Students Get Recipes, Plenty of Samples in Salsa and Guacamole Class

Jenna Blakey taught a Salsa and Guacamole class the Green Ladle on Thursday night and shared lots of food as well as recipes.

Green Salsa

6-8 tomatillos

2 cloves of garlic, crushed

1 jalapeno

1/8 cup cilantro

1/4 lime (including rind)

Remove husks from tomatillos. Blend all ingredients and serve chilled.

Guacamole

2 avocados

1 teaspoon lime juice

1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped

2 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled

1/2 tablespoon garlic, minced

1 roma tomato, diced

1-2 tablespoons of milk

Halve and pit the avacados. Scoop out the flesh with a tablespoon and put it into a mixing bowl. Mash the avocados with a fork, leaving them a bit chunky. Add the other ingredients and fold them together. Lay a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the guacamole so it doesn't brown.

Serves 5-6

Pico de Gallo

4-5 Roma tomatoes, diced

3 green onions, diced

1 green pepper, diced

1 jalapeno, seeded and fine diced

1/8 cup of cilantro, chopped

1 tablespoon of garlic, minced

1 tablespoon of lime juice

Salt to taste

Mix ingredients and chill until ready to serve.

Fruit Salsa

2 kiwis, peeled and diced

2 Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored and diced

8 ounce of raspberries

1 pound of strawberries

2 tablespoons white sugar

1 tablespoon brown sugar

3 tablespoons fruit preserves, any flavor

Mix ingredients together and serve with cinnamon sugar tortilla chips.

Red Salsa

Adapted from Allrecipes.com

2 (14.4) ounce cans of diced tomatoes

1 jalapeno chile, seeds removed

1/2 yellow onion, quartered

1/2 bunch of cilantro leaves, chopped

1 tablespoon of lime juice

1-2 tablespoons of minced garlic

Salt to taste

Pour one can of tomatoes into a blender. Add jalapeno pepper, onion, cilantro, lime juice and salt. Blent until fairly smooth. Pour in a second can of tomatoes and blend briefly. Adjust seasonings to taste and chill for a half hour before serving.

Posted by Michael Reagan  on September 23, 2016 | Read more in: News

Fall Super Saturday coming to Lewiston Adult Ed in October

The Pink D's Food Truck will be one of the classes offered on Fall Super Saturday, Oct. 15.

Lewiston Adult Education will host its annual Fall Super Saturday on Oct. 15 at Lewiston High School with classes from Food Truck to a Halloween Costume Workshop.

Randy Smith of Pinky D’s will talk about the basics of running a food truck before serving students poutine, French fries with cheese curds and gravy. Pinky D’s also has other varieties of the traditional Canadian cuisine.

Nancy Kenneally will teach a Halloween Costume Workshop for parents and children looking to get ready for trick-or-treating. Students will decorate a mask that could serve as part of a costume.

Fall Super Saturday has 11 different classes. Lunch will be included with all day-long classes.

For the full listing of courses, or to register for any of the above workshops, visit www.lewistonadulted.org or call 795-4141.

Here is a list of classes that still have places available:

Alcohol Painting: Alcohol inks mix together resulting in a beautiful effect. Try this new form of painting and just enjoy the reaction of these two materials and see where it takes you. No art experience necessary. Just bring two small brushes. All other materials will be provided. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch will be provided. $25 plus $35 lab fee

Food Truck: Discover what it’s like to run a food truck business in this class taught by Randy Smith of Pinky D’s, which makes poutine, French fries, cheese curds and gravy. Bring your curiosity and your appetite because Randy will serve traditional poutine and newer versions from his food truck. 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. $13 with $10 lab fee

Introduction to Metaphysics and Meditation:  Are you ready to shift your consciousness in a remarkable way? This class will forever alter the way you perceive not only yourself, but the Universe. Join us as we discuss Chakras, The Law of Attraction, Living in the Present, and much more! This class will also incorporate the basic principles of meditation to enhance your clarity, inner peace, and ability to incorporate this practice into your daily life. All are welcome. 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. $15

