Lowcountry Senior Center

The Lowcountry Senior Center, next to James Island County Park, has scheduled programs. Call 762-9555 to register. The center is a place for active, independent people 50 and older. The center, 865 Riverland Drive, is open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday. The center is managed by Roper St. Francis Healthcare.

Educational Programs

AARP's 55-Alive Driving Course: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. May 19-20. Brush up on driving skills with AARP's 55 Alive Driving Course. This two-day, defensive-driving course is designed for older adults. Taught by Clyde Mizzell, AARP volunteer and center member. $10 for members and nonmembers.

I-CARE Counseling: 10 a.m.-noon. Tuesdays in May. A trained I-CARE counselor can help seniors with Medicare, Medicare supplement policies, long-term care insurance, Medicaid, prescription drugs, and Medicare or Medicaid fraud. Call the center to make an appointment.

Enhance Wellness: May, by appointment. This comprehensive health promotion program assists people in making changes in their lives, from losing weight to adjusting to retirement. Aleshia Parrish, the center's Wellness Manager, meets one on one with participants for a health assessment. Ask for an Enhance Wellness welcome packet at the center's front desk. Free for members and $55 for non.

Great Decisions: 3-4:30 p.m. May 21. The foreign policy study group is designed to encourage discussion of global issues. Review the reading packet before the meeting date (available at the center). May's topic is "U.S. Defense Policy." Free for members and $5 for non.

Lowcountry Scholars: 1:30-3:30 p.m. May 28. Speakers and engaging topics are designed to tantalize your intellectual curiosity. Each session features two speakers with refreshments. Free for members and $5 for non. Register in advance.

1:30-2:15 p.m.: Dr. Charles Banov, local Charleston allergy specialist, to talk about his book, "Office Upstairs: A Doctor's Journey."

2:30-3:15 p.m.: Robert Russell, Ph.D., professor at the College of Charleston, will speak on "Harvard, Columbia, Penn and the College of Charleston 'Branding' and College Design in the 1820s."

Cerebral Calisthenics: 10-11 a.m. May 13. Learn brain fitness at this exciting class. Free for members and $2 for non.

Who Gets Grandma's Yellow Pie Plate?: 1-3 p.m. Wednesdays, May 14-28. For many people, personal items carry more meaning and are more important than the titled property. The instructor is Senior Center staff member Sarah Jackson. This course helps individuals identify special objects, determine goals of distribution, set ground rules for distribution, weigh out different distribution options and initiate discussions. Registration is $15 for members and $20 for non.

Wellness

Laughter, the Best Medicine!: 10-11 a.m. May 15. Bob Hope once said, "Laughter can transform unbearable tears into bearable hope." That's what this new class, led by center member James Hollings-worth, is about. People can learn, retain and remember humor. Register at the center. Free for members and $2 for non.

Understanding and Managing High Blood Pressure: May 13, 2 p.m. This program offers seniors and caregivers a chance to attend an educational presentation on understanding and managing high blood pressure. Also, participants may spend one-on-one time with local CVS pharmacist Jim Vecchiolla to review medications. This program is hosted by CVS pharmacy and the National Council on Aging. Register at the center.

Massage for the Health of It!: 2 p.m. May 20. Dr. Leonard McGill will share his secrets of professional massage techniques. Learn the most powerful self-massage/acupressure techniques for common ailments such as neck pain, shoulder problems and lower-back pain, along with how to give a relaxing massage. Free for members and $5 for non.

Computer Classes

Basic Word Processing: Tuesdays and Thursdays, May 13, 15, 20 and 22. Must attend all four courses. Course includes a workbook for you to keep. Prerequisites: Comfortable using the mouse.

After 5 at the Center

2Bfirm: 5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday evenings. A high- to moderate-intensity workout, this class is a combination of aerobics, strength and flexibility training using weights, Dyna-bands and small balls for resistance. $14 for senior center members and $19 for nonmembers per month.

Gentle Yoga: 5:30-6:30 p.m. Mondays. Designed for the senior adult who needs to improve flexibility, balance and core strength. $20 for members and $25 for non per month. No class May 26.

Lowcountry Investment Club: 5:30-6:30 p.m. May 13. The Investment 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 senior center members and $2 for nonmembers.

