Are you, your family, and pets prepared for a long-term power outage, the impacts of a severe snow or ice storm, major hurricane, flooding, or other extended emergency?

One or two days without electricity and heat may be manageable, but what about extended periods and/or if you need to evacuate to a shelter? Learn greater self-sufficiency for the days after an extended and/or area-wide emergency. Topics include: assembling an emergency preparedness kit; creating a family emergency and communication plan; overviewing issues related to food, water, lighting, heat, health and hygiene; prevention and mitigation strategies you can do at home to protect household members, valuables and important documents; and info on community resources and shelters. Class located in a designated shelter space to facilitate questions about how to prepare your family and pets for a shelter stay, should that become necessary. Presented as a collaboration of the Scarborough Fire Department, Scarborough Public Library, and Scarborough Adult Learning Center.

Tues, 3/17/2020, 6:30 to 8:00 pm, Scarborough High School cafeteria 

FREE, no registration required

Facilitators: Scarborough Fire Chief and EMA Director Michael Thurlow,  

and Nancy Crowell, Director of Scarborough Public Library

Enjoy homemade comfort, while eating lower on the food chain. Learn to make Georgia Peanut Stew as well as Vegetarian Caldo Verde (Portuguese Greens soup).

Wed, 03/18/2020, 5:30 to 7:30 pm, $25, Limit: 8 

Chef James Larvia is a graduate of Johnson & Wales School of Culinary Arts with concentrations in sustainability and wellness. He shares his experiences from cooking at Jedediah Hawkins Inn, NY; The Barn, Block Island, RI; Havana in Bar Harbor; and Emilitsa in Portland. Prices for all classes in the Culinary Arts Series include: food sampling, any leftovers to take home, handout Bring to all classes: apron, cutting board, knife, and a container to bring leftovers home. 

Other Culinary Arts Series Classes Include: Culinary Basics and Knife Skills, Whole Chicken Processing, German Winter Cuisine, Winter Comfort Soups and Stews 

Explore the gut-stress connection in this popular class! Stress can negatively affect your gut, brain and overall health.  Additionally, what you eat can either support or compromise your mood and brain activity. In this workshop learn about the gut-brain connection, how stress and depression or anxiety effect your gut health, and what foods or supplements are vital for optimal gut and brain health.  

Tues, 3/24/2020, 6:00 to 7:30 pm, $15

Instructor: Stephanie Walsh

Further develop your guitar playing skills and improve your understanding of the guitar fret board. We’ll also play blues progressions and rhythms, touch on simple music theory, and begin to improvise and express your unique creativity. Acoustic guitar, capo, and pick required; electronic tuner highly recommended. Open to adults and 16 yrs+. 

Ian has played guitar for over 25 years and has taught group and private lessons for over six years; excellent student evals here at the Scarborough Adult Learning Center keep students coming back for more!

Four Wed, 3/25 to 4/15/2020, 6:30 to 8:00 pm, $60

Instructor: Ian Weidner

What colors capture the best in you? Have you ever noticed when you’re wearing certain colors, people compliment you on how good you look? Learn to replicate that in all of your clothes by dressing for your eye, hair and skin coloring as well as for your face shape. Students will be draped in shades of different colors to demonstrate how choosing the right and wrong shades impacts their appearance. Students will explore cool vs. warm tones, determine their face shape, and uncover the most flattering glasses, hairstyles and necklines for their features. 

Candace is owner of Radiant Image, and has 30 years of branding and marketing experience working with a variety of organizations throughout northern New England. Her mission is to boost women’s self-confidence by helping them feel great about their appearance and their ability to connect effectively with others.

Tues, 3/31/2020, 5:30 to 8:30 pm, $25

Instructor: Candace Sanborn

Can’t travel to Germany, let the cooking take you there! Chef James will teach you more about his favorite type of cuisine by instructing you on how to make flavorful German Potato Salad, Spaetzel, and Braised Pork Ribs with Sauerkraut!

Thurs, 04/2/2020, 5:30 to 7:30 pm, $27, Limit: 8

Chef James Larvia is a graduate of Johnson & Wales School of Culinary Arts with concentrations in sustainability and wellness. He shares his experiences from cooking at Jedediah Hawkins Inn, NY; The Barn, Block Island, RI; Havana in Bar Harbor; and Emilitsa in Portland. Prices for all classes in the Culinary Arts Series include: food sampling, any leftovers to take home, handout Bring to all classes: apron, cutting board, knife, and a container to bring leftovers home. 

Other classes in the Culinary Arts Series include: Culinary Basics and Knife Skills, Whole Chicken Processing, Winter Comfort Soups and Stews, and Vegetarian Soups and Stews.

New! Create a lovely night sky-inspired piece of wall art using simple materials. Project is easily customizable using your favorite constellations and creates a beautiful glow in any space. Share as a gift, with astrology or astronomy fans of all ages, or use as a children’s night light. Leave with a 12” x 12” x 1” lighted canvas ready to hang. Instructor will bring various constellations and astrology patterns, or attendees can bring their own, no more than 9” x 9”. Sarah deGrandis, BFA in New Media from ME College of Art, is a formally-trained artist, longtime crafter and instructor who’s passionate about exploring and teaching new types of crafts, as well as modern takes on traditional techniques: www.instagram.com/sjanecraft/

Tues, 4/7/2020, 6:00 to 8:00 pm, $25, plus $10 material fee paid to instructor the night of class

Instructor: Sarah deGrandis

Always popular!  Learn to grow your own vegetables in an organic and sustainable manner: Cover basics of soil science and how to enrich your soil to produce healthy, high-yielding plants. Learn the the fundamentals of making and using compost, the principles of crop rotation and how to incorporate green manures to manage nutrients in the garden. Also included: how to tell the difference between cultivated plants and weeds, basic weed control strategies, and cultural methods for dealing with pests. Instructor will be an experienced farmer or gardener from your region. Head home with workshop handouts and some seeds to get started. All welcome, from first-timers to experienced gardeners who want to experiment with new techniques.

Wed, 4/8/2020, 5:00 to 8:00 pm, $5, plus separate $5 material fee at class

Instructor: tbd from Maine Organic Gardeners and Farmers Association