The American Association of Retired Persons offers refresher courses for drivers ages 50 and older. The AARP course is the nation's first and largest classroom refresher course and is taken by more than 600,000 people annually. All classes are taught by trained, unpaid volunteer instructors.

First time participants are required to take an eight hourse class, which is offered over a two day periond in four hour sessions. Anyone who has taken an eight hour class may then take the four hour refresher course. Successful completion of the program entitles participants to significant auto insurance discounts.Locally, the class is being offered in several locations and dates in Schuylkill and Carbon Countie.In Carbon County, four hour refresher classes will be held at the following locations: Lehighton campus of the Blue Mountain Health Care System on July 6, Aug. 6 and Sept. 8; Weatherly Senior Center on Sept. 13; Penn Kidder Senior Center in Jim Thorpe on Sept. 15; Palmerton campus of the Blue Mountain Health Care System on Sept. 27 and Nov. 17. Eight hour full classes, split in two sessions, will be held at the following Carbon County locations: Lehighton campus of the Blue Mountain Health Care System on Sept. 22 and 23; Panther Valley Senior Center, Nesquehoning, on July 12 and 13; St. Katherine Drexel Church, Lansford, on Oct. 1 and 8; Palmerton campus of the Blue Mountain Health Care System on Oct. 5 and 6.In Schuylkill County, four hour classes will be held in Tremont on Aug. 3; Ashland on Oct. 7 and the Tamaqua Salvation Army on Oct. 13. The full eight hour, two session, class will be offered at First United Methodist Church, Schuylkill Haven on Sept. 17 and 24 and Boscov's in Pottsville on Sept. 28 and 29.For further information, or to register, 1-888-227-7669 or visit the website

www.AARP.org/drive.