Community Education - Rochester, Minnesota

Start your day with Minnesota Public Radio former host Tom Weber. He will be speaking about his book, "100 Things to Do in the Twin Cities Before You Die." His book is a guide to the most rewarding list of things to do in the Twin Cities. Even if you are familiar with the Twin Cities, several of his suggestions will be a delightful surprise!  Copies of Tom's book, for purchase and signing, will be available after class.

Made up of longtime Twin Cities headliners as well as “Prairie Home Companion” alumni, Lush Country is an all-star band that plays the best country hits from the hi-fi era. Enjoy tunes from Patsy Cline to Willie Nelson and everyone in between, including favorites such as “Stand by Your Man,” “Crazy” and “Jolene.” Get your country fix with Lush Country!* Fee includes coach transportation, theatre ticket, and lunch at the Minnesota Masonic Heritage Center (BBQ Chicken, BBQ Ribs, Mac and Cheese, Green beans, Coleslaw, Corn bread with honey butter, dessert, coffee or hot tea)* 10 AM Depart Northrop Parking Lot* 5:30 PM approximate return* No refunds after May 15* Fee: $89

Spring Gardening Seminar, Saturday, April 13, 20198 am-3 pm8300.2319-10:15 am Keynote Speakers Prescott's Grill Chef Chris Rohe and Jenna RoheChef Christopher Rohe started cooking early in Rochester and has worked in and around Rochester for 21 years. He received his culinary diploma from a Rochester Community College Program. He worked at the Broadstreet Cafe for 7 years as Executive Chef and as Food & Beverage Director at the Rochester Athletic Club for 5 years. Executive Chef Christopher Rohe has worked for many years to achieve his Certified Executive Chef status from the American Culinary Federation (ACF). Jenna Rohe has worked in the customer service field, restaurants and catering facilities for many years. Her training through the International Sommelier Guild has made her love of wine her second passion. Grow It, Cook It, Eat It. (From Field to Fork)Chef Rohe will share his tricks on how to utilize homegrown or locally grown produce for fast, healthy meals. You will see a chef prepare “Local” produce outside the “Box.”Chef Chris Rohe and Jenna Rohe, Owners, Prescott’s Grill10:30-11:20 am Session #1 Choices“Dig” Art! Cultivating Creativity in the Garden Key concepts of design, use of color and texture. Inspiration for repurposing items and art to use as a focal points.Beth Solie, Retired Landscape Designer, U of M Olmsted County Master GardenerHouseplant Patrol: Basic Care, Problem-Solving, and ResourcesBest practices of how to grow and care for popular varieties of indoor plants. Diseases, soil considerations, light, and fertilizer requirements.Nancy McGinnis, Owner, Greenwood PlantsTree and Shrub MaintenanceHow to prune. What to prune. When to prune. Proper tools and techniques.Ryan Brick, Maier Tree and Lawn Service“Weeding is NOT Fun!” In your busy life, exactly how can you have the garden you want-with the time you have? See greater rewards from your garden--without spending hours.Robin Fruth-Dugstad, RCTC Horticulture Professor11:30 am-12:30 pm Lunch and Greenhouse Tour12:40-1:30 pm Session #2 ChoicesGo Wild with Native Plants!Plants native to our area and their impact on our environment. Diseases and animal pests will be discussed as well as integrating natives into your garden.Joel Dunnette, Rochester Garden and Flower ClubHummingbirds in MinnesotaWhat you need to know about attracting hummingbirds to your garden and their benefits as pollinators. The impacts of weather and insecticides on birds and pollinators.Don Mitchell, U of M Goodhue County Master GardenerInvasive Plants: Wrong Plants in the Wrong Place Find out what is considered an “invasive plant”. Proper techniques for control and the environmental impact. Joyce and Terry Grier, U of M Olmsted County Master GardenersSuccess with SucculentsCare and propagation of succulents. A look at plant selection and hardiness as well as use in your landscape.Ron Flemke, Owner, (Landscape Maintenance Business)1:40-2:30 pm Session #3 ChoicesDig Into Gardening Basics Fundamental requirements for successful vegetable and flower gardening including: location, soil, seeds, plants, and maintenance. Plant seeds, take some home!RCTC Horticulture Students, RCTC Horticulture ProgramHerbs for the Home GardenerHow to select, grow, and care for herbs. Uses in cooking and in aromatherapy.Gretchen McCoy, U of M Olmsted County Master Gardener“Let’s Get Potted” - The Art of Container GardeningBasics of successful container gardening including location, soil, containers, seed and plant selection, maintenance, and “imagination.”Vickie Hennessey, (The Crack Pot Gardener), U of M Olmsted County Master GardenerTips for Gardening with Raised BedsBenefits of raised bed gardens. Tips for construction, suggested materials, soil, care, and plant selections. Sharon Pharis, Rochester Garden and Flower ClubCosponsored with RCTC Horticulture Program, Rochester Garden and Flower Club, Shades of Green Hosta Society, and the U of M Olmsted County Master Gardeners. Vendors will be onsite offering their products.Transportation is not included. Registration Deadline: Monday, April 8.  No refunds after March 15.  If canceled due to inclement weather, you will be issued a refund minus costs incurred (including supplies, food, and salaries).

