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.

Adored by fans, SimpleGifts makes musical magic by bringing a modern flair to traditional Christmas carols and hymns. This award winning six-piece ensemble combines violin, Celtic whistle and bagpipes, piano, acoustic guitar and percussion with angelic three-part female vocals to create a "modern Old-World" sound. You don’t want to miss this very special performance! Fee includes coach transportation, theatre tickets, and lunch at the Minnesota Masonic Heritage Center (Menu includes Rotisserie Chicken with warm sides, a cold salad, dessert, coffee/tea). *10 AM Depart RCTC Sports Center Parking Lot*5 PM Approximate return arrival at the RCTC Sport Center *No refunds after Nov 15* Fee: $89

Spring Gardening Seminar, Saturday, April 13, 20198 am-3 pm8300.2319-10:15 am Keynote Speakers 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 Restaurant10:30-11:20 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.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).

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

Cobbler's Cottage is haunted by Susie Cameron and her husband Jack, who, in life, was a successful author. Annoyed to find themselves victims of a tragic accident, their ghosts have taken up residence in their former cottage. To ensure their privacy, all interested tenants have been scared away -- much to the distraction of Mark Webster, the estate agent trying to rent the property. Things are about to change however with the arrival of a young married couple awaiting the arrival of their first child. The ghosts take a shine to the newcomers and perhaps all can live happily -- if a meddling mother-in-law and a befuddled Guardian Angel can be got out of the way. Do angels really have wings? Are the pearly gates pearly? These and other questions are pondered by Jack and Susie Cameron in Pam Valentine's charming and whimsical comedy, Spirit Level.* Fee includes coach transportation, buffet luncheon (Chicken Kiev, roast loin of pork, country sausage with sauerkraut, salad bar, red potatoes, cut green beans, rolls and butter, dessert, coffee/tea),  and theatre ticket* 10:30 AM Depart RCTC Sports Center Parking Lot* 5:00 PM Approximate return * No refunds after Jan 15* 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

Rochester Tai Chi Practitioners (RTCP) invites you to start a lifelong enjoyment of gentle Tai Chi movements and exercises. These movements help to stretch muscles and joints, improve body balance, plus many other physical and mental benefits. You will learn the standardized Beijing 24-form Tai Chi. On completion, you can join the RTCP for free year-round, weekly practice sessions to continue movement refinements and learn new forms (40- and 42-form) of Tai Chi.

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!

Claire will explain the rules regarding income tax residency and estate tax residency. She will describe who needs to file income taxes in Minnesota and the factors the government considers when determining if an estate needs to file an estate tax return in Minnesota. Her presentation will also cover rules for non-residents who own real estate in Minnesota. www.yanowitzlaw.com.

Learn about standup paddleboarding, hard and inflatable boards, fins, paddles, lifejackets, leashes, what to wear, and how to transport an SUP. Do you know when you should, shouldn’t, and must wear a lifejacket or leash? We’ll cover launching and loading, and learn efficient forward and turning strokes. A second session can be scheduled for those interested in paddling with their dog or more advanced topics like heel and pitch, the offset surf stance and pivot turns. Tyrol Ski and Sport provides board, paddle, and lifejacket.

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.

Join us for a quick review of Audrey Grant protocol, then move on to dealing with distributional hands. Each class will have some emphasis on defense. We may even learn a new convention (or two). Prerequisite: at least two classes in Grant curriculum; continued use of transfers, Stayman, weak two bids, strong two clubs, 1 NT responses.