BRIEFLY.

Dementia, stress workshop topics

LANCASTER -- Dementia, effective communication and stress reduction will be topics covered at a workshop for people who care for disabled family members.

``Caring for the Caregiver: Antelope Valley'' will be presented by the Los Angeles Caregiver Resource Center & EduCare and is funded in part by Los Angeles County Area Agency on Aging.

The event is set for 8:30a.m. to 12:30p.m. Nov.18 at the Antelope Valley Senior Center, 777 W. Jackman St. To register, call Kenia Noriega at [phone].

The event is free. A free continental breakfast and raffle will be included.

Geriatrician Dr. Jasmine S. Chowdhury will talk about diagnosis and treatment for dementia and related disorders.

Los Angeles Caregiver Resource Center representative Shawn Herz will talk about keys to effective communication in ``Why Don't They Help?''

Clinical hypnotherapist Judith Cassis will talk about stress-management techniques and caring for your own emotional well-being.

CHP office seeks senior volunteers

LANCASTER -- People 55 and older, in good health and with no felony convictions are being sought as senior volunteers for the California Highway Patrol's Antelope Valley office.

``The CHP encourages all active senior citizens who would like to assist law enforcement officers with making our streets and communities safer,'' CHP Capt. Nick Norton said.

Interested individuals should apply by Jan.15 between 8a.m. and 5p.m. Mondays through Fridays at the Antelope Valley CHP office, 2041 W. Ave. I.

Wear a costume, eat at no charge

PALMDALE -- Children 11 and younger will eat free Tuesday at HomeTown Buffet, 422 W. Rancho Vista Blvd., when they wear a Halloween costume.

Children must be accompanied by a paying adult.

`Threads' exhibit runs till Dec. 9

LANCASTER -- Antelope Valley College alumnae and artists from the Art Institute of Chicago's Fiber and Materials Studies Department will present an exhibit called ``Threads.''

The exhibit will run from Nov.8 through Dec.9 in the art gallery at the college, 3041 W. Ave. K. A free public reception will ope Gallery hours are 9a.m. to 9p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 11a.m. to 9p.m. Fridays and 11a.m. to 4p.m. Saturdays.

Rummage sale set this week

PALMDALE -- The Palmdale Woman's Club will host a rummage sale from 8a.m. to 5p.m. Thursday and Friday at their clubhouse, 2141 E. Ave Q.

Items at the sale will include furniture, household goods, computers and clothing. Donations will be accepted.

For more information or to make a donation, call Bernice Foley at [phone] or [phone].

Dec. 1 deadline for story contest

PALMDALE -- The Palmdale Playhouse Visual and Performing Arts Program Writers' Roundtable is accepting entries for its annual short-story contest.

The entry deadline is Dec.1. The fee is $10 per entry, with no limit on the number of entries.

Barnes & Noble gift certificates will be awarded to the first-, second- and third-place winners. Each will get a one-year members A winners' reception will be held Dec.14 as part of the Playhouse's annual Spirit of the Holidays events.

Entries can be no longer than 3,000 words. Entries must be printed double-spaced with 12-point type on plain white 8 1/2-by-11- i The story name, author's name and address, phone number and optional e-mail address must be printed in the upper left-hand corner e.

Stories will not be returned.

Entries can be mailed or brought to the Palmdale Playhouse, 38334 10th St. E., Palmdale. Entry-fee checks should be made payable Assistant training offered at AVAS

LANCASTER -- People can register at the Antelope Valley Adult School for administrative assistant training.

Classes in Excel, PowerPoint, MS Office applications, desktop publishing and office skills are available at the school's Lancaste For information, call [phone].

Gift shop workers and clerks sought

LANCASTER -- High Desert Health System's volunteer department is looking for men and women to help in the High Desert Health gift shop.

There are also openings for clerical support volunteers throughout the facility at 44900 60th St. W.

Volunteers work a few hours a week.

Interested individuals can call Sherry Tuminaro at [phone].

Hospice offers support meetings

PALMDALE -- Hoffman Hospice holds grief support meetings at 5:30p.m. every Wednesday at its Palmdale office, 1543 E. Palmdale Blvd., Suite N.

Meetings are free of charge. They provide aid to individuals through the grieving process.

For information, call [phone].

Scrapbook party set for Nov. 11

PALMDALE -- The Antelope Valley Scrap Club will host a scrapbook ``crop party'' Nov.11 at the Palmdale Courtyard Marriott, 530 W. Rancho Vista Blvd.

The cost is $20 from noon to 6p.m., $25 from 6:30p.m. to midnight, or $40 for all day.

The fee includes food, beverages, prizes and use of the scrapbook studio, tools and computer. Call [phone], go to www.avscrapclub.com, or e-mail avscrapclub(AT_SIGN)aol.com.

-- Daily News