practical tips on how to build a strong business that will bring you joy and success.

She’ll cover registering on the Airbnb site, understanding the calendar and how to best describe your space, but that’s just the beginning. Robust communication from before guests book until they leave is a huge priority for Diana.  She’ll also focus on setting-up house rules from “Welcome” to “Goodbye” and preparing for perfection, while keeping your budget in mind. All of this will result in strong reviews which are critical for success as an Airbnb host.  This is an in-person class.

Diana Merenda, MBA, taught the Management Capstone course at CUNY’s Baruch College for 7 years, as well as Microsoft Suite classes within NY’s SCOPE Adult Ed. She worked within financial services for 30 years before moving to Surry’s Patten Bay.

This morning class, practiced in a chair, offers mind and body benefits without having to get up and off the floor or even changing into yoga clothes!  Enjoy a “pick me up” at home or at your office by using structural techniques to improve your range of motion, relax tight or overused muscles, and release tension from the mind. This is a live, online class using ZOOM.  

Michelle Spencer is a Certified Stroke and Brain Injury Fitness Instructor, Coach through WellPeer, and a survivor of a Stroke and Ruptured Arteriovenous Malformation in 2014.

This hands-on workshop aims to empower women with essential car maintenance skills, building confidence and independence in managing their vehicles. Participants will learn foundational car care, safety checks, and problem-solving strategies for common issues, taught in a supportive, welcoming environment.  

Topics:

• Understanding Under the Hood
• Tire Maintenance & Changing a Flat Tire
• Battery Maintenance and Jump-Starting a Car
• Essential Emergency Kit & Safety Tips
• Resources for more information

This is an in-person class.

You can learn to paint just like Bob Ross does on TV - in a few hours! Classes are suited for beginners; you need no previous experience to attend. Annette Babcock is a Certified Ross instructor® and is certified to teach the Ross Landscape Method®.  

Evening Waterfall is from Joy of Painting® Season 12 Episode 8.  We will create an amazing waterfall in the evening forest on a black 16 x20 canvas.  Genuine Bob Ross Inc.® materials are used and provided.  Students are asked to bring a roll of paper towels for their personal use.  This is an in-person class.

You accumulate assets over time and may forget to look at the big picture.  For example, you start a small retirement account at your first job and name a beneficiary at that time; you buy a piece of land while you’re still single; you inherit money and deposit it to your checking account.  When you die, each of those assets will follow different distribution paths. 

“Estate Planning” is about getting documents prepared to plan for your future AND about making sure you’ve got your i’s dotted and your t’s crossed.  You don’t have to be rich or old to go through this process.    

Join Rebecca Sargent and Elizabeth Young, with Jones, Kuriloff & Sargent, LLC, to learn about the documents and considerations.  There’s the financial power of attorney (i.e., who's going to pay your bills when you no longer can); medical power of attorney (i.e., who will make medical decisions if you’re incapacitated); and your Will (i.e., what happens to your assets when you die). 

This workshop is for people who want to learn the basics about estate planning.  If you have put off thinking about these issues because you don't know where to start or what questions to ask, this workshop is for you!  This is an in-person class.

Soups made with love are a nourishing and inexpensive way to feed your family. In this series, we will share techniques, tools, ingredients and tips learned through years of cooking for family and friends.  You’ll learn techniques for preparing ingredients and bringing them all together, as well as tips on storage and serving.  A focus of the workshops will be the use of affordable and locally available ingredients, and adapting recipes to a variety of tastes and dietary requirements.  Handouts, recipes and a small container of soup for your family to try will be provided.  This is an in-person class.

All registration fees are donated to the Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry.    

Brothy Soups  When you want a lighter soup featuring key ingredients this is the choice for you. We will be preparing chicken noodle soup.  This workshop will feature choosing the right broth and ingredients for your family, lifestyle, budget and diet.  

Annie has always loved to cook for family and friends.  She started cooking when she was seven and was a keen observer of all the cooks in her family and beyond. She's worked in kitchens and also spent most of her childhood and early adulthood in western and eastern Europe, the Middle East and South Asia, so her palate is broad. She shares her love of cooking with family and friends through the preparation of food full of flavor. One of her priorities when she's cooking is to create a meal that accommodates all dietary requirements--a meal that everyone can enjoy!

In this class, we will explore how to turn our food waste, and organic waste matter into compost using the smallest little helpers around...worms! We will begin with a very brief overview of the whys and hows of composting, discuss worm bin options, what to compost in your bin, how many worms one might need, what kind of worms to use, what kind of bedding to use, troubleshooting your worm bin, and so much more! This will all be taught in two classes. In the second class, you will make your own bin to bring home so you can get started right away!

Despe has been in the business of creating healthier soils, and comunities for both and non-profit business for the last ten years. She began creating compost and experimenting with different techniques while working in the community gardens, as well as her own large production garden when she realized how expensivie the store bought could be! In 2023, she started Lebel's Lane Landscaping in hopes of pursing a more intentional way to help customers acheive beauty in their gardens, in a sustainable and eco -friendly way.