Student art

POLAND – The Poland Spring Preservation Society/Nettie Ricker Art Gallery at the Maine State Building in Poland Spring is presenting works of art from the students of Poland Community School.

The students, under the direction of Jonathan Graffius, are opening the first art exhibit of the season. The show features oil pastels by kindergartners, sand art by first-graders and watercolors by second-graders. The show will run through June 9. There will be a closing reception for the students and parents from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 9. The Maine State Building is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Clinical trials

LEWISTON – “Understanding Clinical Trials” will be the topic when the Central Maine Medical Center Prostate Cancer Support Group meets from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 30, in Chairmen’s Room C, 12 High Street Medical Office Building.

Speaker will be radiation therapist Tracy Stone. She will provide an overview of clinical trials and the prostate cancer patient. Topics will include the benefits of participating in a trial, who is eligible and what happens during a clinical trial and how patients are protected while participating.

Participation is voluntary. Information yielded by the research study is used to assess the new treatment. The information generated contributes to the body of knowledge that sometimes leads to better cancer care.

CMMC Prostate Cancer Support Group sessions are free. Light refreshments are provided. Men with prostate cancer and their spouses, partners or caregivers are welcome. Advance registration is not required. Call Kerry Irish at 795-7118 with questions.

Alzheimer’s Care

LEWISTON – A Best Friends Approach to Alzheimer’s Care workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, June 4, at SeniorsPlus, Fairgrounds Business Complex, 8 Falcon Road.

The workshop uses the metaphor of “friendship” to enhance a relationship with a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. The class is for family caregivers and friends of the family helping with caregiving.

The session is free due to support of the Maine Alzheimer’s Project. Preregistration is required. RSVP to Kathy Brill at 1-800-427-1241, ext. 133, by Wednesday, May 3. Bring a brown bag lunch.

There is a 12-hour training program approved by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services Division of Licensing and Certification intended for staff to enhance professional care for Alzheimer’s patients. For more information, contact the Alzheimer’s Association at 1-800-660-2871.

Driving course

AUBURN – An AARP driver safety course for drivers age 50 and older will be presented at Schooner Retirement Community, 200 Stetson Road, on Tuesday and Thursday, June 5 and 7.

Classes will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and participants must attend both sessions to complete the course.

The registration fee is $10 a person and advance registration is required. To register, phone Mark Prevost at 784-2900. Class size is limited and registrations will be accepted only as long as space is still available.

The AARP eight-hour class helps drivers learn about defensive driving techniques, new traffic laws and rules of the road, and it helps older drivers learn how to adjust their driving to age-related changes in vision, hearing and reaction time. Insurance companies in Maine are required to give discounts to drivers age 55 and older who complete the course.

More information may be found on the Web at home.earthlink.net/~drivesafe-me.