The Creativity and Wellness Expo -- the official opening celebration of the Robert and Pearl Seymour Center -- will take place Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

There will be tours of the facility, vendors, health screenings, exercise demos, refreshments, lunch and door prizes. Gene Cohen, nationally recognized researcher, will speak at 2 p.m. on "Creativity and Aging: Relevance to All in the Second Half of Life." At 7 p.m. Cohen will speak again on "The Mature Mind: Positive Brain Changes, Psychological Growth, and Creative Potential with Aging."

And speaking of senior centers, join the Orange County commissioners, county officials, local dignitaries, Friends of the Senior Center, Corley Redfoot and Zack Architects and our contractor on June 19 at 10 a.m. to launch construction of a new center at the Triangle Sportsplex off U.S. 70 in Hillsborough. The plans are on view at the current Central Orange Senior Center. It is going to be a 15,000-sq.-ft. facility with great amenities, including a group-fitness room, a large kitchen, a grand ballroom with a half-court basketball area and shuffleboard and the capacity to hold our very large countywide senior events, a computer learning center, classrooms for arts and crafts, lectures, and other lifelong learning opportunities.

Adjacent to the senior center will be the Central Orange Adult Day Health Facility with more than 4,000-sq.-ft. of space providing licensed personal care for older adults and respite for their families. The facility is expected to be completed in late 2008.

Several road trips also are planned for June.

June 6: Stagville Plantation and a tour of historic Hillsborough are planned. The plantation holdings of the Bennehan-Cameron family were among the largest in the South. Stagville lay in the center of this enormous estate. The tour will include the manor house and slave quarters and then travel to Hillsborough, where the Camerons lived and worked prior to moving to the plantation. Lunch will be in Hillsborough. Cost is $5 for the bus tour of Hillsborough plus $7 for transportation. Bus leaves Hillsborough at 8:45 a.m./Chapel Hill at 9:15 a.m.; returns to Hillsborough at 3:30 p.m./Chapel Hill at 4 p.m.

June 12: Experience North Carolina's Riverboats and Ranches on our Intergenerational Tour. We will start with a sightseeing cruise and lunch on the Catawba Queen, followed by an option of Putt-Putt or Bumper Boats at Queen's Landing Amusement Park. We will take in an exciting safari ride through Lazy 5 Ranch to see some of North Carolina's exotic animals in a unique way. There will be a quick dinner stop on the way home (dinner cost is not included in price). Bus will depart the Chapel Hill Senior Center at 6:30 a.m. and Hillsborough at 7. Approximate return time to Hillsborough will be at 9 p.m. and Chapel Hill will be at 9:30. Price per adult is $65, per child (12 and under) is $30 and per adolescent (13 and up) is $35.

June 14: The Temple Theater's "Beehive, the '60s Musical Sensation" will feature sky-high hair and skirts that range from the poodle to the mini with the music of Brenda Lee, Annette Funicello, Dusty Springfield and Diana Ross. Tickets are $17 and transportation is $7 for a total of $24 that must be paid in advance by May 30. Make checks payable to the Orange County Department on Aging and mail to 515 Meadowlands Drive, Hillsborough, N.C. Bus leaves Hillsborough at 10:30 a.m./Chapel Hill at 11.; returns to Chapel Hill at 5 p.m./Hillsborough 5:30.

June 19: Temples and Tombs of Ancient Egypt is a special exhibit at the N.C. Museum of Art comprised of 85 treasures from the British Museum's renowned Egyptian collection. We will eat at the 42nd Street Oyster Bar in Raleigh. Send $6 for the exhibit ticket plus $7 for transportation to 515 Meadowlands Drive, Hillsborough, N.C. Leave Hillsborough at 9 a.m./Chapel Hill at 9:30.; return to Chapel Hill at 2:30 p.m./Hillsborough at 3.

June 23: Art, wine and barbecue in central North Carolina are planned. Enjoy a weekend visit to North Carolina's countryside in Lexington. Starting the day off with a hearty lunch at The Bar-B-Q Center, known as the "Barbecue Capital of the World." After lunch, we will visit Childress Vineyards, owned by NASCAR team owner Richard Childress, followed by an afternoon browse at the Bob Timberlake Gallery. The cost of the trip is $25 per person.

