FALL SWIM LESSONS OFFERED

RACINE - The YWCA of Racine is now accepting enrollment for fall swim lessons. Classes are offered to children ages 6 months to 15. Lessons teach swimming techniques and water safety skills. Session dates are Sept. 10-Oct. 26 and Oct. 29-Dec. 22. Classes are offered on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday. Classes will not be held the week of Nov. 19. Private swim lessons are also available. For more information, call the YWCA member service desk at

(262) 633-3503.

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE CLASSES OFFERED

WEST ALLIS - The Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, 10243 W. National Ave., is now accepting registrations for upcoming American Sign Language for all skill levels and interests.

Two different sections of ASL I, a course for beginners, will be offered. Section 1 will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays, Sept. 10-Nov. 26. ASL I, Section 2, will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 11-Nov. 27.

ASL II will continue to build vocabulary and conversation skills for those individuals who have previously taken a beginning sign language course. ASL II will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 11-Nov. 27.

ASL III is for more advanced ASL students who have already completed ASL I and ASL II courses. ASL III will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays, Sept. 12-Nov. 28.

ASL classes at the Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing are all taught by deaf adults and are designed for individuals who want to learn how to communicate with a deaf family member, friend or co-worker or simply become familiar with another language.

The fee for each ASL class series is $85 plus text, and all classes run for 12 sessions.

The Center is also offering "Communicating with Kids in Sign," a family sign language class specifically designed for parents, grandparents, relatives, neighbors, baby-sitters and any adult who needs to communicate in sign language with a young child. This 10-week class series will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 11-Nov. The fee is $55 for the first family member and $45 for each additional family member.

The deadline for registration is Sept. 4. For more information or to register for a class, call (414) 604-2200 (voice) or (888) 742-7651 (TTY).

WORKSHOP SERIES ON 'OBSERVATION' OFFERED TO CHILD CARE PROVIDERS

IVES GROVE - "The Importance of Observation - Everything You Want to Know and More," a three-session workshop series for childcare providers, will be offered from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 19, Oct. 23 and Nov. 29, at the Ives Grove Office Complex Auditorium, 14200 Washington Ave.

"Classroom setting observation is so important, because it guides the childcare provider to assist children in their growth and development, as well as, helping with lesson planning and the development of curriculum in the childcare setting," said Tina Ginner, UW-Extension early care and education training coordinator. "Observation also helps the childcare provider to get to know the children in their care better and assists in tracking developmental delays or alarming behaviors in children who many need additional services from other professionals. Observation can also build stronger relationships with families due to concrete behavior examples in discussions with parents."

According to Ginner, "Attending this workshop series will make a difference in classroom climate, curriculum development, and teacher/parent/child interactions. Participants will explore the value of good classroom setting observation skills in this three-part series of workshops discussing the 'how to' and 'whys' of early childhood observation."

Workshop topics are: Sept. 19, "Observation Basics"; Oct. 23, "Observation Outcomes"; and Nov. 29, "Assessment."

Advance registration is required on or before Sept. 12. Childcare providers must attend all sessions, as new information builds upon previous sessions. Only participants who have attended the entire training will receive registry barcodes at the last session.

The fee is $15. Send check or money order by Sept. 12 to: Racine County UW-Extension, Attention Tina Ginner, 14200 Washington Avenue, Sturtevant, WI 53177. For more information, call Ginner, at (262) 886-8492 or e-mail tina.ginner@goRacine.org

PAPER PROJECT CLASS OFFERED

CALEDONIA - The Caledonia Parks and Recreation Department is offering a class, "Playing With Paper Pieces," from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Sept. 12 at the East Side Community Center, 6156 Douglas Ave.

The focus for the class is techniques involving bits of paper. Participants will make projects featuring the following techniques: Paper piercing, serendipity, spotlighting and rainbow strip flip.

