This year's Adirondack Arts & Healing Retreat is Sept. 19 to 21; full and partial scholarships are available. Any women living with breast cancer may attend for free as a result of a major grant from the Susan B. Komen Foundation. For information, call Fran Yardley at 359-9324.

Butterfly Release to honor loved ones

PLATTSBURGH -- Hospice of the North Country will hold the third-annual Memorial Butterfly Release at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14, on the steps of City Hall in Plattsburgh.

The event is open to anyone wishing to celebrate the life of a loved one who has passed away or to anyone wishing to honor someone they know.

Approximately 120 monarch butterflies will be released simultaneously. The symbolic event brings together not only family members of hospice patients but those who wish to celebrate a loved one.

Pre-purchasing butterflies is encouraged and should be done by Friday; however butterflies may be purchased at the event based on availability. The cost is $15 each. Call 561.8465.

CVPH plans surgery project open house

PLATTSBURGH -- A community open house for the new surgery project at CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh is planned for 4 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12. The wing won't open until October, but this will be an opportunity for the public to view the nine new operating suites, support space -- including sterile processing and distribution -- the new patient registration and front lobby. The new da Vinci surgical robot will also be on display.