LEWISTON — The SeniorsPlus Education Center has announced the March calendar. Unless stated otherwise, classes are free and located at 8 Falcon Road. The mission of SeniorsPlus is to enrich the lives of seniors and adults with disabilities. Call SeniorsPlus at 800-427-1241 for more information and to register; also visit www.seniorsplus.org and www.facebook.com/seniorsplus.

Coping with Hearing Loss: 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday, March 1. Instructor: Louise Sweetser, Marty Layne Hearing. Tips for wearers and non-wearers of hearing aids about how to hear the best that they can in different situations. Also, tips on having conversations with another person that has untreated hearing loss.

1-800 Help Me Tim: Smartphones: 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 6. Instructor: Tim Verrill, SeniorsPlus. Bring in a smartphone and questions. Limit five students.

Power of Prevention: 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 6. Instructor: Maureen Higgins, Dempsey Center. March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month. Learn how to reduce risk and the importance of screening.

Healthy Neighborhoods Mapping Workshop: 3 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 6. Instructor: Paige Wagner, Healthy Neighborhoods network organizer. Healthy Neighborhoods is a group of Lewiston residents who are collectively working to establish a specific “Model Corridor” in the community to invest in. This will be an interactive mapping workshop focusing on downtown Lewiston. Participants will receive a $5 gift card for participating.

Good Grief: 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday, March 8. Instructors: Angela Moore and Stephanie Kisilywicz, Beacon Hospice. This class will provide basic information on grief and discuss what happens after finishing a bereavement group.

Safe Driving: 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.Thursday, March 15. Instructor: Elwood Beach, AARP. Cost: $20, payable to AARP; $15 for AARP members. Drivers 55+ who complete the class are eligible for discounts on their auto insurance for three years. Bring driver’s license, lunch and membership card.

Effective Communication Strategies: 10 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 20. Instructor: Mark Pechenik, Alzheimer’s Association. Communication is more than just talking and listening – it’s also about sending and receiving messages through attitude, tone of voice, facial expression, and body language. As people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias progress in their journey and the ability to use words is lost, families need new ways to connect. Explore how communication takes place when someone has Alzheimer’s, learn to decode the verbal and behavioral messages delivered by someone with dementia and identify strategies to help connect and communicate at each stage of the disease.

Cooking for One or Two: 1 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 20. Instructors: SeniorsPlus Nutrition Department. Cooking for one or two often seems like a daunting task. Learn simple tips to make healthy, budget-friendly meals. Sample a quick, healthy dish. Limit 30 students.

1-800 Help Me Tim: Laptops: 9 to 11 a.m.Thursday, March 22. Instructor: Tim Verrill, SeniorsPlus. Bring laptop and questions or problems. Limit five students.

Crafting with Corinne: Easter: 1:30 to 3 p.m. Monday, March 26. Instructor: Corinne Saindon, local artisan. Cost: $5 for supplies. Create some spring-themed cards and a candy treat holder. Limit 10 students.

Piecing Together the Patterns of Our Lives: A Memoir Workshop: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thursdays, March 29 to April 26. Instructor: Ariela Zucker. This is a five-session workshop created to assist the participants in writing the stories of their lives. This class is for Senior College members only. Call Senior College at 207-780-5960 to register.

Taste of Hebrew: 1 to 3 p.m.Thursdays, March 29 to May 5. Instructor: Ariela Zucker. Ariela grew up in Jerusalem. She and her husband left Israel in September 2001. Followed by three of their daughters, they decided to stay in Maine and live in Ellsworth, in the motel they own and operate. Ariela has a BA from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and an MA in counseling education from the University of Pittsburgh. This is an opportunity to get a first impression of the overall structure of the Hebrew language. The course will include some practice of writing and reading to make the language more accessible. Most of the time will be dedicated to developing basic vocabulary in day-to-day Hebrew and simple phrases to enable short conversations. The class is for Senior College members only. Call Senior College at 207-780-5960 to register.

Living Well with Chronic Pain: 1 to 3:30 p.m. Fridays, March 30 to May 4. Instructors: Robyn Spugnardi and Cecilia Natale. This is a six-week workshop for those who want to learn ways to better manage their pain and health concerns. The workshop is held once a week for two and a half hours for adults who have long-term or chronic pain lasting longer than six months, or beyond the expected healing time for an injury. Participants will learn ways to deal with frustration, fatigue, poor sleep and isolation. They will also learn appropriate exercises for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility, endurance, techniques for pacing activity and rest, how to evaluate new treatments, and appropriate use of medications to treat  pain. Snacks will be provided, and there will be a drawing for a $25 gift card. Limit 16 students.

Ongoing fitness classes

Some insurance companies do offer reimbursement. Call the insurance company to find out.

Gentle Chair Yoga: 9 to 10 a.m.Mondays, Jan. 22 to March 19, and Fridays, March 9 to April 27. Instructor: Tisha Bremmer. Cost: $40 for eight weeks; Drop-in: $8 a class. Designed to increase vitality, gain a deeper sense of balance and find inner calm. Combines meditation, easy warm-ups, light stretches and gentle yoga postures.

Total Strength and Balance: 11:15 a.m. to noon or 12:15 to 1 p.m. Mondays, 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. Instructor: Linn Morin, certified trainer. Cost: $5 for drop-in, $15 for six classes, $25 for 12 classes. One month passes are nonrefundable. To register or for more information, call Linn at 207-523-9055.

Ongoing groups

Coffee & Comfort: 3 to 4 p.m.Monday, March 5. A new group that meets on the first Monday of each month for those who have experienced loss and have completed the Bereavement Group at Beacon Hospice.

Caregiver Support Group: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Monday, March 12. Occurs on the second Monday of each month. Offers a safe place for caregivers, family and friends of persons with dementia to meet and develop a mutual support system.

Knitting Group: 5 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Work on a project or learn how to knit. Bring yarn and knitting needles.

Book Club: 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 14. Meets on the second Wednesday of each month. The book to be read for this month’s group is “Red Ruby Heart in a Cold Blue Sea” by Morgan Callan Rogers.

Oxford and Franklin counties

Healthy Living for Your Brain & Body/Farmington: Noon to 1 p.m. Monday, March 5. Instructor: Alzheimer’s Association. Location: Farmington Senior Center. Learn about research in the areas of diet and nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement and use hands-on tools to help incorporate the recommendations into a plan for healthy aging.

Living Well for Better Health/Norway: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mondays, March 12 to April 16. Instructors: Valerie Cole and Robyn Spugnardi. Location: Stephens Memorial Hospital, 181 Main St., Norway. The six-week workshop teaches real-life skills for living a full, healthy life with a chronic condition. The workshop builds confidence around managing health, staying active and enjoying life. At the end of the workshop, there will be a drawing for a $25 gift card. Snacks will be provided each week. Limit 16 students.

Thriving in Place Update/Farmington: Noon to 1 p.m. Monday, March 19. Instructor: Mary Richards, SeniorsPlus. Location: Farmington Senior Center. Interested to see how the Thriving in Place (TiP) grant is going in Farmington? Find out what is coming up.

Living Well for Better Health/Rumford: 9 to 11:30 a.m.Fridays, March 30 to May 4. Instructors: Laure Johnson and Cecilia Natale.  Location: Beacon House, 20 Congress St. The six-week long workshop teaches real-life skills for living a full, healthy life with a chronic condition. The workshop builds confidence around managing health, staying active, and enjoying life. There will be a drawing for a $25 gift card. Snacks will be provided each week. Limit 16 students.

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