Pitt-Johnstown Outreach Office staff is offering personal-enrichment classes  Oct. 15-Nov. 17.

The 18 classes are part of the Outreach Office’s “Discover Fall” series and are geared toward adult community members and students.

Outreach Director Jeanne Susko said the programs offered this fall are divided into four series: Purposeful Pastimes, Language, Grant Writing and Bottle Works series.

Purposeful Pastimes offers the largest number of classes, including Bachata (a sultry dance that grooves to Caribbean music) Introduction to Guitar and the Joy of Oil Painting.

Susko said there are also two walking tours offered as purposeful pastimes, highlighting Johnstown’s Westmont and Moxham neighborhoods.

The Language series includes conversational Spanish, conversational Polish and English as a second language.

Susko said conversational Polish started after Daria Utnika Adams moved from Poland to America and wanted to teach an introductory Polish course.

The grant writing series is divided into two courses: Grant Writing for Beginners and Advanced Grant Writing.

Susko said the Grant Writing classes are taught by Leonard Shurin who has been involved in grant writing at local, state and federal levels for more than 20 years.

The Bottle Works series includes Autumn Italian Extravaganza, Holiday Nut Rolls and Polish Knedles. (Fruit-filled dumplings) classes are taught in Cambria City at the Bottle Works Ethic Arts Center.

Susko said the Bottle Works series is popular and classes are filling up quickly.

Susko said class sizes range from 12 to 15 people.

Susko said Pitt-Johnstown students are eligible to take classes at discounted prices.

Susko said she recommends Joy of Oil Painting to students because it is a one-day class, and the finished product is a beautiful Bob Ross landscape.

Bob Ross-certified artist Al Just teaches the Joy of Oil Painting. Just said the program is a relaxing experience and students can benefit from taking it because it gives them a break from stressful class schedules.

Just said, “We like to have fun and laugh while we paint. No prior experience is needed and the materials are provided.”

Susko said she recommends all the programs,  but requires a minimum number of students for a program to run.

“The minimum number is usually six people,” she said.