“A new Rainier business aims at nurturing the communitys creativity and bringing beauty to the world.

The Center for Creative Arts was opened more than two weeks ago by Rainier Artist Cari Von Sternberg.

‘I was just going to open an art studio,’ Von Sternberg said. ‘I just kind of got out of the way and it just took off.

‘I want this to serve the community in so many ways.’

Von Sternberg now has a lineup of teachers offering a variety of classes each day.

Classes include painting, yoga, stained glass, voice, writing and Tai Chi…

Roberto Mazzarella has taught for more than 50 years.

He will teaches yoga, voice and writing…

Mazzarella believes offering constructive classes will help keep kids out of trouble.

Rick Stillwagon has been teaching Tai Chi for six years and says getting involved in martial arts helped with anger problems.

Stillwagon also said the center could help keep kids out of trouble.

Von Sternbergs daughter, Aria Reid, is also an artist and will be teaching for the first time.

Reid will be teaching stained glass classes.

Her artwork fills the windows of the center.

In an effort to encourage people to try out their skills, Von Sternberg and Reid will be hosting free classes to new students the week after Thanksgiving.

On Wednesday, Dec. 3 Von Sternbergs art class will be open to new students who are interested in making a holiday craft.

Reid will host a free class for new students interested in designing their first stained glass piece…

A grand opening celebration is planned for 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12. The celebration will feature a raffle for free classes as well as an art show. Refreshments will be provided.

Friday nights will be reserved for lectures and informal meetings, where people can get together just to chat about whats new in their lives, or to share a pot luck.

Classes range from $9 to $15 per class.

The Center for the Creative Arts is located at 302 Binghampton [Rainier], in the yellow building just behind Signature Service Real Estate.

For a schedule of classes and registration information, call Cari at 360-458-1311, email cari@fineart9.com or go to www.FineArt9.com,” quoting the NVN.