Registration set for spring Horizons classes

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Spring 2009 classes have been set for Horizons of Putnam County.

Horizons, now in its 14th year, is a not-for-profit organization supported by the Putnam County Public Library, the local Kiwanis and several area churches. Instructors come from the community. Some are professional teachers, but most are not. They take part in the programs because of their own enthusiasm for their subjects and their desires to convey that enjoyment to others.

Programs are offered twice a year, in the spring and the fall, and are typically about six weeks in length, with one session per week.

At the end of the sessions the students evaluate each course and instructor, offering their impressions of the courses and any suggestions about how they might be improved.

Fees for classes are $20 for the first course and $15 for each additional course (some courses may require additional materials at an extra cost).

The organization's founders wanted the programs offered by Horizons to be "an adventure in lifelong education." Classes are a mix of non-credit courses in academic and non-academic areas.

Courses for the 2009 spring session are:

* Native American Spiritualities Through a Christian Lens, which will explore basic ideas found throughout most Native American spiritualities. The courses will focus on Native American spiritualities before the Western European occupation and changes in such spiritualities and attempts to survive and come to terms with the occupation. The instructor for this course will be P.T. Wilson, senior pastor at Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church and university chaplain for DePauw University.

* Beginning knitting, taught by Cathy Walton. This class is for beginning knitters or those who would like to begin knitting again. Walton has won numerous champion prizes for her knitting at the Putnam County Fair.

* Beginning bridge, taught by Jerry Mosher. For first-time and novice players.

* Microsoft Word, taught by Greencastle Community Schools technology trainer Janice Heavin. No prior computer experience is necessary; the course will start with the basics.

* Drawing and sketching, taught by Barbara Bates, a retired art teacher with a master's degree in fine arts from Rockford College. Participants will learn the basics, and should bring a medium-sized sketch book and a variety of pens, pencils and colored pencils.

* Sweet Treats: Chocolate Candy Making will be separated into three sessions: Melting chocolate and making molded candies; flavored creams and dipping chocolate; and making fudge and molded, filled candies and truffles. Participants should bring a microwavable bowl and container. Materials cost $5 per class, and class is limited to 10 students.

* Two-at-a-Time Socks Knitting, taught by Corky Crimmins. Course will cover how to knit two socks simultaneously form the tow up on one long, circular needle. Participants will need to bring their own yarn and needles. This is a course for intermediate level knitters. Class is limited to 10 participants.

Detailed descriptions of all courses and other information can be found in the Horizons Spring 2009 Community Education Catalog, which is now available at the Putnam County Public Library, where registration will take place Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Questions can be directed to 653-2755, Ext. 115 or 124.

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