Exercise

Enhance Fitness Level II: 2-3 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. A low-intensity nonimpact class. 30 minutes of basic aerobic movements with balance and coordination movements incorporated. 20 minutes of toning exercises using ankle and wrist weights. The class ends with abdominal exercises and stretching. This is the easiest of the Lifetime classes. Good for people with low endurance and balance limitations. It also can help people who suffer with fibromyalgia. Free for members of the senior center and $2 per class for non.

Fit & Firm/Level III Enhance Fitness: 3:15-4:15 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. 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. This is the most vigorous of the Lifetime classes. Good for participants who are accustomed to exercise. Free for members of the senior center and $2 per class for non.

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

The Creative Arts

Act Out Club: 12:30-2 p.m. Mondays, May 12 and 19. 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 non.

Book Club: 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 13. The Book for May is "Freakonomics" by Steven D. Levitt. The Book Club is offered in partnership with the James Island Branch Library. Books are on reserve at the James Island Branch Library. Call the senior center to register 762-9555. Free for members and nonmembers.

Scrapbooking: 12:30-2 p.m. May 21. A scrapbooking get-together. Bring your things and work together. Free for members and $5 for non.

Writing Circle: 2-4 p.m. May 14. Join The Writing Circle and get the creative writing juices flowing. The Writing Circle is 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 in the Writing Circle. Free for senior center members and $5 per session for non.

Beginning Drawing II: 3:30-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays, May 13-June 17. This course is a continuation of the Beginning Drawing Course, however, you may attend if you are already familiar with drawing fundamentals. The first lesson will review the basic principles. You will need a sketchbook and sharpened pencils. Instructor is Dwana Meisehelder. $15 for members and $20 for non.

Beginner Recorder: 1:45-2:30 p.m. Mondays, Learn to play the recorder and to read music in a fun, relaxed environment. Taught by Jean Breza. Free for members and $2 per session for non.

Games

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

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

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

Horseshoes & Bocce: 1 p.m. Mondays. Members free, non $2. No games May 26.

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

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

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

Travel

Brookgreen Gardens & More Tour: June 17. Visit beautiful Brookgreen Gardens. Group will first travel to the gardens and do the sculpture garden tour, then have a picnic in the pavilion (included) and in the afternoon do the creek excursion along the Waccamaw River. Final stop will be to the Mayfield Plantation, a 900-acre antebellum landmark, for a tour of the house and ground. $90 for members and $100 for non.

Tea Time in Port Royal: July 23. Visiting the second oldest city in our state is always exciting, but when you add the charm and elegance of Evelene Stevenson, host for the day, the adventure takes on a whole new look. Stevenson will entertain with stories of a bygone era as she accompanies the group to Port Royal and "A Lil Peace of Heaven" Tea House. Lunch will be included at Port Royal and there will be time for shopping in area shops. The group will return to Beaufort and hear how manners and communication were passed from mother to daughter for every social event they would encounter, especially at "tea time." $80 for members and $90 for non.

Choo Choos of Chattanooga: Sept. 11-14. Join group for a fun four-day trip to Chattanooga, Tenn. Highlights of the trip include the model train museum, dinner at the station house with singing waiters, ride along the missionary ridge local, Ruby Falls and train ride on the Chickamauga Turn.

Trains of the Colorado Rockies: Travel the beautiful Colorado terrain onboard some of the historical and famous trains of the Colorado area on this nine-day tour. Highlights of the trip include trips to Denver, Vail, Silverton, Durango, Colorado Spring and more on famous railways such as the Georgetown Loop Railroad, Durango and Silverton Railroad and the Pike's Peak Cog Railroad. See the senior center for more details.

Italian Lakes & Greek Islands: Oct. 24-Nov. 4. Become immersed in the scenery of the Italian Lakes region and then unpack once for a seven-night Eastern Mediterranean cruise. Highlights on this 12-day trip include Stresa, lago Maggiore, Lake Como, Bari, Greek Islands, Katakolon, Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes and Venice.

Tropical Costa Rica: Feb. 25-March 3, 2009. A nine-day tour through the heart of Costa Rica. Highlights include San Juan, Poas Volcano, Cano Negro Refuge, Arenal Volcano Hot Springs, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Guanacaste.

Copper Canyon Adventure: April 25-May 3, 2009. Spend nine days adventuring in the Copper Canyon. Highlights include San Carlos, El Fuerte, Chihuahua-Pacifico Railroad, Creel, Chihuahua and El Paso.