The fee is $12.50. Registration is required by Sept. 10. To register, call the Parks and Recreation Department at (262) 752-1682. For more information, visit the Web at http://www.caledoniawi.com

COOKING CLASSES OFFERED IN CALEDONIA

CALEDONIA - The Caledonia Parks and Recreation Department is offering the following classes at East Side Community Center, 6156 Douglas Ave.:

* "Cooking with Class: No-Cook Meals," for adults, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Thursday. These no-cook meals are fast to prepare and are on the light and healthy side. Participants will get menu ideas and recipes and will sample Crunchy Apple Wrap Pitas, Mediterranean Chicken & Feta Tostadas, Mom's Classic Macaroni-Shrimp Salad, Chicken & Veggie Pizza, and BBQ Chicken Caesar Wraps. Cost is $20. The deadline to register is Tuesday.

* "Kidz Can Cook: Back-to-School Favorites," for youth ages 6-15, 6-8 p.m. Sept. 20. Participants will prepare BBQ Beef Cups, Veggies-n-Broccoli Cheese Dip, Cheesy Chicken Fingers, Homemade Mac-n-Cheese, and Indoor Smores. Parents of children ages 6-8 are asked to stay and assist the instructor. The cost is $15. The registration deadline is Sept. 18.

Mail registration with a check to: Caledonia Parks and Recreation Department, East Side Community Center, 6156 Douglas Ave., Racine, Wis., 53402. People may also drop off their registration with payment at the same address between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

PROGRAMS OFFERED AT BONG RECREATION AREA

BRIGHTON - These naturalist programs will be held at Bong State Recreation Area, 26313 Burlington Road:

* "Monarch Mania," 11 a.m.-noon today. Did you know that monarch butterflies migrate? Come learn the secrets of these migrants by trying to catch and tag some park monarchs.

* "Meet the Ranger," 1-1:30 p.m. today. Learn about a park ranger's job first hand. See what equipment they use and visit the squad car. Meet at the Beach Playground.

* "Family Bike Tour," 4-5 p.m. today. Bring your bike and explore a seldom-visited area of the park. Suitable for all age and ability levels (participants will be on paved roads closed to traffic). Bring mosquito repellent.

* "Bead Dragonflies," for ages 10 and above, 9-11 a.m. Sunday. Make a bead dragonfly pin. A $3 material fee will be collected at the door. Advance registration is required.

* "Dragons & Damsels," 6:30-8 p.m. Sunday. Explore their habitats to discover why dragon and damselflies are so unique and important.

* "Terrific Turtles," 9-10:30 a.m., Monday. Search the swamps for turtles and discover how they survive. Meet at the visitor center but be prepared to drive.

* "Adopt a Highway," for ages 12 and above, 6-7 p.m. Tuesday. Help clean up the highway in front of the park. Equipment is provided.

* "Explorer Hike," 10 a.m.-noon Sept. 8. Join the naturalist to hike the 1.9-mile Green Trail. See fall unfold at the park. Bring water.

All programs meet at the visitor center, unless otherwise listed.

Bong's entrance is on Highway 142, one mile west of Highway 75. A Wisconsin State Park Admission Sticker is required for each vehicle. For Wisconsin vehicles the fees are $7 a day or $25 a year. The annual sticker is good in all Wisconsin state parks. The sticker may be purchased at time of arrival.

More information can be obtained by calling Bong at (262) 878-5600.

LEARN HOW TO BUY A HOUSE

RACINE - The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., will host a two-hour seminar presented by Housing Resources Inc. introducing attendees to programs available to them for assistance in home buying. The seminar will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 11 in the library's meeting room.

Mark Schultz of Housing Resources Inc. will give an overview of first-time home buyer education classes, financial fitness training classes, reverse-equity mortgage counseling, post-purchase counseling, and foreclosure prevention counseling. Information concerning predatory lending will also be offered.

Housing Resources Inc. is a locally based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals and families purchase their own homes.

This program is free and open to the public and no registration is required. For more information, call Schultz at (262) 636-8271.

JOB SEEKER WORKSHOPS OFFERED IN KENOSHA

KENOSHA - The Kenosha County Job Center, 8600 Sheridan Road, will hold weekly Hot Jobs Workshops for individuals in the job market at 9 a.m. every Wednesday in room North 2.

This interactive forum offers job seekers an opportunity to learn about the latest jobs available throughout Kenosha County and surrounding areas, receive in-depth company profiles and have the chance to gain employment/business information from area partners. In an effort to not only assist area companies in recruitment, but to offer more comprehensive services to job seekers, these meetings are open to the public.

