Go back to school

The Niagara-Wheatfield Community Education Program has announced its winter/spring 2012 offerings.

"We are very excited about to offer 115 class sessions to the public with 55 of them being completely new," said Director of Community Resources Anita Muzzi. "We feel that our new family classes are going to be a huge hit since they are designed for a parent to take with multiple children. We also have a lot classes with a parent-child one-on-one feel like cardio kickboxing, Victorian valentines and quilting and many other arts and craft classes."

There are also offerings for those who like to travel.

"We are also continuing our successful day trip program to New York City, Boston, the Amish Brown Bag Tour, Great Lakes escape, the Yankees-Blue Jays game in Toronto and a behind-the-scenes tour of the Toyota Plant in Cambridge, Canada."

Yoga master Jackie Bogdan will be teaching Hatha Yoga and a Yoga and Pilates course at Edward Town Middle School for several sessions. Bogdan began her training in 1992 at the Himalayan Institute in downtown Buffalo. She is currently an instructor there as well as at Buffalo State College. Yoga to her is helping others and the practice helps many to decompress and to strengthen their bodies, Bogdan said.

Fishing expert David Pavicich will teach a class on fly tying, which should interest outdoorsmen and women.

"I have been making my own flies for about 15 years now and there is nothing more rewarding than catching a fish with something you made, Pavicich said. "Plus, it is much more cost effective than buying them. Once you buy the initial materials it will only cost you about 40 cents a fly as opposed to the two dollars you spend at the store."

Pavicich claims the fishing in Western New York is second to none and that is a great skill to have if you are someone who likes to fish.

Local stained glass expert Suzanne Todaro will teach several classes for different stained glass projects.

"I was taught years ago how to make lamp kits at another craft shop I was managing and I was hooked," Todaro said. "I have been doing this for approximately 35 years now and have my own stained glass business called Gleam and Glimmer. In a lot of my classes I have 'newbies.' They all have a great time creating something from glass that they never thought they could do. Many of them come back time and again for other projects."

Muzzi suggests checking out the lecture series that will include a visit with Robert "Rip" Simonick of the Buffalo Sabres, topics such as couponing, Internet safety and Dr. Philip Haseley talking about the afterlife.

She recommends early registration to reserve class seating. For more information about these programs and more, go to the Niagara-Wheatfield website at www.nwcsd.k12.ny.us/adulted to view the brochure. Call 215-3109 for any questions.