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St. Johns County Council on Aging



Our Classes

iPhone: Some Surprising Things You Can Do With It on Wednesdays in October at River House

$25

with Jim Cargilo

Calendar Oct 7, 2026 at 9:15 am, runs for 4 weeks

Your iPhone is an amazingly powerful tool—great for your daily enjoyment and perfect for keeping track of your health and well-being. As we get older, a little extra help and a few reminders can make life run a lot more smoothly. That’s where your iPhone truly shines!

Think of it as your personal helper, ready to remind you of important tasks, guide you through what you need to do, and help you stay on track for a healthy, active life.

Join us to discover many fun and useful things your iPhone can do to make your life simpler—and get ready to be surprised by just how much this tiny powerhouse can really do!

Smartphones are just a miniaturized computer, so learning them is just an extension to learning a Computer – they both use your mind and fingers…

Jim has been working with, and building computers, since 1981. He has worked for some major computer Companies such as Plessey Peripheral Systems (DEC), Fujitsu America (Disk Drives), MSI Data (Hand Held Scanners), and Aston-Tate (Software). He also started some of his own companies which he eventually sold to larger Companies: Simply Computers (PCs), Tobar (Disk Drives), Megastor (Disk Drives), and Dynamic Products (Australia).

Class sessions will be held on Wednesdays, October 7, 14, 21, 28 from 9:15 to 10:15 at the River House (179 Marine Street, St. Augustine 32084)

For ages 18 and up.

Will run

Ukulele 1 for Beginners on Wednesdays in August at River House

$37.50

with Dennis Fermin

Calendar Oct 7, 2026 at 9:45 am, runs for 4 weeks

Learn to play some fun, easy classics in a fun group setting. You will learn:

  • Tuning
  • Basic chords
  • Understanding rhythms
  • Strum patterns

Requirements:

  • Ukulele
  • Music stand strongly suggested
  • pen or pencil

Dennis Fermin has been playing guitar for over 30 years and joyfully helping others learn to play along the way. As a graduate from Musician's Institute of California, he has the skills and the patience to teach on many different topics and styles of music. Currently you can hear him perform locally as Fermin Spanish Guitar.

Class sessions will run on Wednesdays, October 7, 14, 21, 28 from 9:45 - 11:15 a.m. at River House, 179 Marine Street, St. Augustine 32084.

For ages 18 and up.

Will run

Art of Meditation on Wednesdays in October at River House

$25

with Scott Farber

Calendar Oct 7, 2026 at 10:30 am, runs for 4 weeks

Meditation relaxes the body, heals the heart, and calms the mind. This class will introduce a variety of meditation techniques from different traditions. Each class will begin with some brief stretching and breathing followed by an opening meditation; then there will be a short sharing and discussion followed by a different closing meditation. We will be using chairs for all the seated meditations; you do not need to bring a mat or cushion. We may also do some special walking and sound bath meditations.

Scott Farber, Ph.D. has been practicing meditation since 1975, starting with TM (Transcendental Meditation). In addition to teaching yoga meditations, including yoga nidra, and the moving meditation of t'ai chi, he also has studied Zen, Buddhist, Tantric, Sufi, Kabbalah, and Arica methods of meditation. 

Class sessions will be held on Wednesdays, October 7, 14, 21, 28 from 10:30 to 11:30 at River House (179 Marine Street, St. Augustine 32084) 

For ages 18 and up.

Full Course

Chair Yoga on Wednesdays in October at River House

$25

with Rebecca Dawson

Calendar Oct 7, 2026 at 10:30 am, runs for 4 weeks

Discover a yoga practice that has therapeutic benefits for seniors who may not be able to stand for long periods of time or may be uncomfortable seated on the floor.

Class sessions will be held on Wednesdays, October 7, 14, 21, 28 from 10:30 to 11:30 at River House (179 Marine Street, St. Augustine 32084)

For ages 18 and up.

Will run

Drawing 1 on Wednesdays in October at River House

$50

with David Ouellette

Calendar Oct 7, 2026 at 11:15 am, runs for 4 weeks

This course is structured to develop basic drawing techniques by concentrating on the elements of descriptive drawing through observation. 

Students will develop the qualities of line and volume with a full range of values. The course will also cover linear perspective and compositional design.

Materials needed:

  • 18" x 24" drawing paper pad (not sketching paper)
  • 16" x 20" (approx.) drawing board
  • #2 and #4 graphic pencils
  • white plastic eraser
  • kneaded eraser
  • masking tape

Class sessions will be held on Wednesdays, October 7, 14, 21, 28 from 11:15 to 1:15 at the River House (179 Marine Street, St. Augustine 32084).

For ages 18 and up.

Will run

Guitar 3 for Beginners on Wednesdays in October at River House

$37.50

with Dennis Fermin

Calendar Oct 7, 2026 at 11:30 am, runs for 4 weeks

Guitar 3 for Beginners

  • Learn all Open string Chords
  • Intro to Pentatonic Scale shapes and patterns
  • Barre Chords
  • Learning Fretboard notes
  • Fun playing Classic favorites

Requirements

  • Ability to play basic chords relatively well
  • Music stand suggested
  • Pen or pencil

Dennis Fermin has been playing guitar for over 30 years and joyfully helping others learn to play along the way. As a graduate from Musician's Institute of California, he has the skills and the patience to teach on many different topics and styles of music. Currently you can hear him perform locally as Fermin Spanish Guitar.

Class sessions will run on Wednesdays, October 7, 14, 21, 28 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at River House, 179 Marine Street, St. Augustine 32084.

For ages 18 and up.

Planting the Seeds on Wednesdays in October at River House

$25

with Kate Werner

Calendar Oct 7, 2026 at 12:30 pm, runs for 4 weeks

We are living in times when things are not quite as they once were. Time seems to be flying by, yet standing still. There is a sense of uncertainty and tension.This class is designed to offer you ways of responding when faced with situations of tension, uncertainty, or confusion.This class offers the seeds to help you respond in different ways.

Kate retired from teaching in 2019, having taught everything from preschool to university. She has a master's degree in education and has been very active in teaching adult education courses.

Class sessions will be held on Wednesdays, October 7, 14, 21, 28 from 12:30 to 1:30 at River House (179 Marine Street, St. Augustine 32084)

For ages 18 and up.

Will run

Jewelry Wire Wrapping Class for Beginners on Wednesdays in October at River House

$50

with Kathy Tengesdahl

Calendar Oct 7, 2026 at 1 pm, runs for 4 weeks

Jewelry art students can expect to learn basic tool use and refine a wire loop in the first class as well as creating a pair of wire wrapped crystal earrings. In subsequent classes we will create spirals combined with crystals to create earrings and advancing to a tree of life wire wrapped pendant as well as a wire link bracelet. Along the way you will learn correct tool usage, wire straightening, wrapped loops, unclosed loops, and making your own loop clasps.

Supplies required:

  • Shynek 10 piece Jewelry tools kit
  • Oh Pandehall 1200 piece 4mm bicone AB crystal beads
  • Bencreat wire 18, 20, 26 gauge
  • Any other beads you may have 

(These items can be found on Amazon)

Kathy Tengesdahl has an AA degree in art and a BS in Education. She combines that with 35 years of creating Jewelry art and she is adept at bead weaving with a focus on creating with wire wrapping. She has taught for the past 5 yrs in The Villages, Florida and now 7 months living in St Augustine. She hopes you will join her in creating something beautiful that you will be proud to wear.

Class sessions will be held on Wednesdays, October 7. 14. 21. 28 from 1 to 3 at River House (179 Marine Street, St. Augustine 32084)

For ages 18 and up.

Will run





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