This Thursday, Jan. 29, brings the Grand Opening of the Central Orange Senior Center adjoining the Triangle SportsPlex in Hillsborough. Everyone is invited. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will begin at 10 a.m., followed by guest speakers, entertainment and wellness activities. A catered lunch will be served at noon. Art Fettig, local author and humorist, will provide a program at 12:15 p.m. Join us at 5:30 p.m. for a reception sponsored by the Friends of the Central Orange Senior Center, followed by a dedication of the "Bending Color" Art Project, which features 30 free-moving strands that contain more than 180 two-sided textile collages made from hand-printed cotton and silk produced by a local artist along with senior center participants. This project was co-sponsored by the Orange County Arts Commission and the North Carolina Museum of Art. Call 245-2015 for information.

The VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program offers tax assistance from Feb. 1 to April 15. The program is for people of any age with a household income of less than $50,000, and is available in many locations. Hospital and home visits can be arranged for the homebound or disabled. Tax volunteers are trained and tested according to IRS and N.C. guidelines. They prepare computerized federal and state income tax returns and file them electronically, at no charge. If you have a complex or lengthy tax return, contact a paid tax consultant. For appointments at the Seymour Center in Chapel Hill, call 968-2070. For appointments at Carrboro Town Hall, call 968-2070, and for appointments at the Central Orange Senior Center in Hillsborough, call 245-2015.

The Century Center in Carrboro will be the happy scene of a Valentine's Day celebration on Feb. 13 at 2 p.m. Come and celebrate the love of your choice. The party promises entertainment, refreshments and games. Free. Call 918-7372 to register.

The next day, Feb. 14, the Friends of the Seymour Center will host a performance of the Savoyards at 3 p.m. The program will be followed by a reception.

Other Special Happenings:

• Feb. 2 , 3 p.m. -- Opening of "Global Perspectives," an art exhibit by Nerys Levy, and afternoon tea at the Seymour Center. Exhibit will run through March 31 and is open to the public. Fee: $2 for the tea. Call 968-2070 for a reservation.

• Feb. 6 is the deadline for registration and payment for a trip to Atlanta to see the exhibit "Treasures Fit for Kings: King Tut and China's Terracotta Army," March 23-26. Transportation will be provided from both the Seymour Center and the Central Orange Senior Center. In addition to the exhibit, you will tour CNN, World of Coca-Cola, the New Georgia Aquarium featuring the Titanic Aquatic Exhibit, Stone Mountain Park, a guided city tour, and shopping at the Mall of Georgia. Call 968-2070 for more information.

• Feb. 6 - Triangle Towne Mall in Raleigh. One of the best malls in the Triangle. Lunch is on your own. Bus leaves from both the Seymour and Center Orange Senior Centers. Call 245-2015 for a reservation. Fee: $5.00

• Feb. 12 -- Newcomers Coffee at the Central Orange Center. This is your chance to ask all the questions about what the Senior Center can do for you. Join the Senior Center staff as they give an overview of our programs and services. Coffee, conversation and a tour. Call to register at 245-2015. Free.

• Feb. 12, 5:30-7 p.m. -- Potluck Dinner at the Seymour Center. Lasagna will be served, and you bring a side dish to share. Entertainment: The Cliches. Free.

• Feb. 13, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. -- Black History Celebration will take place at the Hargraves Center in Chapel Hill. Keynote speaker, great food and a time to reflect. As part of the celebration, a workshop in conjunction with the Annual Community Art Project, "What's Your Story" will be held. Participants are asked to bring a memento to share for the artists to reproduce. Co-sponsored with Chapel Hill Recreation and Parks. Transportation will be provided to and from the Seymour Center. Call 968-2070 to register. Free

• Feb. 13, 6-10 p.m. -- Las Vegas Night in the new Central Orange Senior Center. Dinner and dancing. You'll get $10,000 worth of gaming "money," which can be used to play casino games and to bid on the fabulous prizes. Tickets are $18 before Feb. 1 or $20 after that. Call 245-2015 for more information.

• Feb. 17 -- Senior Striders at University Mall. Warmup at 8 a.m., buffet breakfast at A Southern Season at 8:20 a.m., and a program, "Caring for Your Heart and the Best Ways to Do That" by Paula Miller, director of UNC Hospitals Women's Heart Program, at 8:45 a.m. Free.

• Feb. 18, 10 a.m. -- Newcomers Coffee at the Central Orange Center. Get an overview of our programs and services. Coffee, conversation and a tour. Call to register at 968-2070. Free

• Feb. 19, 10-11:30 a.m. -- Sudoku Tournament. Join us for our spring tournament. Seymour Center. Free. Call 968-2070 to register.

• Feb. 19, 2:30 p.m. - "DNA Testing: Crystal Ball or Weather Forecast," by Cynthia Powell, chief of the Division of Genetics and Metabolism, UNC Department of Pediatrics. Seymour Center. Free.

