Henny promises to look at the subject of death and dying with a wide-angle lens from the most gross to the more subtle and spiritual aspects of the process. We will explore IT from the body’s point of view, as a natural organic down-to earth gross psychophysical process, as well as cover how to prepare for, how to serve the one dying, and how to care for the body after death.

 We will cover the subtle dimensions and fields involved in the aspects of dying and our emotional responses of letting go and surrendering our attachments to the body, things, people, and our self-identity. We will explore and discuss the reality of subtle energy experiences such as ‘the Tunnel’ effects in Near Death Experiences, the Light at the end of the Tunnel, Out of Body experiences, & astral travel.

We will examine religious belief structures about the Afterlife and their effects, touch upon ideas of Reincarnation & past life experiences. Henny believes that The Spiritual, unconditional Consciousness, as Light and Love, is always available to draw us to Its radiance and Light in Living and Dying. Her intent is to reduce fear and anxiety, as well as denial and avoidance of the subject, and to instruct in ways to face dying with a depth of understanding, an open-feeling heart and mind to support an easeful and grace-guided process for all involved.

Let’s face IT together!

Instructor: Henny Nouwen

Henny is not a stranger to the many dimensions related to the subject of death and dying.  She has faced IT in her personal and professional life choices and experiences.

She specialized in cardiac care in Canada in 1966, Los Angeles1969 and worked as an open-heart surgery circulator nurse in Seattle 1985.  For a total of 19 years, I had to be active as a team member to always prevent death from happening.  I participated in all the rescue efforts, resuscitation, heart-lung machines, respirators, defibrillators, pacemakers to keep the heart going and prevent death at all costs.

Disillusioned with this western medical model, at the time, of patient survival at any and all cost, I started searching for a different approach.  Death with dignity, loving support, compassion and understanding of the process became my model. For a short time I served as a hospice home  health nurse.

I went back to school and studied metaphysics for four years,  graduated in 1981 and accepted the call to become the Founding Minister of the Center For Spiritual Living in Mount Vernon.  As a pastor (officially ordained in 1984) I was able to approach death with compassion, counseling, prayers, funeral and memorial services for the one dying, their family and friends.

During the 9 years as a minister, I studied with Elizabeth Kubler Ross and attended her Life, Death and Transition seminar. Studied Stephen Levine books and workshops, I went to Antioch University and studied transpersonal psychology.

In my studies I discovered the greatest “Spiritual wisdom on the ultimate transcending of death and everything else” in the book Easy Death by the Ruchira Avatar Adi Da Samraj. That book became my “Bible” on my service to the dying.

In 1990 I became His devotee and for the last 35 years I serve in the death and dying Ministry of Adidam, a group of devotees dedicated to assist terminally ill and dying devotees to prepare for and with His Grace be drawn through their death transition and subsequent three-day vigil.

Henny has shared this wisdom on death and dying in classes, workshops and retreats. Hospice of Lake County asked her to start a Death Café support group in CA which she facilitated for one and a half years.

Presently Henny has a private practice in Anacortes doing Hands on Healing Energy work as a licensed massage therapist. She has been teaching at the Senior College classes on Energy Healing through the Chakras, Grief and Loss, and would love the share her thoughts and experiences in this Spring course called “Lets Face IT…. Every Body Dies

Writing about your life can seem like a daunting task. Where to begin? This class will prime the pump, with weekly writing assignments (about 750 words) presented in themes, plus writing tips. Sharing your stories confidentially with others in class will inspire you even more. You'll come to see your life through a different lens and leave a legacy for your family. (Class size is limited to 10 students.)

Instructor: Teru Lundsten

Teru has been teaching memoir writing in Skagit County since 2010. She worked as a personal historian, helping people preserve their life stories into books for their families. As a journalist she wrote over 200 profiles of people of all ages and from around the world. She has completed a memoir of her early years.

Class 1: Toni Caskey – Beautiful Bulbs in Your Garden

Toni Caskey has been a WSU Skagit County Master Gardener for 25 years. “I love this program! I was our annual Tulip Tours Director for 21 years. I truly enjoyed escorting over 120 tour groups as we trekked through the tulips and daffodils throughout our unique Skagit Valley.  As we travelled to Roozengaarde, TulipTown, and the Skagit County Master Gardener Discovery Garden, our guests were always amazed and delighted. This flowering patchwork industry started with six different colors and now has nearly 200 varieties! I am here today to speak about how you, too, can be involved as a home tulip and other bulbs grower!”

Class 2: Sheri Rylaarsdam – Vegetable Gardening in the PNW

Sheri Rylaarsdam is a transplanted farm girl from Iowa. She has been gardening in the Pacific Northwest for almost 50 years. Sheri completed the Master Gardener training with WSU in 2019.

Sheri will talk about soil: the basis of everything, planning: what to do before you set foot in the garden, and timing: what to do when you get there. Hopefully you will learn something new and together we can discuss practical advice that will encourage and inspire you on your gardening journey.