For twenty five years on, renowned composer Bill Whelan brings this mesmerizing soundtrack back to life, completely revitalized for the first time since those original orchestral recordings. Producer Moya Doherty and Director John McColgan have produced an amazing new 25th Anniversary production with innovative and spectacular lighting, projection, staging and costume design, and an all-new finale number sure to blow audiences away. RIVERDANCE began its journey as the interval act in the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, produced for television by Moya Doherty. This electrifying and innovative seven minute dance piece was then developed into a full-length stage show by Producer Moya Doherty, Composer Bill Whelan and Director John McColgan. With its fusion of Irish and International music and dance, the show broke all box office records during its world première run in Dublin in early 1995. When the show transferred to London the reaction was unprecedented. There followed a hugely successful tour starting in New York in March 1996, where 8 sold-out shows at Radio City Music Hall heralded the start of two decades of touring by Riverdance companies throughout North America. Since its inception Riverdance has packed theatres throughout North America, Oceania, Asia, Europe, South Africa and South America.* Fee includes coach bus transportation and main floor center, Rows G-N theatre tickets * 11:30 AM Depart Northrop Parking Lot* 5:30 PM Approximate return * No refunds after Jun. 30* Fee: $105

Three love stories, a murder mystery, and a nuclear espionage plot converge in this comedy about marriage and other explosive devices. It's 1952: America's on the verge of the H-bomb, Eisenhower's on the campaign trail, and Senator Joe McCarthy's daughter just got engaged to a Soviet spy. A sharp-eyed look at love and tying (and untying, and retying) the knot. "Hilarious. A fun, farcical romp with a cleverly plot and loving heart.” Philadelphia Inquirer * Fee includes coach transportation, theatre ticket, and lunch at the Minnesota Masonic Heritage Center (Chicken breast in herb and wine cream sauce, seasonal vegetables, rolls, parsley potatoes, dessert, coffee/tea)* 10 AM Depart RCTC Sports Center Parking Lot* 5 PM Approximate return* No refunds after  Feb 10* Fee: $85

This is not a typical “juke-box musical.” It offers a fresh, remarkably personal, and poignant picture of the woman whose unparalleled talent and unbridled personality made her a legend. In Tenderly, Rosemary Clooney’s journey starts with her simple Maysville, Kentucky childhood and follows her rise to Hollywood stardom. With her signature songs woven in and out, we learn both the story of her successes on film,radio, and TV, as well as her struggles in her personal life – with a career fading during the advent of rock-and-roll and her battles with addiction and depression. Audiences stand and cheer as they rejoice at her triumphant comeback and even more successful career as a jazz singer.* Fee includes coach transportation, theatre ticket, and lunch (choice of four entrees, dinner rolls, seasonal vegetable, coffee, tea, and dessert) * 9:30 AM Depart RCTC Sports Center Parking Lot* 5:30 PM Approximate return* No refunds after Apr 10* Fee: $89

Turn retirement concerns into confidence. Learn how to manage six key risks all retirees face: outliving their income, inflation, unpredictable events, market volatility, income taxes, and rising healthcare costs. www.Thrivent.com

If you enjoy learning about historical events, this class is for you! Dorothy A. Lund Nelson will guide you through a part of American History of the many children that were “placed out” into homes across our country. Over a period of 75 years, over 200,000 children traveled by train to find new parents and families. Attend and learn why the children traveled, what conditions they left behind, and who assisted them in finding a new family. Through a presentation, videos, and many Orphan Train Riders’ stories, you will find you'll want to learn more!

Practice makes perfect. If rescues are new to you, or you want to learn the latest heel hook reentry or hand of God rescue, or just practice what you already know, this is an opportunity to do self and assisted rescues with and without sprayskirts. We use throw lines, towlines, paddle floats, stirrups, prussiks, and other gear as needed. Prior to class, contact Jeff@pilgrimpaddles.com for location and gear.

The rivers of SE Minnesota are rated class I but the trees are class III. Learn how rivers are classified, how to read and scout rapids, and to paddle turns, gravel bars, trees, rocks, ledges, waves, and eddies. We link together strokes to perform ferries, eddy turns, and peelouts. Learn to swim in moving water, do self and assisted rescues, and learn to use throw lines and z-drags. Helmets and spray skirts recommended for decked boats. Prior to class, contact Jeff@pilgrimpaddles.com for location and gear.