• Feb. 21, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. -- "In the Eyes of Opera" with Victoria Windler. Opera performance and group discussion. Bring your lunch to eat during the break. Call 968-2070 to sign up. Free.

• Feb. 23, 1:30-3 p.m. -- Legislative Update Forum at the Seymour Center in Chapel Hill, followed by an afternoon tea and a chance to meet local legislators. Alice Gordon, Orange County commissioner, will be the moderator. Free.

• Feb. 24, 10:30-11:30 a.m. -- Mardi Gras Celebration! Music, games and King Cake. Central Orange Senior Center. Call 245-2015 to register. Free.

• Feb. 25, 7:30-9:30 p.m. -- Navajo weaving with Donna Masterson. Free.

• Feb. 28, Noon-1 p.m. Golden Age Happy Circle Club Presents "Show Me the Menu", a comical play about club members as they plan a menu for a fundraiser. Donations accepted

• March 1, 1 p.m. -- The 11th annual Community Dinner celebrating Orange County's rich cultural diversity through food and entertainment will be held in McDougle Senior centerhool's Cafetorium in Carrboro. Tickets are $8 for adults, and $3 for children age 10 and under. For more information, go to www.communitydinner.org. Call Cydnee Sims at 969-3025 for information on complimentary tickets.

Wellness Programs:

• Parkinson's Disease -- Seymour Center , Feb. 4, 10:30-11:30 a.m.; Central Orange Senior Center, Feb. 18, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free.

• Foot Health Care -- Central Orange Senior Center, Feb. 4, 10:30-11:30 a.m.; Seymour Center, Feb. 18, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free.

• NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program: Twelve-week series of classes to help family members understand and support their relatives with mental illness. To register, contact Gove Elder at 967-5403. Seymour Center, Feb. 3-April 21, 6:30-9 p.m.; Central Orange Senior Center, Feb. 5-April 23, 6:30-9 p.m. Free

Craft Classes:

•Pottery -- Creating a Wall Vase: Central Orange Senior Center, Feb. 9 and 23, 3-4:30 p.m. Fee: $50 plus materials. Call 245-2015 to register.

• Pottery -- Hand-Building Bowls: Central Orange Senior Center, Feb. 5-March 5, 6-9 p.m Fee: $50 plus materials. Call 245-2015 to register.

• Pottery -- Hand-Building Introduction: Central Orange Senior Center, Feb. 5-March 5, 3-4 p.m. Fee: $50 plus materials. Call 245-2015 to register.

• Quilling: Central Orange Senior Center, Feb. 2 and 16, 6-8 p.m. Fee: $10 per class. Call 245-2015 by Jan. 29 to register.

• Quilting: Central Orange Senior Center, Jan. 27-Feb. 10, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Fee: $30. Call 245-2015 to register.

• Quilting for Soldiers: Central Orange Senior Center, Feb. 17, 24, March 3, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Call 245-2015 to register by Feb. 3.

Free Movies (includes popcorn) Seymour Center:

• Feb. 14, 11:30 a.m.: "27 Dresses"

• Feb. 3, 1 p.m.: "The Apple Dumpling Gang"

• Feb. 10, 1 p.m.: "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir"

• Feb. 17, 1 p.m.: "San Francisco"

• Feb. 24, 1 p.m.: "Mildred Pierce"

Central Orange Senior Center

• Feb. 6, 12:30 p.m.: "Auntie Mame"

• Feb. 20, 12:30 p.m.: "National Treasure"

• Feb. 27, 12:30 p.m.: "National Treasure II"

Interest Groups

• Ballroom Dance Classes: Century Center in Carrboro. Fee: $70. Feb. 8-March 15, 4-5:30 p.m. Call 918-7372 for more information and to register.

• Book Discussion Group: "Consequences," by Penelope Lively. Seymour Center, Feb. 16, 2 p.m.

• Garden Club: Contact Cydnee Sims at 969-3025 for more information. First of the month at 10 a.m.

• Seymour Chorus Interest Meeting: Seymour Center, Feb. 16, 2 p.m.

• 90 and Above Crowd!: Call 968-2070 to register. Seymour Center, Feb. 10 and 24, Noon-1 p.m.

Support Groups:

• Chapel Hill Arthritis Education Network: For information, call Angie Hutto at 408-0307 or Cindy Johnson at 544-2021. Seymour Center, Feb. 10, 7-8:30 p.m.

• Widows Support Group: Eight-week group for education, support and fellowship sponsored by UNC Hospice. Open to adults who have experienced the death of a spouse. Limited to 12 people. Call Gail Smith at 218-7995 for more information. Free. Seymour Center, Feb. 17-April 7, 10 a.m.-noon. To register, call 968-2070; Central Orange Senior Center, Feb. 19-April 9, 10 a.m.-noon. To register, call 245-2015.