CPR, First Aid, and AED Training: This course follows the guidelines set forth by the American Heart Association for heartsaver CPR (adult, child, infant, and AED). Participants will learn to assess the patient, send someone to call for help and retrieve the AED, and do cycles of compressions and breaths to help save a life. A course textbook and certification card are included as part of the program. This one-day class is designed for lay rescues encountered by non-healthcare providers. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch will be provided. $75 with $5 lab fee

Smartphones and Tablet Devices, Android: Bring your hand-held device to class that will help you figure out how to use your tablet or smart phone better. Mobile devices for Android are welcome in the session, which will include a brief presentation, question and answer as well as hands-on work. 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. $17

Smartphones and Tablet Devices, iOS:Bring your hand-held device to class that will help you figure out how to use your tablet or smart phone better. Mobile devices for Android or iOS are welcome in the session, which will include a brief presentation, question and answer as well as hands-on work. 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. $17

Body Language: In today’s fast-paced business environment, employees at all levels find themselves challenged with a constantly shifting workplace, including new diversity challenges where coworkers cope with generational, gender, age and cultural differences. Communication is at the foundation of everything we do and say. The good news is that communication is a learned skill, and with training and self-awareness, can be improved upon. Lunch will be provided. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. $26 with $5 lab fee

Digital Photography: Do you love taking pictures of family and friends, but are not happy with the way they come out? This workshop for beginners will teach you more about how to use the manual settings in your DSLR (digital single lens reflex) camera, such as the aperture, f-stops, shutter speeds and white balance. It will teach you how to make the most of your camera and have more control of which picture you take. Students must bring their DSLR with lens to class. Lunch will be provided. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. $60 with $5 lab fee

Halloween Costume Workshop: Parents and children will work together to create masks in preparation for Halloween. They can decorate with feathers to sparkles on an eye-catching part of a costume. The registration and lab fee for this class will count for a parent and two children. There will be a $5 lab fee for each additional child. $15 with $10 lab fee

Nutrition and Fitness: This Super Saturday class is a low-impact workout, combined with stretching session and a conversation on nutrition. This is the perfect beginning for people looking to get back into a new, healthy routine.9 a.m. to 12 p.m. $19

Posted by Michael Reagan  on September 13, 2016 | Read more in: News

September classes have mushrooms to art at Lewiston Adult Education

A mix of new lessons and returning favorites begin in the next two weeks at Lewiston Adult Education.

Below are a sample of classes happening this September.

Small Engine Repair, Sept. 6, can help bring new life to chain saws and lawn mowers.

Mushroom Foraging, Sept. 6, will have a walk outside to find edible mushrooms.

Parents in the Know, Sept. 6, teaches how to keep children safe from abuse and sexual assault.

Excel I, Sept. 6, explains the spreadsheet program and ways to make it help on the job.

Making Beer at Home, Sept. 7, is held at Richmond Home Brew Supply.

Welding I, Sept. 7, will introduce stick welding to students.

Welding II, Sept. 8, will cover Metal Inert Gas (MIG) and Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding.

Open Art Studio, Sept. 8, gives artists the space they need to start and continue new projects.

Six Feet Under: Funeral Choices, Sept. 8, shall go over paperwork to funeral planning.

Beginner’s Fitness, Sept. 13, provides a low-impact workout for people looking to get healthy.

Dance Fitness, Sept. 13, combines dancing with a cardio workout to hit songs.

Weight Wars, Sept. 13, teaches about nutrition, health foods and weight loss strategies.

Computer Literacy, Sept. 13, gives hands-on experience with word processing, spreadsheets and Windows programs.

To see our full course offerings, go to lewistonadulted.org or check out our fall brochure. To register, visit our website or call us at 207-795-4141.

Posted by Michael Reagan  on September 2, 2016 | Read more in: News

Interview Dates Set for Fall CNA class at Lewiston Adult Education

    People interested in a career as a Certified Nursing Assistant can take steps toward a new job by signing up for interviews and testing for the Fall CNA program at Lewiston Adult Education.

