There’s No Place Like Franklin Campus for the Holidays

Three courses at Vance-Granville Community College’s Franklin County Campus in Louisburg are designed to help local residents get ready for the fast-approaching holiday season.

A five-week course, “Holiday Sweets and Treats,” will be held Thursday evenings, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Oct. 19 – Nov. 16. “This class offers great ideas for quick and easy holiday goodies that will tantalize your taste buds,” according to Franklin Campus Assistant Director Anthony Pope. The students will be introduced to the world of “Pastry Art” by their instructor, Chef George E. Blow, who is an honors graduate of the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute. The cost of the course is $25, plus supplies.

Another course on preparing “specialty dishes” for the holidays will be offered at the Franklin County Campus. Classes will be held Tuesday evenings, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Oct. 17 – Nov. 14. “This class will teach students how to prepare elegant, tasty and cost effective holiday specialty dishes, and to beautifully decorate their tables,” Pope said. The instructor for the course will be Anna Marie Valin, who brings a unique perspective and experience. She learned how to cook from her grandmother, who was the personal chef for President Lyndon B. Johnson at his LBJ Ranch in Stonewall, Texas. Valin will cover a wide variety of dishes, including appetizers, salads, beverages, and side dishes. The cost of the course is $25, plus supplies.

While those two courses focus on the more flavorful aspects of holiday celebrations, a third Franklin Campus course moves beyond the kitchen to tackle “Holiday Arts and Crafts.” This class, which will be held on Tuesdays from 6 until 9 p.m. starting Oct. 10, will teach students how to create easy and simple crafts that can be displayed around the home during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Students will make items involving painting, synthetic clay and simple sewing, among other techniques. The class will be taught by Beth Beck, who was an art instructor in the Franklin County School System for 27 years and who Pope calls “a living legend.” The cost of the course is $25, plus supplies.

For more information and to register for any of these classes, call Pope at (919) 496-1567.