Class 3: Hallie Kintner and Diana Wisen – Pruning Shrubs

Hallie Kintner is a Skagit County Extension Master Gardener and has taken many pruning classes from Plant Amnesty. Diana Wisen has been an active Skagit County Master Gardener for 35 years. She has taught classes on numerous gardening topics and is on the Board of Directors of the Skagit County Master Gardener Foundation.

This class will discuss what, when, why, and how to prune ornamental shrubs for a healthy and beautiful garden.

Class 4, 1st hour: Diana Wisen and Janet Kowalski – Right Plant Right Place Right Purpose

Diana Wisen has been an active Skagit County Master Gardener for 35 years. She has taught classes on numerous gardening topics and is on the Board of Directors of the Skagit County Master Gardener Foundation. Janet Koalski has been a Master Gardener since 2019.

Successful gardening depends on many factors including knowing your site and its conditions as well as selecting plants which thrive in those conditions. This class will focus on how to decide what to plant and why, in order to have the garden of your dreams where you live.

Class 4, 2nd hour: Bobbi Lemme – Irrigation

Bobbi Lemme became a Master Gardener in 2019.  She eventually gravitated to the drip irrigation system at the Discovery Garden and is now in charge of any additions or repairs, along with the assistance of other dedicated volunteers.

This one-hour presentation will cover the basics of setting up a drip irrigation system in your own garden.  There will be hands-on demonstrations of how to connect tubing and make repairs.  It's not rocket science!  Start small and add on to your system as you feel more comfortable.  It's so nice to free up your time from watering to work with those lovely plants!

Class 5: Diana Wisen - Gardening for Fragrance

Diana Wisen has been an active Skagit County Master Gardener for 35 years. She has taught classes on numerous gardening topics and is on the Board of Directors of the Skagit County Master Gardener Foundation.

Growing fragrant plants adds a powerful dimension to the pleasures of gardening. Scent is the most potent and bewitching substance in the gardener’s repertory and yet it is the most neglected and least understood. Throughout history plant scents have delighted and served people. This class will encourage you to discover the pleasure of gardening for fragrance and will include take home plant lists.

Class 6: Deborah Smeltzer – Composting

Deborah Smeltzer (Master Gardener Class of 2012) currently serves as chair of the Training Team, treasurer of the Skagit County Master Gardener Foundation board, Discovery Garden Front Door Garden Co-Coordinator, and member of the Web/Communications, Recruitment & Retention, Front Door, and Strategic Planning project teams. She has been a master gardener instructor for soils, soil fertility, composting, mosses, lichens, fungi, online tools, and presentation skills. 

This class will provide attendees with information about reducing garden waste, understanding what compost is and what it is not, how to make compost, including hot, cold, & vermicompost, and basic tools for composting. You should come away from this class with a love of sustainable gardening practices that help us achieve a healthy planet. By the end of the class, we hope you will understand the benefits of incorporating compost into garden soil and how vermicomposting is a benefit year-round for city dwellers. A detailed resources and reference list will be provided.

In most homes today the internet handles our banking, buying, studious inquiries, and is the vehicle for a cornucopia of home entertainment. Learn what all the technical gobbledygook means in easy-to-understand terms.

Explore the various options available in Anacortes for internet access. Learn about the options available to you and choosing the best option. What hardware is best for you and where to get the best price. Did you know you can make your cell phone crystal clear with no call drops in your home with one simple setting!

Replacing Cable TV with an internet option. The ins-and-outs of all the Live TV options that are available (most like cable) and selecting the one that really fits your needs. Did you know you can get local news programming streamed on your TV for free!

How to navigate the hundreds of streaming options. Learn how to make selections that provide the content you really want. This is the best deep dive into streaming content and how to get the most out of it. Did you know you can get a wide selection of movies and TV shows for free!

After each class, every participant will receive a PDF providing details and links to all the hardware and services discussed in class. No need to take notes!

Instructor: Joe Huston

Joe’s varied background includes developing corporate instructional programs, corporate training, as well as being an accomplished motivational speaker. His entertaining programs include strong audience interaction and are always sprinkled with humor. Joe is an avid movie, TV and sports fan and enjoys sharing his incite in the vast world of streaming home entertainment.

This course is designed for anyone interested in learning a little more about wine; the viticulture, the most common grapes, how to taste (you will learn how to taste like a pro!), and pair with food.

It will begin with a brief overview of how and where grapes thrive and the eight most common grape varieties. We will cover ‘still’ wine production and classification. Finally, a discussion of what characteristics one should observe when tasting wine and how best to pair wine with food will conclude the three-week course.

Instructor: Connie Pangrazi

Professional Experience:

Over 30 years of educational experience – both public and private. Retired from Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University - Assistant Dean of Academics. Skagit Valley College faculty adjunct, Leadership Skagit Class of 2018.

