The Creative Living program of the Continuing Education division at Sandhills Community College has many fascinating and enjoyable courses scheduled for the next few months.

The Creative Living program seeks to facilitate the learning and participation of adults in the region to improve their lives.

For the complete schedule of Continuing Education and Creative Living courses, refer to the Continuing Education area of the college's website at sandhills.edu.

For additional information about any Creative Living classes, contact Teresa Reynolds at reynoldst@ sandhills.edu or (910) 695-3775.

Cultural Enrichment

A new course will be offered in early February, "Traveling in the Dark: Films to Nurture the Peripatetic Spirit."

Film, by its nature, is an opportunity to inhabit another life. Many films provide a visual avenue from which the audience experiences another life against the backdrop of a faraway land. This course offers a "traveling in the dark" showcase of five films whose distant settings serve a major role in the plot -presenting challenges, conflict and conquests to the principle character's life experience, and thereby >shaping the character or characters >in new ways.

Instructor Ron Layne will teach on Wednesdays, Feb. 6 through March 6, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. The cost is $15.

Rock out with Dr. John Turner, provost at SCC, as he traces a nostalgic journey through the first decade of rock 'n' roll. From Jerry Lee Lewis to the Beatles, the stories, music and video clips will open up a new world for students. Discussion also includes the impact of rock 'n' roll on the economy, the business of music, social relationships, fashions, and racial barriers. This class will be on Thursdays, Feb. 21 and 28, 2 to 4 p.m. and the cost is $10.

Another new course, "Gems & Jewels: Stories, Myths and Legends," will be taught by Dorothy Gibson. Symbols of love and motives for murder, great jewels sparkle amid history, literature, science, religion and politics. From the Hope diamond and the British crown jewels to the more obscure and mysterious, this course will show their subtle influence on our lives. It will be held on Mondays, Feb. 25 through March 11, 2 to 3:30 p.m., and the cost is $10.

Financial Planning

"Investing in Bonds" will help students understand how to use bonds in retirement to increase their yearly income while keeping their assets safe and liquid. Learn to evaluate financial needs and develop a strategy to achieve goals. When properly understood, investing in bonds can benefit retirement. Instructor John Morningstar will teach one session on Tuesdays, Feb. 19 through March 19, from 3 to 5 pm. He will also hold another one in March. The cost is $15.

"Annuities: Myths and Misconceptions" will demystify the world of annuity investing. This course will cover fixed, indexed, variable and immediate annuities, as well as buying and investing strategies. Workbooks and helpful literature will be provided. Instructor Noelle Granville-McIntyre will teach on Thursdays, Feb. 21 through March 7, from 3 to 5 pm. The cost is $15.

Healthy Living

Join the new course, "Asian Nutrition Principles," for a fun introduction to the yin and yang of foods and five-element nutritional theory. Seasons and flavors will be discussed, as well as the Asian concept of balanced nutrition.

Instructor Samantha Allen will lead it on Thursday, Feb. 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $10.

"Chinese Astrology: A Fun Introduction" will tell you if you are an early rising rooster, a charming snake, or an entertaining monkey. Discover your animal sign and element. If possible, bring your exact time of birth to class. Instructor Samantha Allen will host the fun on Thursday, Feb. 28, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $10.

Languages

"Sign Language for Beginners" is designed to help students build their sign language vocabulary and understand how a sign is formed. Students will learn the language of everyday conversation, how to understand facial expressions, and how body, head and eye movement are used to convey messages. Instructor Carol Stewart will offer this class on Tuesdays, Jan. 22 through March 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. The cost is $50.

The basic Spanish fundamentals of conversation while being exposed to Spanish culture can be experienced in "Spanish Beginning Conversation." Instructor Mercedes Saulsbury is a native of Madrid, and studied languages at the Berlitz School. The class will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays, Feb. 4 to 27, from 6 to 8 p.m. The cost is $50, and a textbook is needed.

Personal Enrichment

The Spring Book Club will meet the third Friday of each month to discuss the following short stories and books: Feb. 15, "The Lemon Tree," S. Tolan; March 15, Jane Eyre, C. Bronte; April 19, "Unless: A Novel," C. Shields.

Registration is not required. Facilitator JoAnne Ashton will lead these Friday discussions from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Wood Reading Room in Boyd Library. There is no cost.

Another new class, "Piano Beginning Level 1B," will teach students to play music involving C, G and middle C positions, primary triads, sharps and flats, basic rhythm patterns, and reading intervals. Class includes 30 minutes of lab practice. The prerequisite is "Piano Beginning Level 1A" >or prior experience. Instructor Beverly Dunlop will teach on Tuesdays, Jan. 22 through March 26, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. The cost is $45.

"Piano Intermediate Level 2B," a new class, will teach students learn to play music involving chromatic scales, triad inversions, seventh chords, 16th notes, major and minor scales, and major and minor triads. >Class includes 30 minutes of lab practice. The prerequisite is "Piano Beginning Level 2A" >or prior experience. Instructor Beverly Dunlop will offer this on Wednesdays from Jan. 23 through March 27, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. The cost is $45.

"Piano Intermediate Level 3B," will teach students to play music involving inversions of seventh chords, diminished seventh chords, 16th notes, diminished and augmented triads, major and relative natural, harmonic and melodic minor scales with primary chord progressions. >Class includes 30 minutes of lab practice. The prerequisite is "Piano Intermediate Level 3A" >or prior experience. Instructor Beverly Dunlop will offer this class on Thursdays from Jan. 24 through March 28, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. The cost is $45.

"Draw and Paint with Ann - Intermediate" will allow students to be creative, original, experiment with new materials and methods, and express freedom of thought. Gain knowledge of the various mediums including graphite, charcoal, pastel, watercolor, acrylic, and oil, and complete one or more drawings or paintings. Classes meet at West End UMC, 4015 N.C. 73, West End on Mondays from Jan. 28 through March 18, from 1 to 4 p.m. The cost is $55.

In one evening, "Instant Piano for Hopelessly Busy People" will help participants learn secrets and shortcuts professional piano players use to embellish songs. No experience is required. If you can't read notes, send an SASE for a free pamphlet to Music Masters, 90 Molly Lane, Ringgold, GA 30736. Course fee includes book and 68-minute practice CD. Instructor David Haynes will offer this on Tuesday, Jan. 29, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. The cost is only $75.

"Knitting for Beginners," a new class, will help beginners learn knit and purl stitches, casting on, binding off, how to read patterns, and how to choose needle size and yarn weight. Bring a pair of size 7, 8, or 9 knitting needles, yarn, and project ideas to class. Letitia Rivera will teach Tuesdays beginning Feb. 5, running through March 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. The cost is $35.

Instructor Carl Klabbatz will teach "Floral Design with Carl." He will use hands-on projects with containers and accessories in relation to design, color and texture to enable students to learn the art of flower arranging and design. His class will be on Mondays, Feb. 18, through March 25, from 6 to 9 p.m. The cost is $50.

Registration

Students should register for class at least one week prior to the starting date. Class may fill and prohibit further enrollment or may be cancelled if enrollment is low. Walk-in registration is at the Continuing Education office located on the first floor of Van Dusen Hall during the scheduled hours of operation. Phone-in registra tion, (910) 695-3980, requires payment with Visa, MasterCard, or Discover. View the entire spring semester schedule at www.sandhills.edu.