A popular class! Absolute beginners and those with a little experience will learn the chords, skills, and techniques that are a strong foundation for starting your guitar playing journey. Learn how to strum simple tunes and how to make the most of your practice time. Open to adults and high school students 16 years or older. Acoustic guitar and picks required. Electronic tuner and capo highly recommended. 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 Wednesdays, 2/6 to 3/6/2019, no class 2/20, 6:30 to 8:30 pm, $60

Instructor: Ian Weidner

Photo credit: Iris Weidner

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. An electronic tuner is highly recommended. Open to adults and high school students 16 years or older. 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 Wednesdays, 3/13 to 4/3/2019, 6:30 to 8:30 pm, $60

Instructor: Ian Weidner

Photo credit: Iris Weidner

A great class for those who have played guitar for a while and can competently strum through songs but want to expand their knowledge of the mapping the fretboard, understanding scales, triads, and some simple music theory. Learn to use the C-A-G-E-D system to navigate the fretboard. Add dynamics to your rhythm playing and develop ways to improvise and express your unique creativity. Other topics based on students' interests too. Acoustic guitar and capo required. Electronic tuner highly recommended. 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 Wednesdays, 1/9 to 1/30/2019, 6:30 to 8:30 pm, $60

Instructor: Ian Weidner

Photo credit: Iris Weidner

Get to know the soups-to-nuts, from tongue to derriere, of your digestive tract. You’ll learn the anatomy of your digestive tract, how your gut processes food, and why those little bugs called your microbiome are so important. 

Instructor Stephanie Walsh MNT, CEPC, CPT, is a master nutrition therapist, eating psychology coach and personal trainer. She uses a holistic approach, treating each person as unique and creating programs specific to you.

Thurs, 3/7/2019, 6:00 to 7:30 pm, $15

Have you heard of the “mother sauces” but never tried to make them? Even if you haven’t, in this class you’ll learn what they are and how to make a few of the trickier ones: Hollandaise, Veloute and Tomato.

We’re pleased to have returning, Chef James Larvia, 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 include: food sampling, any leftovers to take home, handout Bring to all classes: apron, cutting board, knife, and a container to bring leftovers home.

Tues, 4/2/2019, 5:30 to 7:00 pm, $22, Limit: 8

2019 is the year to secure a clean energy rate significantly lower than your local utility’s. Solar technology costs has dropped in price by more than 75% over the past 10 years, making today a great time to invest. Save money, become more energy efficient, and take a bite out of climate change. Consider incentives and options - including the new reality of the “100% solar home,” achievable by combining solar, heat pumps, battery storage, and an electric vehicle. 2019 is your year to achieve a clean energy lifestyle! Offered as a free community service by ReVision Energy.

Thurs, 2/12/2019, 6:30 to 8:00 pm, 

$10 adult ed processing fee

Instructor: ReVision Energy 

Part of the Beginner Mindfulness Art Series

Enjoy capturing Maine’s beautiful villages, coasts, skies, lakes, streams, fields and woodlands – from your own unique abstract perspective. Exercises will emphasize various mark making and painting effects in an abstract way while providing an understanding of the basic principles of color theory and composition. Primarily oil painting, but acrylics, with faster drying times, also welcome. This is an indoor studio class, using demos and your own chosen photos. Supply list provided once class determined to run. 

Part of the Mindfulness Art Series: Students will explore basic foundations and technical skills within a mindfulness-based atmosphere. The objective will be to gradually overcome inhibitions and perfectionism, free oneself from judgment, and allow one’s inner artist to unfold naturally - in order to create in the most relaxed, soulful and intuitive ways. No experience required, just curiosity and willingness to tap into unchartered creative territory. Those with experience welcome to come build upon previous skills. Chris graduated from Bowdoin College with a BA in Visual Arts. He’s a painter, exhibitor, and art teacher inspired by the synthesis of nature, the evolving play of light, and each artist’s unique, mindful expression of feelings and interpretation; website: christopherdreed.com

Six Thurs, 03/21 to 05/02/2019, no class 04/18, 6:00 to 8:00 pm, $85, plus supplies provided by student

Instructor: Christopher Reed

This is a two-evening course taught by instructors of the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety. PowerPoint presentations facilitate discussion on new traffic laws, rules of the road, collision avoidance, driver habits and attitudes, and elements that challenge Maine drivers on a daily basis. Drivers who complete the course may be eligible for a 3-point credit on their driving record and possible discount from their insurance carrier. (Choose one of two sessions offered)

Session I: Tues and Thurs, 2/26 and 

                  2/28/2019 OR  

6:00 to 8:30 pm,

$40, $25 seniors 65+  

Instructor: Assigned by 

                    Bureau of Highway Safety