By Lindsay Tice,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – Stacey Farrington always loved the paranormal.

She grew up watching horror movies. When she got older, her fascination spread to ghosts and spirits. If it was supernatural, she was interested in learning more.

So Farrington rejoiced last year when she heard about one of the new classes offered by Lewiston Adult Education.

Ghost hunting.

For eight weeks, directors from the Maine Paranormal Research Association showed Farrington and her classmates how to capture ghosts on film, measure magnetic fields and conduct a real field investigation.

“If I never believed in it before, I did then,” she said.

The class, called “The Ultimate Ghost Hunter,” was nothing like the traditional business writing and college math courses. But in some local adult ed programs, the unusual is becoming common.

“It’s fun,” said Ray Therrien, director of adult education in Farmington’s SAD 9. “They improve your quality of life.”

To separate the fun classes from the academic ones, some programs call them “enrichment courses” or “general interest classes.” They are usually short and cheap, costing just enough for the adult ed program to break even. Most are led by experts, hobbyists or ordinary residents who happen to have a passion for the topic.

Years ago, those non-academic classes were largely limited to parenting and sewing.

This semester, Auburn is offering numerology, wine-tasting and weight loss with hypnosis. In SAD 9, there’s glass blowing, Wycinanki (Polish paper cutting) and pine needle basketry.

In Lewiston, students can learn hip-hop or hone their eBay skills. For prospective ghost hunters, there is a one-night class or an advanced eight-week course.

Farrington took the eight-week course last year. She liked it so much that she now works on real investigations with the Maine Paranormal Research Association.

“It was just unbelievable,” said Farrington, who was hooked by the possibility of getting a ghost on film.

Like many of the odd or unusual classes, ghost hunting is perennially popular. This semester there’s a waiting list.

Rug-making classes are also popular this semester. So are ballroom dancing, hypnosis and feng shui.

In SAD 9, glass blowing and wilderness survival courses are favorites during a season mired in snow.

“They’re a small spark to breathe life into a rather dormant existence right now,” Therrien said. But unconventional classes aren’t guaranteed to be a success.

Auburn had to cancel its “Introduction to Poker” class this semester because too few people signed up. Tanya Quarterman had to cancel her introductory self-hypnosis class in Lewiston because enrollment was too small, although her more advanced Lewiston class and her “Lose 10 lbs. with Hypnosis” course in Auburn are running without a problem.

Experts say enrollment can be affected by anything, from the weather to the passing of a hot trend.

Despite the cancellation, Quarterman said the classes have allowed her to reach a larger group of people. And for students they’re much more affordable.

A certified hypnotherapist, she charges $70 an hour for private lessons. Her Lewiston class costs as little as $20 for four weeks.

The low cost is part of what makes the classes popular. But students say they also look at the classes as a way to relieve stress.

Even if chasing ghosts is what relaxes them.

“We all race day to day through our lives doing things we have to do,” said Auburn Adult Education Director Scott Gowell. “To me, our enrichment programs are the special times in our lives when we do what we want to do. We can do something that stirs us.”