Seymour Center, 968-2070
June 1, 3, 13, 15 : The Physical Function Screening is available by appointment from 1 to 5 p.m. The assessment is required for anyone who wants to use the new fitness studio at the Seymour Center. It's free. Call the center for an appointment at least two days in advance of any appointment and be sure to ask them to send you the preliminary forms in the mail.

June 5, 12: Legal Aid of North Carolina is available from 9 a.m. to noon. On the second Tuesday of each month, elder law attorney James Wilde is available to advise on wills, powers of attorney, and Medicare D. To schedule an appointment, telephone 1-800-672-5834 between 9 a.m. and- 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.

June 6: Barbara Pringle, the Orange County Health Department adult health nurse, will talk about shingles and a new vaccine to help prevent an outbreak of it. 10:45-11:30 a.m. Call the center to register. For medical transportation in the county, call 245-2008.

June 6: The Healthy Food Demo will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Whole Foods will be the first organization to prepare and share a healthy meal in the center's new demonstration kitchen. There will be items for tasting. Call the center to register. Commitment fee: $5.

June 7 and 14: Estate planning workshops are scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Seymour Center. Presenter Beth Tillman, a lawyer, will cover the following Planning for Incapacity on June 7 and Final Wishes for Yourself and You Property on June 14.

June 14: Potluck dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. We will have an All-American cookout on the new patio. The center will provide the hotdogs and drinks. You bring the desserts. Our entertainer this evening will be Prince Taylor. Call the center to register and let us know what you are bringing.

June 14 and 15: AARP Driver Safety Program will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Students must attend both sessions of class. Fee: $10, payable to AARP. Call the center to pre-register.

June 20: Schedule a 20-minute uninterrupted appointment with Jena Ivey with the UNC School of Pharmacy, to ask questions about medications, herbal supplements and vitamins. 9:30 a.m.-noon. Call the center for an appointment.

June 21: Creative Memories: Creating Your Own StoryBook using a computer is set for 6-9 p.m. Use software from Creative Memories and personal digital images to create your own StoryBook. Class fee: $20, plus the cost of the StoryBook ($39.95 plus tax and shipping and handling).

June 29: Independence Day Celebration Dance, 6-8 p.m. Dinner and dancing. Call the center.


Carrboro Senior Program

June 4: The Community Book Forum will discuss "Death of Innocents" and "How DNA Evidence Impacts the Death Penalty" from 7 to 9 p.m. in Century Hall. A limited number of books are available for loan at the Cybrary. For more information, call 918-7387 or e-mail cybrary@co.orange.nc.us.

June 14: View bald eagles and fledglings at Jordan Lake. Hike an interpretive trail with Audubon guide Kate Finlayson to the New Hope Audubon Society Observation Deck. Van departs the Carrboro Town Hall at 8:30 a.m. and returns at noon.

June 30: "The Modern Housewife," a documentary film of selected advertising films from 1940s and '50s, gives advice that seems hilarious today. Movie curator Skip Elsheimer ends with a film that predicts what will happen in the distant future of 1999. $4 per person. Century Center.


Central Orange Senior Center, 245-2015

June 6: Schedule a 20-minute uninterrupted appointment with Jena Ivey with the UNC School of Pharmacy, to ask questions about medications, herbal supplements and vitamins. 9:30 a.m.-noon. Call the center for an appointment.

June 6: Bingo is scheduled from 10-11 a.m. Prizes and refreshments. Seniors from Efland-Cheeks and Cedar Grove will be provided transportation.

June 7, 14: Estate planning workshops from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Conference Room of the Agricultural and Planning Building at 306 Revere Road. Presenter Steve Lackey will cover "Transferring Property by Gift" on June 7 and "Who's in Charge?" on June 14. There will be opportunities for questions and answers. Call 245-2015 to register.

June 15: District IV Fun Festival from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Kelsey's at Occoneechee in Hillsborough. Call Lisa at 245-2668 for details and cost.

June 20: Barbara Pringle, Orange County Health Department adult health nurse, will talk about shingles and a new vaccine to help prevent an outbreak of it.10:45-11:30 a.m. Call the center to register.

June 21: Potluck dinner will be from 5 to 7 p.m. The center will provide the fried chicken; you provide the sides, desserts or breads. Call the center to register prior to June 15 and let us know what you plan to bring.

June 26: Legal Aid of North Carolina is available from 9 a.m. to noon. To schedule an appointment, telephone 1-800-672-5834 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., Monday through Friday.