How do you decide where, when, and what to paddle? How do you know if a river is too low or too high? Do you understand how gages report river height and volume? Are you receive an email notification when your favorite route is at your favorite level? Learn about online resources as well as useful guidebooks. Understand what smartphone apps to use to monitor water levels, wind and weather, for navigation, file float plans, or for first aid. We’ll cover social media and websites from the American Canoe Association, American Whitewater, BSA, state DNRs, NOAA, USACE, USGS, and USFWS.

A few of the reasons abdominal muscles can weaken and lose shape are past pregnancies,  surgeries, sitting at a desk all day, being sedentary, and poor posture. In this workshop, you will  learn a series of extremely effective exercises that will quickly strengthen all four layers of  abdominal muscle, especially the deepest layer WITHOUT stressing your back or neck joints and  WITHOUT having to get on the floor. Don't waste time with traditional crunches. Learn a different, more effective way to flatten your stomach, re-shape your waistline, and prevent/relieve lower back discomfort.

This class prepares the student to take the exam for an FCC Technician Class Amateur (Ham) Radio License. It combines live lectures, multimedia, and demonstrations of Amateur Radio equipment and activities. Lunch will be provided all three days. Please contact the instructor if there are any special dietary requirements. Prerequisite: students must purchase the textbook – “Ham Radio License Manual – Fourth Edition” and read at least the first four chapters prior to the first day of class. Contact the instructor (wfosler@gmail.com) if you need assistance in obtaining the book, and with any dietary restrictions.

Have you taken a sign language class and loved it? Are you ready for a higher level? Join us and build on the fundamentals (from the Adult Community Education ASL 1 class or other experience). Our focus will be on numbers, fingerspelling, and vocabulary. American Sign Language (ASL) is the native language of both teachers. Come ready to enhance your receptive and expressive skills. Handouts of materials used for the class will be provided.

American Tribal Style® belly dance is an improvisational dance form combining Middle Eastern and Folkloric dance styles. ATS consists of a movement vocabulary that allows dancers to perform together without choreography. This beginning course will teach the basics of the dance, including dance posture and body consciousness, level one ATS movements, formations and improvisation. Physical demands will be moderate and self-paced. The course is open to women and men. Wear comfortable clothing.

American Tribal Style® belly dance Level 2 will expand upon the dance vocabulary learned in ATS Level 1. The emphasis will be on learning intermediate moves, dancing in formation, including variations, and learning combinations of moves. Students should have taken at least one session of ATS Level 1 or by permission of the instructor. Physical demands will be moderate and self-paced.

Join Julianne and Brenda for a discussion on the latest medical assistance and techniques to preserve your assets. www.thefuneralady.com

When executed with masterful technique, a single ink brushstroke is capable of conveying vitality, delicacy, and contemplation—the essence of Chinese philosophy and spirit. It is this “life force” or chi (pronounced chee) that the artist aspires to capture and express through brush painting. Unlike European-trained artists, those trained in traditional Chinese brush painting techniques do not try to create a realistic rendering of the external appearance of a subject, but instead seek to capture its inner spirit. The essence of the subject is retained in the artist’s imagination, and it is this image that is painted in a moment of spontaneous inspiration.  It is thought to prevent dementia, promote longevity, and good health.  A $25 supply fee will be collected the first night for all required supplies (2 brushes, ink, 60 sheets of rice paper).

India, the world’s leading ethnic food, brings you a complete range of delicacies. Each recipe brings out the rich aromatic flavors and tastes. Recipes include: Paneer Pakora: (fritter stuffed with Indian cheese cubes), Chicken Vindaloo (chicken and potatoes cooked in tangy, hot, and spicy tomato sauce), Palak Paneer (spinach and homemade Indian cheese cubes cooked in spices and herbs), Dal Makhani (simmered stew of lentils in creamy sauce), Rice Pulau (basmati rice cooked to perfection and seasoned with onion rings, raisins, and special blend of Indian spices), Poori (deep-fried ballooned wheat bread), and Malai Burfi (cream fudges with nuts and spices).

Embrace "Spring Fever" and learn how to make homemade soap, using beautiful spring fragrances and additives! You will leave with 6-8 bars of soap, ready to be given as a wonderful gifts for your friends and family, or keep them for yourself. A $15 supply fee will be collected.

Leonard Bernstein and Gustav Mahler shared a lot. They both had Jewish roots in Eastern Europe; both conducted the New York Philharmonic; both were brilliant composers. And Bernstein championed Mahler’s music. We examine Bernstein’s "Overture to Candide" and suites from "Fancy Free" and "On the Waterfront." Then Mahler’s youthful "First Symphony," which set a new standard in symphonic writing for the 20th century. Cosponsored with the Rochester Symphony Orchestra and Chorale.Class is held at Kellogg Middle School - 503 17th St NE, Rochester, MN.