LEWISTON — SeniorsPlus has announced its Education Center classes for March. Classes are held at 8 Falcon Road unless noted. Classes are free, unless noted.

AARP Safe Driving: Tuesday, March 5, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; instructor, AARP staff/volunteer. Drivers 55-plus who complete the class are eligible for discounts on their auto insurance for three years. Bring driver’s license, lunch and AARP membership card. Cost: $20 for nonmembers, $15 for AARP members, payable to AARP.

Ibis Program Info Session: Wednesday, March 6, 1 to 4 p.m.; instructor, Brenton Stoddart, Ibis Care Navigator. The Ibis Program will be at SeniorsPlus the first Wednesday of each month, demonstrating new technology designed to help people with chronic illness take the best care of themselves in their home. The program has been shown to reduce hospitalizations, reduce caregiver fatigue, increase coordination among physicians, and enhance quality of life.

Tips and Tools for Quitting Tobacco: Thursday, March 7, 11 a.m. to noon; instructor, Maureen Higgins, Cancer Health Outreach educator with Dempsey Center. Learn about resources for quitting, how to prepare to quit and how to identify and avoid triggers.

1-800-Help-Me-Tim: Windows 10 for Beginners: Thursday, March 7, 2 to 4 p.m.; instructor, Tim Verrill, SeniorsPlus. Windows 10 can get confusing, even if you’re familiar. Learn simple steps to help understand and use Windows 10 better. Limit: 20.

True Colors: Monday, March 11, 2 to 4 p.m.; instructor, Angela Moore, Beacon Hospice. True Colors is a personality test that expresses the four colors of being: blue, green, gold and orange. Each person has these colors in their personality, but generally one color impacts one’s personality and communication style. In this presentation, folks will find their True Color and learn how those colors change in different situations.

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Consumer Affairs: Tuesday, March 12, 10 a.m. to noon; instructor, Alan Elze. Learn what recourse people may have when new purchases stop working, orders never get delivered, vehicle repairs are done incorrectly or other similar problems consumers face.

Free Movie Screening: “Songs for a Long Life”: Tuesday, March 12, 2:30 to 4 p.m.; instructor, Androscoggin Home Healthcare and Hospice. “Seven Songs for a Long Life” is a documentary that follows the lives of seven terminally ill individuals, with music as a central theme, promoting living fully with serious illness. An informal conversation facilitated by Karen Flynn, director of hospice and palliative care, and Dr. Elizabeth Hart, director of medical services, will follow. Audience participation is encouraged.

Understanding Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Tuesday, March 19, 10 to 11:30 a.m.; instructor, Peter Baker, Alzheimer’s Association. The Alzheimer’s Association has created an education program covering the basics of Alzheimer’s and dementia to provide a general overview for people who are facing a diagnosis, as well as those who wish to be informed. The program explores the relationship between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia; examines what happens in a brain affected by Alzheimer’s; details the risk factors for and three general stages of the disease; and discusses treatments, research and resources.

Energy Efficiency & Weatherization: Tuesday, March 19, noon to 1 p.m.; instructor, Kristine Corey, Energy Efficiency coordinator, AmeriCorps. Discover an affordable path to a clean and green future in renewable energy. Discuss simple ways to combat climate change and reduce energy bills. Learn easy, DIY weatherization techniques and get introduced to local organizations committed to energy efficiency. Includes the opportunity for a free one-hour home energy consultation.

Game Day at SeniorsPlus: Wednesday, March 20, 1 to 4 p.m. An afternoon of games, socialization and popcorn. Bring a favorite game to share.

Medical Marijuana 101: Thursday, March 21, 9 to 11 a.m.; instructors, Danielle Miller and Marissa Martin. The presentation will cover how cannabis works in the body, ways to ingest it and how each method takes effect, how to track what one has tried so far and the success of the results, and how to make cannabis remedies.

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Options for Caregivers of Individuals with Dementia: Thursday, March 21, with timeslots 1:30 to 2 p.m.; 2 to 2:30 p.m.; 3 to 3:30 p.m.; 3:30 to 4 p.m.; or 4 to4:30 p.m.; instructor, Albert L’Etoile, Woodlands Memory Care of Lewiston. L’Etoile has been assisting families and older adults in finding the appropriate living situation for nearly 20 years. The one-on-one sessions are an opportunity to “pick his brain” regarding options for caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.

Your Money Personality: Tuesday, March 26, 10 a.m. to noon; instructor, Chris Davis, workforce development specialist at New Ventures Maine. Participants will use a game, “Money Habitudes,” to identify money management style. This helps people learn how their habits and attitudes towards money affect decisions and actions related to money. The results of one’s card-sort activity will act as a starting point to become more comfortable managing money.

