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Merrymeeting Community & Adult Education



Our Classes

Children’s Book Publishing

$25

with Preethi Fernando

Calendar Next available session starts Oct 17, 2026 at 12 pm, runs for 1 week
2 additional sessions through Jan 30, 2027

Achieve your dream of getting your children’s book published. You will learn the traditional book publishing and self book publishing routes, getting your book published on Amazon, how to get your book formatted, design your cover, upload your book to Amazon, get printed copies, and more. This class does not teach you how to write your children’s book. It teaches you how to get it published- online or in printed format, and how to get your book into the market for others to access your book. Preethi Fernando is the author of fifteen books. She is the winner of Stephen King’s Haven Foundation Award. Visit preethifernando.com. Objectives: How to design your book cover and format your book; How to find a publisher for your children’s book; How to publish your children’s book on your own; How to upload your children’s book to Amazon.

Retiree Side Hustle: Earn Money Working from Home

$25

with Preethi Fernando

Calendar Next available session starts Oct 17, 2026 at 1 pm, runs for 1 week
2 additional sessions through Jan 23, 2027

Turn your knowledge, hobbies, education, passion, and wealth of experience into dollars from the comfort of your home. A supplement income is refreshingly welcoming for most retirees. Whether you want to discover new ways of making an income or you want to turn your years of work experience into generating income, side hustles are plenty. Freelance writing, plant sitting, dog walking, online tutoring, resume writing using Chat GPT, selling crafts online on Etsy, and much more. These flexible opportunities allow retirees to use their wealth of experience, set their own schedules, stay mentally active, plus make a side income. Wouldn’t that be nice?

A.I. For Retirees and Seniors

$25

with Preethi Fernando

Calendar Next available session starts Oct 17, 2026 at 2 pm, runs for 1 week
2 additional sessions through Jan 23, 2027

For retirees and Seniors, the purpose of AI is a little different than someone in the workforce, running a business, or raising toddlers. Rather than using AI to compete and run the rat race, retirees use AI to improve their life, feel enriched, learn a new skill, and satisfy a curiosity. Retirees and Seniors want to stay in the network of what’s happening out there. This class gives AI tools for memoir making, publishing a book, health & wellness tips, travel planning, finding a cruise for less, tracing genealogy, meal preparation ideas, learning a new language, new hobby like growing bonsai and scrapbooking. No technical knowledge required. Fun, easy to follow class. Objectives: How to use AI to enrich personal lives; How to find cooking recipes; How to find part time hustle using AI.

Colorful & Expressive Pastel Sketching

$75

with Dana Bateman

Calendar Next available session starts Oct 18, 2026 at 10 am, runs for 1 week

Designed for beginners but open to all levels, we will use our pastels in a loose, expressive way to create several quick drawings, with the goal of finding new approaches to a very traditional medium. Using expressive mark-making and bold color choices, we will work from a selection of reference photos from our beautiful state of Maine. An array of mats will be provided, with the goal of everyone leaving with something matted that they would consider worthy of display! With this longer workshop format, participants should feel free to bring in a photo they'd like to sketch from as well, but all materials and reference materials are provided. If you have your own pastels you've been meaning to use, please bring them along.

Fall Colors Plein Air

$95

with Ed Higgins

Calendar Next available session starts Oct 19, 2026 at 10 am, runs for 5 weeks
1 additional session

Don’t miss this opportunity to get outside with your fellow artists and enjoy fall colors as we work en plein air across midcoast Maine. You may work in any media you prefer. There will be a mix of oil, acrylic, and pastel painters; watercolor, gouache and ink sketchbook artists, and more. Last year the weather held up through November, and we had a wonderful time enjoying and capturing the fall colors. Register for one or both sessions. Artists of all experience and confidence levels are welcome. If you need extra one-on-one instruction while working in the field, it’s recommended that you set up within eye shot of the instructor so he can get to you easily should you need help. We also found at certain sites that staying in touch via phone and text was a good way to summon Ed to where you are working. Meet up locations will be emailed to everyone prior to each class. Contact Ed Higgins directly with any questions ed_higgins@icloud.com.

Yin Yoga w/ Heather

$130

with Heather Laffely

Calendar Next available session starts Oct 19, 2026 at 10 am, runs for 8 weeks

Yin yoga is a style of yoga where passive yoga posture(poses) are held for extended periods of time. Typically 3-5 min., sometimes longer. In these passive postures, muscle activity is minimized, with a focus on stretching connective tissues, such as fascia, ligaments and tendons. We will gently settle into postures, supported by yoga props, while deeply connecting to breath. These longer holds allow the muscles to lengthen passively and for physical releases under the skin to occur. This practice supports overall flexibility, circulation, and range of motion in the joints and ligaments. It also is a practice in mindfulness, as conscious breathing occurs, quieting the mind and supporting nervous system health. This class is for those new to yoga, as well as seasoned yogis looking for a deep stretch. Yoga blocks/bolster are encouraged if you have them, otherwise the teacher has props to use during class. *No Class: 11/23.

Tumbled Seaglass & Broken Pottery

$55

with Shirley Anderson

Calendar Next available session starts Oct 19, 2026 at 5 pm, runs for 1 week

Get creative in this whimsical class, blending tumbled glass and pottery. We have lots of glass and pottery to choose from, come join us for a fun night out and create a keepsake and simply indulge in this therapeutic artistic process. All materials provided.

Card-Making with Dawn

$20

with Dawn Stevens

Calendar Next available session starts Oct 19, 2026 at 5:30 pm, runs for 1 week
3 additional sessions through Feb 8, 2027

Create your own hand made greeting cards! Dawn will guide you through every step of the process. Please bring your scissors, a glue stick, and your preferred coloring medium (markers, pencils, etc).

Diorama Card: Come join me while I teach you to make a 3D card that folds flat for mailing! This adorable diorama can be customized to be a birthday card or another occasion with the simple change of sentiment. Precut kits will be provided. Please bring your scissors, a glue stick, and your preferred coloring medium (markers, pencils, etc).

Halloween Mice Card: Imagine the surprise of receiving a hand made Halloween card! Join me as we use inks to blend backgrounds and embossing to add sparkle to this cute card that will put a smile on the recipient’s face! Precut kits will be provided. Please bring your scissors, a glue stick, and your preferred coloring medium (markers, pencils, etc).

Capybara Surprise Birthday Card: Come join me while I teach you to make this adorable card. The capybaras alone will brighten anyone’s day and then, surprise! When the recipient pulls the tab, a message will be revealed for them with the perfect spot to attach a gift card or personal message. Pre cut kits will be provided. Please bring your scissors, a glue stick, and your preferred coloring medium (markers, pencils, etc).

Valentine's Day Shaker Card: This dimensional card has a shaker built in to add some fun to your Valentine’s Day card! Come have some fun creating a unique greeting card. Precut kits are provided. Please bring your scissors, a glue stick, and your preferred coloring medium (markers, pencils, etc).





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