Albany Area Community Education

Bentleyville “Tour of Lights” is America’s largest free walk-through holiday lighting extravaganza that transforms Bayfront Festival Park, located on the shores of Lake Superior in Downtown Duluth, into a dazzling winter wonderland. With over 5 million twinkling lights, Bentleyville has become a cherished holiday tradition for visitors of all ages! Admission to Bentleyville is free, along with complimentary hot cocoa, coffee, cookies, freshly popped popcorn, and marshmallows for roasting. Visitors can also enjoy a free visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus! We will leave the Albany MS/HS Parking lot at 11 am (eat lunch at home before getting on the bus), then arrive at Canal Park in Duluth. There will be time to shop/eat dinner on your own in the Duluth Canal Park area from 2:00-5:00 pm, then tour the lights from 5:15-6:45 pm. Price includes coach bus ride only, there is no cost for Bentleyville. Please eat lunch before we leave, there will be no stops on the way. Bentleyville is an outdoor event, and guests should dress for cold weather conditions. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Voices for All Receive a comprehensive introduction into the voiceover industry from a working voice actor. Read a script and receive coaching while your instructor creates a professional voiceover evaluation. Upon registration you will be contacted by VFA to schedule your class for a time of your convenience. Individual 90 min session to be scheduled with instructor. Visit: https://www.voicesforall.com/ for more information

Tess Georgakopoulos, Dish it up Good Gather the whole family and join in the fun baking and building your very own show-stopping gingerbread house from scratch during this festive family bake-along experience. Together, we will combine the wonderful flavors of gingerbread and use the dough to create the pieces that will be used to “build” breathtaking houses. We will also whip up the perfect batch of stiff royal Icing—the edible “glue” that holds everything together and is used to decorate the houses with candies and delicious treats. Participants will receive a professionally made PDF ingredient list and prep packet a week in advance of the class to allow time for shopping and preparation. The packet will also include the Instructor’s “Gingerbread House Specific” recipe that she has tested time and time again to ensure the cookie pieces are delicious but strong enough to hold the weight of the icing and decorations. A template that will need to be printed and cut out before class to be used as a “pattern” will also be included. Whether you are starting a new family tradition, or continuing a beloved one, this cozy, joy-filled experience will leave everyone smiling, and maybe sneaking a few gumdrops. By the end, participants will have built not just a stunning work of art, but sweet memories to last a lifetime! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This class will take place on Zoom, free online software. Participants will receive instructions on how to access the class prior to it starting. NOTE: The instructor’s recipes are copyrighted and are only shared with those who register for this class. As an added bonus, the instructor has created a private group and a public group on Facebook for participants of her cooking classes. Everyone will receive an invite to the groups although joining is optional. Come join the fun! Note: One registration fee for this online virtual interactive class can include immediate family members living full-time in the same home only. If children are participating, adult supervision is required. If friends, adult children, or extended family members are gathering for a fun night together, each household must register separately even if participating together. Equipment needs: Large sheet pan, parchment paper/non-stick baking mat, rolling pin, and mixer will be needed. Other items & Ingredients will be listed in the handout that will be received roughly a week before class.

Adam Patterson, 6th Degree Black Belt This advanced class will focus on the meaning of Karate and the application of the forms as they apply to real world self-defense. This program will be taught in a smaller group with the instructors helping students perform the self-defense techniques properly. The advanced class is required for any student wishing to become a first-degree black belt. Uniforms are encouraged but are not needed to attend class. New students who register before the third class will receive a free uniform. Testing: TBA.

Abigail Parker, Sauk River Watershed District As winter approaches, it’s time to start thinking about ice removal. The most common technique is using road salt, but the overapplication of salt is causing pollution problems in our waterbodies. Chloride is a pollutant that’s almost impossible to remove once it’s in a lake or stream. Road and sidewalk safety is a must, but it doesn’t have to come at the price of good water quality. Join us to learn about the chloride problem and how you can make a difference. There are several alternatives to choose from, so we can all reduce our impact! Participants will receive informational resources to use for their reference after the class.