Call Rebecca Freund at (262) 697-4610 for more information.

CHURCH OFFERS PARENTING CLASSES

RACINE - Evangelical United Methodist Church, 212 11th St., will conduct two parenting classes, beginning in September. They are:

* "Growing Kids God's Way," 9 a.m. Sundays, Sept. 16-Feb. 17, or 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, Sept. 20-Feb. 21. This class for parents of children ages 15 months to 8 years old covers a wide range of important parenting topics such as the priority of the husband-wife relationship, how to express love to your child, your child's conscience, discipline, principles of obedience. It focuses on the virtues and values that flow from the character of God. Costs $7 a person or $14 a couple.

* "Parenting Teens for Positive Results," 9 a.m. Sundays beginning Sept. 16. Following a break for the Christmas holiday, the class will continue into the new year. This class is for parents of youth ages 11-18. Parenting a teen in today's world is full of challenges and opportunities. The purpose is to equip parents of teens to better understand their teens, themselves as parents, and develop more effective parenting skills. The course enables parents to build deeper relationships with their teens, and empowers parents to model Christ-like parenting and lead their teens to a dynamic and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. There is no cost for the course.

Informational meetings for parents will be held at 9 a.m. Sept. 9 at the church. "Growing Kids God's Way" will meet in the chapel (main floor) and "Parenting Teens for Positive Results" will meet in the library (downstairs).

For more information, call the church at (262) 632-8381.

LIBRARY OFFERS COMPUTER TRAINING CLASSES

Racine - The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., will offer free introductory classes in basic computer skills, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and the Internet during the months of September and November.

Participants need only attend one session for each class since training is completed in one two-hour period. Classes are taught by a reference librarian from the Adult Services Department and are open to people of all ages. These hands-on workshops will use computers obtained through grants provided by the Racine Community Foundation, the Col. L.C.

Christensen Charitable and Religious Foundation, and the Friends of the Racine Public Library. Class size is limited to seven students so registration is required. Registration may be made by calling the library at (262) 636-9217. Classes are:

n "Introduction to Basic Computer Skills," 9:30-11:30 a.m. Sept. 6 and 20; and 2-4 p.m. Oct. 11 and Nov. 13. These classes are intended for people with little or no previous computer experience. Hands-on instruction introduces people to the Windows operating system and equips them with the basic skills needed to use a computer. The following topics are covered: Acquiring mouse skills, care of floppy disks, understanding the desktop and taskbar, using window controls, starting and shutting down the computer, working with menus, understanding and using dialog boxes, opening and closing software applications, sorting and retrieving information and programs in files and folders.

* "Introduction to Microsoft Word," 2-4 p.m. Sept. 13; 6-8 p.m. Oct. 2; 9:30-11:30 a.m. Oct. 11; 9:30-11 a.m. and 6-8 p.m. Oct. 22; and 2-4 p.m. Nov. 6. Mouse skills and a familiarity with the Windows operating system are required for this class. Topics covered include: Opening files, saving and closing files, toolbars, page set-up, menus, rulers, working with text, fonts, keyboard shortcuts, cutting and pasting, spell-check, working with paragraphs, bulleting, inserting graphics and working with tables.

* "Introduction to Excel Basics," 2-4 p.m. Sept. 18; 6-8 p.m. Sept. 25; 6-8 p.m. Oct. 1; 2-4 p.m. Oct. 10; 9:30-11:30 a.m. Oct. 25; and 2-4 p.m. Nov. 8. Mouse skills and a familiarity with the Windows operating system are required for this class. This class will cover the following spreadsheet topics: Navigating workbooks, entering data, copying data, editing worksheets, using formulas and functions, formatting text and numbers, and creating charts.

* "Introductory Internet," 2-4 p.m. Sept. 11 and 25, Oct. 2 and 16; and 9:30-11:30 a.m. Nov. 8. Mouse skills and a familiarity with the Windows operating system are required for this class. In this workshop participants will learn how to use the Explorer browser, how to use search engines to find information, and how to use Web-based e-mail.

A sign language interpreter is available with one week's notice. Call the library at (262) 636-9217 for more information or to register for a class.