The Village Enterprise Center at 25 Main Street in Chester is a new classroom location for SHAEC.
CHESTER – The new Village Enterprise Center, at 26 Main Street, Chester, is the Southern Hilltown Adult Education Center’s (SHAEC) newest satellite classroom. Many of SHAEC’s classes and workshops will be held at this new location this winter, so be sure to note the location when signing up for classes. The SHAEC classroom in Room 152 at Gateway Regional High School is also open, and classes will continue to be held at Gateway along with other on-site and outdoor class locations.
The Village Enterprise Center will also act as a Welcome and Visitors Center for Chester and the hilltowns. Partners in this non-profit space include the Historic Route 20 Association and the Jacobs Ladder Business Association. The purpose of the Village Enterprise Center is to assist in the economic development of the hilltowns through education and partnership with businesses and organizations, as well as to serve as a community resource for residents. A grand opening will be held on Thursday, January 11, 2018, with an open house from 12 noon to 6 p.m., followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony from 6 to 6:30 p.m. with refreshments.
Photo by Marc St. Onge
In addition to a new classroom location, there are several new teachers with exciting new classes beginning this winter. Westfield News photographer Marc St. Onge is teaching two photography classes this winter at the Village Enterprise Center in Chester. St.Onge has been taking photographs for over 45 years. His subjects have included news, events, weddings, fine art, and currently events for The Westfield News. Marc also teaches basic and flash photography at the Robert Floyd Gallery in Southampton. He brings a wealth of experience and a light touch to teaching photography.
Snow Fooling: Hot Tips for Your Winter Photography: Tuesdays, January 16, and 30, 6 to 8 p.m.at the Village Enterprise Center. This two hour course will help improve your photography in the winter months. Topics covered will include equipment, exposure, subject choice, composition, and safety. Attendees should be familiar with their cameras, but the course is not camera specific.
So you got a New Digital Camera? Tuesday, February 20, 6 to 8 p.m.at the Village Enterprise Center. In this two hour beginner class, St.Onge will go over the basics behind every digital camera and answer questions about usage, care, and general photography. This course is primarily for those new to digital cameras. Particpants should bring their camera and manual with them.
Another new teacher to SHAEC is Tim Vogel, owner of Tekoa Mountain Outdoors, an outdoor, adventure education business located in Williamsburg (www.tekoamountainoutdoors.com). Tim has been involved in teaching, guiding and facilitating professional and family friendly outdoor recreation and adventure education programs for over twenty five years. He has served as the Adventure Education Director Program Specialist for the RFK/EWT School in Holyoke, MA. Local fishing and fly fishing guide, New York State Licensed Guide, Backcountry Ridge Runner on the Appalachian Trail for the Appalachian Mountain Club, BSA Ranger and Master Educator for Leave No Trace. He has led international mountaineering and trekking expeditions in the Andes Mountains, summiting ancient volcanoes in South America, and exploring jungles, kayaking/rafting in the white water rivers of the Amazonian headwaters of Ecuador.
Fly Tying: Wednesdays, January 17, February 21, March 21, 6 to 8 p.m. at the Village Enterprise Center 26 Main Street, Chester. Preregistration is absolutely necessary, as there is an 8 person limit to each class. In this 2 hr. beginner course, participants will tie an assortment of useful flies, learn about the watershed, habitat, ecology and biology of target species, and tie flies that will match the hatch in the Westfield River Watershed. Fly tying will get progressively more difficult in each class. January 17: Mickey Finn Fly, a classic stream pattern and forgotten by many. February 21: Woolly Buggers, Streamers. March 21: Dry flies.
10 Essentials for outdoor survival : Thursday, February 1, 6 to 8 p.m. at The Village Enterprise Center, 26 Main Street, Chester. The course will talk about what should be in your daypack when you head outdoors on your next adventure. Hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, long term power outages? Winter time in New England is no time to be out in the cold and not be able to take care of yourself, friends or family. The contents placed in your pack, house or car could save your life.
Snow Shoeing: Sunday, February 18. Noon- 2:00 p.m. at the Horace A Moses Scout Reservation, 310 Birch Hill Road, Russell. Snow shoes are available for use, but will be available on a first come- first served basis, so register early for this outdoor adventure. Activity is considered easy dirt road to hilly mountain trails, swamps. Bring water and snack. This class is not appropriate for young children. Pets are not allowed. (Camp Policies, NO PETS IN CAMP for a variety of reasons).
Other upcoming January classes include the following but for a complete list, go to www.SHAEC.org. Classes are free to hilltown residents, space permitting. Call 413-685-1052 to register, or email [email protected].
GED/ HiSet Science: Taught by Bryan Farr, Mondays and Wednesdays, January 8 – February 14, 3:30-5:30 p.m. SHAEC’s Gateway classroom Room 152 GRHS, 12 Littleville Road, Huntington.
Drop in GED/HiSet Test prep: Village Enterprise Center,26 Main St, Chester. Weekdays: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Beginner Computer Classes: Getting to know your Computer Taught by Elaine Gilmore. Wednesdays, January 17, 24, and 31. 10 a.m. to 12 noon, Village Enterprise Center, 26 Main St, Chester. Bring your own device, or use one of the Center’s computers.
Open Computer Lab: Village Enterprise Center, 26 Main St, Chester, Tuesdays and Thursdays, beginning January 16, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Craigslist tips – How to find and buy items on Craigslist: Wednesday, January 31, 6:00-8:00 p.m. SHAEC’s Gateway classroom Room 152 GRHS, 12 Littleville Road, Huntington.
Adobe InDesign Workshop: Village Enterprise Center, 26 Main Street, Chester. Wednesday and Thursday, January 24 and 25, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Biztro: Drop-in small business support: Village Enterprise Center, 26 Main Street, Chester, Monday, January 15 & 29, 4 to7 p.m.
Economic Development: What it Means for You: Village Enterprise Center, 26 Main St, Chester Wednesday, January 10, 6 to 8 p.m.
Jacobs Ladder Business Association (JLBA) Monthly Meeting and Strategy Session: Thursday, January 11, 6 to 8 p.m., Village Enterprise Center, 26 Main Street, Chester
The Artist’s Way at Work: Twelve Week to Creative Freedom: Sundays beginning January 21, 4 to 5:30 p.m., The Village Enterprise Center, 26 Main St. Chester. Class is limited to 10 people.
Blue Zone Group: Middlefield, Public Library, 188 Skyline Trail, Middlefield, Tuesdays January 16 through May 29, starting at 9:30 a.m.
Weight Loss Tips: Taught by Christina Beeke, Monday, January 15, 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. and Monday, January 22, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Village Enterprise Center, 26 Main St, Chester. Healthy snacks provided.
Western Mass Hilltown Hikers: Hike High Trail at Chester Blandford State Forest: Meet at the Trailhead on State Rd in the parking lot Saturday. January 20, 10:30 a.m., Take Rt 20 to Blandford Rd, turn left onto Round Hill Rd, left at the cemetery, see entrance on the right.