            All students must take the Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System (CASAS) exam and interview before they can be considered for the program. They will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 23 at 10 a.m. and on Wednesday, Aug. 24 at 4 p.m.

The CNA course focuses on nursing theory and application, including basic anatomy and physiology. Once students finish the classroom portion of the course, they will participate in a full-time, two-week clinical experience at local hospitals and nursing homes.

Classes begin on Sept. 13 and are held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The program costs $975 with a $145 test fee.

For more information on the CNA course, call Lewiston Adult Education at 207-795-4141.

Posted by Michael Reagan  on August 9, 2016 | Read more in: News

Computer classes can sharpen skills at work, home

A host of Lewiston Adult Education classes for the new semester will help students become more familiar with working on computers and running programs.

People who would like to learn how to operate a computer and use word processing, databases, spreadsheets and other software packages should check out Computer Literacy. The beginner’s course helps students gain confidence at tasks including writing a document on a computer or finding a file.

Excel I will show students how to use the computer program to create charts and diagrams, along with managing spreadsheets with accuracy. Office Practice will focus on keyboarding skills and building on Excel skills.

Both Computer Literacy and Excel I are set to start on Jan. 26. Office Practice class will start on Jan. 28.

Later on in the semester, the self-paced Computers for Seniors will assist with email and word processing. It begins on March 24.

Online registration for the Winter-Spring 2016 semester can be done 24 hours a day on our website, www.lewistonadulted.org. You can also call us at (207) 795-4141 for additional information.

Posted by Michael Reagan  on January 13, 2016 | Read more in: News

Lewiston academic classes slated for late January start

Starting the new year with an adult education class could get you to where you want to go – including having a high school diploma.

But signing up needs to happen soon. All five of Lewiston Adult Education’s academic classes start in late January.

If you would like to improve your writing skills, consider Critical Reading and Technical Writing. The class has a technical writing portion and will provide help in communicating effectively in a job.

Algebra I could help prepare for a college math course while Math Prep for College and Careers will focus on real-life situations. U.S. History and Contemporary Government can provide diploma credit and give perspectives on current events.

Critical Reading and Technical Writing is set to begin on Jan. 26. Contemporary Government and U.S. History have start times on Jan. 27. Algebra I and Math Prep for College and Careers are both lined up for Jan. 28.

People interested in enrolling must first meet with Academic Advisor
Elayne Bean and provide her with a high school transcript. An assessment test will help determine the best class to take.

To find out more about Lewiston Adult Education’s academic classes, call 207-795-4141.

Posted by Michael Reagan  on January 8, 2016 | Read more in: News

Welding class connects to student plans for future

Scott Record took Welding I to learn how to do projects around his Lewiston farm.

The 41 goats keep him busy, but what he hopes one day to have gained enough welding skills to build a maple syrup evaporator.

“I think it’s a really good value. You get a lot of practice. All the supplies are provided,” he said of the Lewiston Adult Education class.

Record praised teacher Mike Cyr for covering the fundamentals and giving the steps along the way.

“The first day is safety, and then you get into it and learn the basics,” he said.

Students did shielded metal arc welding, also known as stick welding. Record plans to take Welding II in the Winter-Spring 2016 semester.

“It’s a good class if people want to learn the basics and see if they want to learn welding. I think it’s a good place to start,” he said.

Paula Walters’ father, grandfather and aunt all worked as welders.

“I guess it runs in the family because I’m pretty good at it,” she said.

Walters took Welding I at Lewiston Adult Education in 2014 and would like to take Welding II.

“I thought it was pretty fun. We had a lot of hands-on experience,”the Lewiston resident said.

She is also going to attend the New England School of Metalworks in 2016. Walters hopes to build on what she has learned and make a career in welding as many in the field approach retirement age

“There’s high demand for welders right now,” she said.

Patty Gray, an employment and training specialist at the Lewiston CareerCenter, agreed.