“Go Set a Watchman” by Harper Lee: Wednesdays, March 27–May 1, 9 to 11 a.m.; instructor, Laura Sturgis. Required book is “Go Set a Watchman,” ISBN: 978-0-06-256102-2. The six-week course is a continuation of the fall class on Harper Lee. Class involves reading and discussing “Go Set a Watchman” and hopefully viewing the Gregory Peck film. The class is for Senior College members only. Call 207-780-5960 to register. Limit: 20.

Crafting with Corinne: Wednesday, March 27, 2 to 3:30 p.m.; instructor, Corinne Saindon. Spring is coming, so the project will be an Easter basket and matching card. Limit: 10. Supply fee: $5.

Easy Tips on Improving Self-Esteem: Thursday, March 28, 11 a.m. to noon; instructor, Chloe Giampaolo. Learn how boosting self-esteem prevents health problems for seniors. Look at what people with good self-esteem do, five healthy ways to boost self-confidence, and discuss the good and bad effects of cortisol (the body’s hormone as related to self-esteem).

A Pictorial Guide and Benefits of Walking: Thursday, March 28, 2:30 to 4 p.m.; instructor, Mary Joan Kozicki LaFontaine, regional director, Southern CareerCenters. While watching a slide show of LaFontaine’s adventures in walking with her dog, Millie, attendees will learn about the many forms of health benefits. They will be guided through a photo journal of nature, art, humor and spirituality.

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Living Well with Chronic Pain: Thursdays, March 28–May 16 (no class April 11 or 18), 4 to 6:30 p.m.; instructors, SeniorsPlus; location, Lewiston Adult Education. This is a six-week long workshop for those who want to learn ways to better manage their pain. Participants of the interactive workshop learn ways to deal with frustration, fatigue, poor sleep and isolation. They will also learn appropriate exercises for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility, endurance and techniques for pacing activity and rest. To register, call SeniorsPlus at 207-795-4010 or Lewiston Adult Education at 207-795-4141.

Exercise classes

Total Strength and Balance: Mondays, 11:15 a.m. to noon or 12:15 to 1 p.m.; Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.; Fridays, 11:30 a.m. to 12:10 p.m.  or 12:30 to 1:10 p.m.; 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.

Gentle Chair Yoga: Mondays, March 18–May 6, 9 to 10 a.m.; instructor, Tisha Bremmer. Cost: eight-week sessions for $40. 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.

Chair Yoga: Fridays, February 15–April 5, 9 to 10 a.m.; instructor, Mary Bishop. Cost: $8 drop-in or $40 for eight weeks. The class is designed to help with ease of movement and breath, finding stability and strength through yoga poses with variations for every ability.

Ongoing events

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Knitting Group: Wednesdays, 5 to 7:30 p.m. Work on your own project or learn how to knit – bring yarn and knitting needles.

Book Club: Wednesday, March 13, 2 to 4 p.m.; Marco’s Restaurant (March only). The peer-facilitated club meets on the second Wednesday of each month. This month’s book is “Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day” by Winifred Watson. It is about a governess sent by an employment agency to the wrong address, where she encounters a glamorous night-club singer and her life takes an unexpected turn. This is the group’s 250th book — to celebrate they will meet at Marco’s Restaurant. Club members are responsible for the cost of their food and drinks.

Franklin and Oxford counties

Living Well with Diabetes: Tuesdays, March 5–April 9 (six sessions), 3:30 to 6 p.m.; instructors, SeniorsPlus staff; location, Franklin Adult Education Conference Room, 129 Seamon Road, Suite A, Farmington. Learn real-life skills for living a full, healthy life with diabetes. The six-week workshop will help provide participants with strategies needed to help enjoy life to its fullest.

10 Tips: Thursdays, March 7–28, 2 to 3 p.m.; instructor, Healthy Oxford Hills; location, SeniorsPlus Norway, 9 Marston St. The series consists of four sessions based on the theme of “Choose MyPlate” or “Eating Better on a Budget.” Classes are based on the USDA’s “10 Tips Nutrition Education Series,” which provides easy-to-follow tips from the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Demonstrations, tastings and a cookbook are provided.

How to Protect Yourself from Fraud & Scams: Tuesday, March 19, 4 to 6 p.m.; instructor, Valerie Cole, SeniorsPlus; location, SAD 44 Adult Education, Telstar High School, Bethel. Discuss how scams and identity theft rob millions of Americans each year and how creative and persistent scammers can be. Attendees will learn to recognize common scams and how to avoid them and protect themselves. To register, call SAD 44 Adult Ed at 207-824-2136.

SeniorsPlus is fully accessible. Hearing assistive equipment is available upon request. Register for classes by calling 207-795-4010 or 1-800-427-1241.

For more information, visit seniorsplus.org/education-center.


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