Beginner's Questions

Greetings all;

I've always been interested in stained glass, but I'm finally getting to the
point of having funds and time to actually act on the interest...where is a
good place to start?  Can anyone suggest good classes in the Seattle area?
And what tools do I need, and what should I look for in a good basic set,
that will last for a while?

Thank you greatly for your help,
Adam