Community Service:

Soroptimist International of Anacortes member and current Shop president, Leadership Skagit Coach 2019-21, Anacortes School District Ready to Learn Fair Clothing Drive Coordinator, Island Hospital Therapy Dog Program Coordinator.

Connie Pangrazi retired in 2017 after serving as the Assistant Dean of Academics in the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College as well as teaching courses in Exercise Science and Physical Education pedagogy. Prior to entering higher education, Connie taught in public education for more than 10 years.

Connie purchased a home in Northern Italy in 2021. As the property has a small vineyard and Cantina, she became interested in the production of wine. Within the past two years Connie has completed Levels One, Two and Three of the WSET and is currently completing her DipWSET Certification. She hopes to one day make her own wine and be involved in the wine industry.

The course will consist of six sessions. Each one-hour session will include 30–45 minutes of presentation, with the remaining time dedicated to discussion and Q&A. The session topics are as follows:

Session 1:  Overview of the Lincoln Theatre What the Lincoln Theatre is; the role of the Lincoln Theatre Foundation; key historical events associated with both; why the Lincoln Theatre has been important to the community, past and present; and why the Lincoln survived while other theatres in the county and greater region did not. Presented by: Ron Guttu, Duncan West, and Jessica Waggoner

Session 2: Film Industry Changes Over the Last 100 Years and Their Impact on the Lincoln The session will draw on the presenters' and student experiences attending movies - from single screen theaters to multiplexes and on to VHS, Netflix DVDs by mail, and the current release strategies of everywhere all the time. We will dwell on the value of the communal theater experience. Presented by: Ron (technology and film content) and Duncan (historical context and social movements)

Session 3: Theatre History in Skagit County (Including Anacortes) At one time Anacortes had two theaters and a drive-in, Mount Vernon had two theaters and two multiplexes, Burlington had a drive in and a Mexican cinema, Sedro Woolley and Concrete had one theater each. LaConner and Stanwood had theaters. A travelling theater based in Clear Lake travelled the San Juan Islands. What happened to them all and why? This and other sessions will include suggestions for student research of the Anacortes American, which is online, and the trove of articles and ads gathered by the instructors. Presented by: Duncan West

Session 4:  History of Niche Films and the Local Communities They Serve Regular showings of Swedish language and Mexican cinema were common in different periods. Adult films were a feature of struggling theaters with resulting city council and court activity. Saturday matinees were as common as Saturday morning cartoons today. This session will explore the differentiation of theater offerings in the county. Presented by: Duncan West

Session 5:  Forming the Foundation and Saving the Lincoln: The Early Years (1986–2004) The Lincoln closed in 1984 after 5 people attended the showing of the last movie. Downtown Mount Vernon was in decline as businesses moved to malls and multiplexes on College Way. New owners of the theater searched for uses of the space and after an epiphany decided to revive the theater as an arts venue. Much work ensued with results that helped revitalize downtown Mount Vernon Presented by: Duncan West

Session 6:  The Lincoln’s Transformation into the Venue Operating Today (2004–Present) After a community outpouring of support, ownership of the theater by the city of Mount Vernon was affirmed and the Lincoln continued to grow and evolve into the space and programming we know today, The instructor, a current Foundation Board member will discuss the future of the theater and its programming. Presented by: Ron Guttu

Instructor: Ron Guttu

Since 1993, Ron Guttu has been a volunteer, a member, a benefactor and a prior board member and board president of the Lincoln Theatre Center Foundation. Now a retired oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Ron currently serves as the Treasurer of the Lincoln Theatre Center Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Ron is especially excited to be involved in the 100-year anniversary of the Lincoln Theatre and is committed to the continued restoration of the theater as it enters its next 100 years. He is proud to be part of the Lincoln Theatre community which includes its board, staff and most importantly it’s members who are all working to assure that the Lincoln Theatre continues to be Skagit county’s premier performing and cinematic arts center.

He is excited to share his knowledge of cinema and the history of the Lincoln Theatre with the Anacortes Senior College.

Instructor: Duncan West

Duncan West is a native Washingtonian who grew up on an island. He was introduced to his people at the local movie theater at age 16 when he was old enough to drive himself to the local movie theater on Thursday foreign film night. He has worked and lived in Mount Vernon for over 15 years, serving on the Lincoln Board for 6 of those years.

A history major at the University of Washington his interest is history from below, from original sources and occasionally has trouble deciding whether he would rather spend time with people or microfilmed newspapers. He prides himself in finding the telling anecdotes that illuminates a trend. The more fun the anecdote, the better. Two years ago he began looking at reminiscences of Skagit pioneers at the Skagit County Historical Museum, researching online newspapers, and ordering up newspapers on microfilm to understand how and why the Lincoln survived.

He built, and will share, an online trove of theater movie ads, musical reviews, and business articles from 1899 to the present.