Improve your ability to think on your feet in this fun and active class that will have you laughing until your sides hurt! Using classic improv games that you may have seen on Whose Line Is It Anyways, the instructor will help you to gain confidence in your public speaking while strengthening your listening skills. A great class for anyone who spends any length of time in front of a group of people, whether it be in a professional setting or on the stage. No experience necessary!

About Mike: Michael Levine is a certified secondary school building administrator and English teacher who spent many years as a seminal figure in Portland’s theater community. He spent twenty years living on Peaks Island before moving to Portland’s West End where he lived for the next decade until moving to Hollis in the fall 2020. Mike founded and operated the old Oak Street Theater in 1994, and collaborated with Friends of St. Lawrence to open the Parish Hall Theater. He is the founder and former Producing Director of Acorn Productions, a theatrical education company that was located in Westbrook’s Dana Warp Mill for 8 years beginning in 2012 before moving to downtown Portland’s Mechanics Hall, another historic space he helped to renovate and open to the public. In that capacity, he directed dozens of plays, co-founded and served as Artistic Director of the Naked Shakespeare series, taught hundreds of students how to act and write plays, founded the Maine Playwrights Festival, and wrote two original full-length scripts produced at Acorn. Currently, Mike is the Executive Director of the Midcoast Symphony Orchestra. He is a passionate Shakespeare scholar who has presented several lectures about Shakespeare’s creative process and his so-called “lost” works.

A non-refundable $1.99 transaction fee will be added to the price of this class.

Crazy Quilts are decorative quilts made with blocks using a wide variety of fabrics, stitched to a foundation block and embellished with embroidery. This class would be great for using up all your scrap fabric and learning how to use your decorative stitches on your sewing machine. Make one block to frame or many for a quilt the size you desire. A sewing machine is required. Supply list will be sent to all participants once we know class will run.

About Jaki: Jaki Soper has been sewing and quilting for over 40 years. She is the owner of Quilt Studio 55, a local business that supports long arm services, studio classes, and custom quilt designs. Her classes are comprised of learning simple techniques which allow for truing up sewn units to achieve accuracy. If you are interested in mastering the flying geese units in the placemat class, or sewing with curves in the drunkard path class, then these classes are for you.

A non-refundable $1.99 transaction fee will be added to the price of this class.

We will be reading Girls That Invest by Simran Kaur. This course is a great introduction to investing. All experience levels are welcome! Ever wondered how on earth the stock market works, but felt too intimidated to ask “those questions? In this guide to investing in stocks (aka shares), Simran Kaur teaches the essential principles you can apply to any market, anywhere in the world. Because money provides the freedom to say yes or no, the freedom to handle whatever life throws at you, and the freedom to grow and prosper. This book is your invitation to join the thriving community of women who are building a better financial future. Investing is for everyone.

Students will need to purchase their own copy of the book to participate. Note: We will send all participants a link to the Zoom meeting prior to the start date.

FAME administers Maine’s higher education finance programs. Through a variety of loan, grant and scholarship programs, FAME helps Maine students and families meet the costs associated with higher education.

Sew a stuffed animal using a pattern from Funky Friends Factory. This is not a beginner class; you will need to know how to use your sewing machine and follow directions using a pattern. Supply list will be sent to all participants once we know class will run.

About Lori: Lori got started sewing because her daughter wanted a quilt when she was in kindergarten after she had heard a story about a quilt. She was 5 years old. She’s been sewing ever since, for over 15 years! Lori also loves being able to share her knowledge of sewing with beginners who are just starting out as well as others who are learning new tricks of the trade. “Teaching the correct way to use sewing machines to create clothing, display items used for decoration and practical items to use around the house or to give as gifts is such a rewarding experience.”

A non-refundable $1.99 transaction fee will be added to the price of this class.

While there are hundreds of techniques that can be used with watercolor, there are four basic skills that once learned will allow you to gain control of the medium and create with intention. Brush work, flat washes, graded washes and glazing are the foundation that all other techniques can be built upon. Lifting, charging, bleeding and reserved whites are some of the other techniques we will cover. Learn about what makes a good watercolor brush. Understand how to get transparent watercolor to remain clean and crisp. You’ll learn the difference between tube vs pan watercolor, types of brushes and papers and their uses. Beginners to advanced students welcome! Supply list will be sent to all participants once we know class will run.

About Debra: Debra Bickford has lived in the Buxton and Hollis area for over 50 years. She has a BA from Maine College of Art and a BS in Art Education from USM. She has taught Visual Arts in Maine at the High School Level for 37 years and recently retired. She has also served on the board of the Maine Art Education Association for twenty years and was the President from 2017-19. In 2015 she was the MAEA Secondary Art Educator of the year and in 2018 she was honored with the MAEA Art Educator of the year. Debra is a painter and printmaker who loves to garden.

A non-refundable $1.99 transaction fee will be added to the price of this class.

Intro to Spanish is an introductory level course on the language and culture of Spanish-speaking people. It is designed to teach and develop basic listening, speaking, reading and writing skills and to expand awareness of Spanish speaking cultures. Students learn common expressions and the basic ways to communicate in personal situations related to themes such as family, everyday life, travel and social activities. The geography and cultural practices of Spanish speaking countries are incorporated in this course.

About Stephanie: Stephanie is a long time educator, artist and mother of three. Her experience in education includes teaching students of all ages and across disciplines including art, humanities and World Languages. Stephanie earned her BA from The University of Texas San Antonio and her MA from Kent State University. Her professional interests include 19th century American Artists, the role of women in the arts, increasing cultural awareness among K-12 students and conjugation tables! In her free time, Stephanie enjoys being outside, spending time with her children, live music, gardening and caring for her animals. 

A non-refundable $1.99 transaction fee will be added to the price of this class.

Please join Alexandria Velez for an interactive journey into the mind of someone with Alzheimer's & other Dementia related diseases. This session is designed to assist participants in gaining a better understanding of how physical challenges, that may come with natural aging, may affect the day-to-day activities of a person who is diagnosed with memory loss. We will address physical challenges and provide tools for helping individuals with cognitive loss stay connected and comfortable as they work through tasks. Participants who volunteer will have the opportunity to experience a simulation where they will be given tasks to complete. The session wraps up with a group discussion about the experience, offering the opportunity to share what they’ve learned and how to incorporate the Join My Journey experience into everyday life. Choose the session you want online. No discounts.

About Alexandria: Alexandria Velez serves as the Program Director in Memory Care at Avita of Stroudwater, a community dedicated to supporting individuals with dementia. She graduated from the University of Southern Maine in 2015 with a Bachelor’s degree in Recreational Therapy and earned her CTRS (Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist) certification shortly thereafter. Alexandria also obtained her CDP (Certified Dementia Practitioner) certification. Recently, she expanded her impact by becoming a National Institute of Dementia Education Board Certified Dementia Educator, sharing her expertise through teaching and training others in the field. With 10 years of experience in the memory care industry, Alexandria remains committed to creating meaningful programming and fostering compassionate care for those living with dementia.

A non-refundable $1.99 transaction fee will be added to the price of this class.

Adulting is tough. Finances can be one of the trickiest parts of adulthood. Whether you’ve been adulting for decades or are just getting started, learn about banking basics, spending plans, credit scores, useful tools and apps that are available to make the whole adulting thing a little bit easier. Join us for this one-hour virtual workshop as you take the next steps into adulting.  Note: We will send all participants a link to the Zoom meeting prior to the start date.

FAME administers Maine’s higher education finance programs. Through a variety of loan, grant and scholarship programs, FAME helps Maine students and families meet the costs associated with higher education.