“It’s a very in-demand position at this point,” she said.

Wages for welders can range from $18 to $26 an hour, Gray said.

Welding I at Lewiston Adult Education is scheduled to begin on Jan. 27 and Welding II is set to start on Jan. 28. For more information about the classes, visit www.lewistonadulted.org or call the adult ed office at 207-795-4141.

Posted by Michael Reagan  on January 8, 2016 | Read more in: News

College Transition Program to start Jan. 26 in Lewiston

People who live and work in Androscoggin County and are looking to enroll in college within the next 12-18 months can get help to prepare for academic challenges.

Lewiston Adult Education’s College Transition Program provides a review of reading, writing and math. It includes face-to-face and online interaction as part of the 14-week class.

Last semester, CTP students paid a visit to Central Maine Community College in Auburn and had a mini-class. They also visited the campus to work on a research paper.

The new semester starts on Jan. 26 at the B-Street Community Center on 57 Birch St. in Lewiston. Classes will be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Applicants must take the Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems, or CASAS, test before registration.

Students will receive help with the college application process and understanding the financial aid process along with the academic preparation. Upon successful completion of the program, they are also eligible for one college credit at CMCC.

For more information or to register for classes, visit ww.lewistonadulted.org or call 207-795-4141.

Posted by Michael Reagan  on January 6, 2016 | Read more in: News

New Lewiston Adult Education science, WorkReady classes start in January

Lewiston Adult Education has a number of new classes scheduled to begin in early January and is accepting registrations.

If you are preparing for a STEM or health care degree program or want to refresh your science knowledge, join us for Bio-Chem Boot Camp from Jan. 4-16. The program offers an intensive review of core concepts in general biology, including an overview of cells, genetics, heredity, microbiology and ecology as well as topics in chemistry, such as atoms and molecular structures. Virtual classes will be based at Lewiston Adult Education for video conferencing on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. with online assignments between sessions. The group will meet for two all-day Saturday lab sessions held at Gray-New Gloucester High School. The cost of the two-week program is $96.  For more information or to register, call 795-4141.

Lewiston Adult Education will also host a WorkReady training program starting on Jan. 4.  WorkReady is an 80-hour intensive program provided free to eligible participants in need of help with job searches and who would like to increase job skills. Space for this program is limited. For more information and to begin the application process, please contact the Lewiston Career Center at 753-9001.

The brochure for all of Lewiston Adult Education’s classes is set to be released at the end of December. Registration for enrichment and other classes are scheduled to begin in January. 

Posted by Michael Reagan  on December 15, 2015 | Read more in: News

'Contribute to their Community to the Best of Their Abilities': New Mainers Project Explained

Irina Petranek

Irina Petranek works as an English Speakers of Other Languages teacher and job coach for Lewiston Adult Education. She talked about the New Mainers Refugee Workforce Development Project, which is held at the B Street Community Center in Lewiston. The project is a federally funded pilot program run in Portland and Lewiston. It is a collaborative effort of Portland Adult Edult Education, Lewiston Adult Education, Catholic Charities of Maine, the City of Portland Refugee Services, the City of Lewiston as well as the Portland and Lewiston CareerCenters.

1. What kind of help do you give to students in your class?


The goal of the program is to prepare students for the workforce in the USA. This includes discussing such topics as job applications, resumes, job search,  job interviews, soft skills necessary to be successful at work here. We also provide them with the information about various resources in the community that can help with employment -- job agencies, training programs, the Lewiston CareerCenter, local companies. 


2. Where do they come from?

The students in this New Mainers class come from Angola, Congo, Burundi, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Somalia, Yemen, Togo. 

3. Why did they move to the United States?

Many of them are moving away from conflict, whether war or political reasons.

4. What would you want people to know about your students' goals? 

I would like people to know that the students in this class as well as other students in our programs are highly-motivated and hardworking people who want to contribute to their community to the best of their abilities. 

Posted by Michael Reagan  on November 23, 2015 | Read more in: News