Redding Pilot
Redding
Heritage Center offers computer course to seniors

Jul 1, 2007

by Catherine Samose

Heritage Center is offering a course in Adobe Photoshop through SeniorNet. The course is for seniors — Redding residents age 50 or older — who have a digital camera and an up-to-date computer. Using these tools, students will learn how to take the best photos and then organize them in a way that makes them readily available.

Henry Polio is teaching the Photoshop course with the help of coach Ernie Harrington. Mr. Polio did technical teaching before he retired.

“Photoshop teaches you to manage your digital photos by being able to load them into specific files and an organizer within Photoshop,” said Mr. Polio. “The computer becomes your darkroom. Photoshop is the most professional software package out there today.”Heritage Center’s coordinator, Marie Sibilio, said Heritage Center joined the SeniorNet Program to aid it in offering computer courses.

“SeniorNet is a nationwide program that offers computer software to teach seniors various classes with the computer,” she said. “Tom Wylie is running the SeniorNet Program.”

The class meets for a couple of hours on Thursdays starting at 9:30 a.m. for nine weeks. Classes began June 7. The cost is $45, which covers the cost of manuals, said Ms. Sibilio. “People taking the course must also join SeniorNet, which costs $40 a year,” she said. “Then they can take any of the computer courses we offer, including word processing and the Internet.”

 “I feel I finally deserve to know how to do some digital photography,” said Bob Walzer, a student. “It’s a great opportunity.” Another student, Victoria Passiglia, said, “My children gave me a digital camera for my birthday. Now I’m learning how to use it.”

“I took this course before,” said Adrienne Hunt, also a student. “When I took it before, my computer couldn’t support the software so I didn’t get to practice. I had to upgrade my computer.”

Mr. Wylie and all instructors and coaches for the computer classes offered by Heritage House are volunteer, Ms. Sibilio said. “I’m just fascinated by what you can do with this,” Ms. Hunt said. “It’s absolutely amazing. Photoshop allows you to enhance your pictures and delete what you don’t want.”

© Copyright 2007 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers