Lowcountry Senior Center

To register for programs at the Lowcountry Senior Center, 865 Riverland Drive, next to James Island County Park, call 762-9555. The center is open 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday. The center is managed by Roper St. Francis Healthcare.

Lowcountry Senior Art Festival: Sept. 2-30. This annual event coincides with National Senior Center Month and celebrates the creativity that comes with age. A call for art from amateur and professional artists age 50 and up who reside in South Carolina has been issued. Only original art is accepted. Participants receive an invitation to a wine and cheese reception on Sept. 4. Prizes are awarded (first prize $75, second prize $40, third prize $25 and honorable mention $10). Artwork is displayed throughout the center Sept. 2-30. The festival is free and open to the public. To participate, complete the entry form and return it with the $10 entry fee by Aug. 8. Entry forms are available at the center.

Educational Programs

AARP's Driver Safety Program: Aug. 11-12. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. This two-day, defensive driving course is designed specifically for older adults. Taught by Clyde Mizzell, AARP volunteer and center member. $10 for members and nonmembers.

I-CARE Counseling: Tuesdays in August, 10 a.m.-noon. Speak to a trained I-CARE counselor. Volunteers have been trained to help people with Medicare, Medicare supplement policies, long-term care insurance, Medicaid, prescription drugs, and Medicare or Medicaid fraud. Call the center for an appointment.

Book Club: Aug. 12, 2 p.m. Offered in partnership with the James Island Branch Library. The club is reading and discussing "Saving Fish From Drowning" by Amy Tan. Books are on reserve at the library.

Learn to Navigate the Medicare Maze: Aug. 12 and 13, noon-1 p.m. The National Council on Aging and the Benefits to Access Coalition designed a course to enable people to learn more about Medicare by surfing specific credible Web sites guided by trained Navigator instructors. This two-day class is offered once a month. Free for members and nonmembers.

Men's Breakfast Club: Aug. 14, 8:30-9:30 a.m. The Men's Breakfast Club features local speakers on current events and breakfast. Speaker for August is Georgette Mayo, incoming executive director of the Avery Research Center. Free for members and $7 for nonmembers. Register one week in advance.

Wellness

Health Education Program: Aug. 14, 1 p.m. CVS and the National Council on Aging joined forces to offer health education programs. CVS pharmacists are speaking on Understanding and Managing High Blood Cholesterol. Free for members and $2 for nonmembers.

Healthy Eating Every Day: Tuesdays, through Oct. 28, 10:30-12:30 p.m. A 13-week course that helps you improve your life through balanced eating. It's a unique, self-paced plan that teaches you how to improve your eating habits in ways that fit your lifestyle. Discover how to choose the right balance of the foods, cope with the triggers for unhealthy eating, and eat healthy while shopping for food, dining out or away from home. Plus, there are checklists, charts and other tools that will help you personalize the program and make it fun. Led by Wellness Manager Aleshia Parrish. Call the center to register.

Enhance Fitness in the Community: Classes outside of the center are free. If you would like more information or to register, call the center. Classes offered at:

--Faith Sellers Senior Center in Summerville, Mondays and Wednesdays, 2:30-3:30 p.m.

--Roper St. Francis Medical Center Berkeley, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9-10 a.m.

--Isle of Palms Recreation Center, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 3-4 p.m.

Health Education Talks: Physical Therapy students from MUSC are coming to the center this summer and fall to present on various health-related topics.

--Aug. 7: 2 p.m. "Taking Care of Your Back."

Computer Classes

More Advanced Internet & E-mail: Tuesdays and Thursdays, Aug. 12, 14, 19 and 21, 10-11 a.m. Prerequisites: Very, Very, Very Basic Computer Workshop and Introduction to Internet and E-mail.

After 5 at the Center

Gentle Yoga: Mondays, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Ease your body, mind and spirit with gentle yoga. Bring your own mat. $20 for members and $25 for nonmembers per month.

Lowcountry Investment Club: Aug. 12, 5:30-6:30 p.m. The club researches and studies publicly traded companies using ratio reports and other publications. Club members invest $30 per month in the stocks that are voted on by the club. Anyone may attend the meetings, but only the club members vote and make the decisions. Free for members and $2 for nonmembers.

Dancing

Ballroom Dancing: Tuesdays, through Aug. 26, 9:30-10:30 a.m. and Wednesdays, through Aug. 27, 5:45-6:45 p.m. Learn the fox trot, waltz, tango, rumba, cha-cha, merengue, salsa and more. Partners are not required. Instructor is David Roland. $29 for members and $34 for nonmembers.

Dancercise: Fridays in August, 9:45-10:45 a.m. This is an exciting class of dance and exercise all in one. Instructor is Judy Bennett with Trudy's School of Dance. Free for members and $2 per class for nonmembers.

Shag: Thursdays, Aug. 7-28, 5:45-6:45 p.m. Learn the fun Lowcountry dance. Partners are not required. Instructor is David Roland. $29 for members and $34 for nonmembers.

Exercise

Enhance Fitness Level II: Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 2-3 p.m. A very low-intensity, nonimpact class. Thirty minutes of very basic aerobic movements with balance and coordination movements incorporated. Twenty minutes of toning exercises using ankle and wrist weights. The class ends with abdominal exercises and stretching. The easiest of the Lifetime classes, this is good for people with low endurance and balance limitations. It also is great for people who suffer with fibromyalgia. Free for members and $2 per class for nonmembers.

Fit & Firm/Level III Enhance Fitness, Mondays and Wednesdays: 3:15-4:15 p.m. 30 minutes of high to moderate intensity low-impact aerobics and 20 minutes of toning exercises using ankle and wrist weights. The class ends with abdominal exercises and stretching. The most vigorous of the Lifetime classes, this is good for participants who are accustomed to exercise. Free for members and $2 per class for nonmembers.

Gentle Yoga: Fridays, 12:30-1:30 p.m. $20 for members and $25 for nonmembers.

The Creative Arts

Act Out Club, Mondays: Aug. 11 and 25, 12:30-2 p.m. The Act Out Club is the center's theater troupe. Led by the Actors' Theatre of South Carolina. $10 per month for members and $15 for nonmembers.

Writing Circle: Aug. 13, 2-4 p.m. A fun monthly group that supports writing for all levels. Each meeting brings with it entertaining exercises to get your mind working, ideas for better writing, and assignments that bring out the storyteller in you. All genres are welcome. Free for members and $5 per session for nonmembers.

Games

Bridge (Intermediate & Advanced tables): Thursdays, 2 p.m. Members free, nonmembers $2.

Canasta: Thursdays, 11 a.m. Members free, nonmembers $2.

Chess: Wednesdays, 11 a.m. Members free, nonmembers $2.

Horseshoes & Bocce: Mondays, 1 p.m. Members free, nonmembers $2.

Mah Jongg: Tuesdays, 10 a.m. Members free, nonmembers $2.

Pinochle: Fridays, 10 a.m. Members free, nonmembers $2.

Scrabble: Fridays, 10 a.m. Members free, nonmembers $2.