The free public ceremony will be at 11 a.m. May 15 in the Hampton Street parking lot between Main and Black streets in Rock Hill.

The ceremony honors the contributions of Black, one of the founders of Rock Hill. Black's plantation originally spanned the area of current downtown Rock Hill. With his remarkable business savvy, he made a large impact on building Rock Hill into the city it is today.

Speakers will include historian Louise Pettus, York Mayor Eddie Lee, Rock Hill Mayor Doug Echols and York County Councilman Buddy Motz. For details, call 329-2121.

Meetings planned for Kings Mountain park

Kings Mountain National Military Park will have two open house meetings to kick off the park's general management plan. The first meeting will be from 3 to 7 p.m. today at Kings Mountain City Hall, 101 W. Gold St., Kings Mountain, N.C. The second will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at York Electric Cooperative, 1385 E. Alexander Love Highway, York.

The plan establishes goals and objectives for the park with regard to protecting and preserving its natural and cultural resources and for providing visitor services and achieved desired visitor experiences.

Each open house session features a brief slide presentation at 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. explaining the plan process, followed by questions, answers and opportunities for the public to contribute ideas for management of the national monument.

Comments may be provided during the meeting or submitted in writing to National Park Service, KIMO General Management Plan Team, attention David Libman, 100 Alabama St., 1924 Building, Atlanta, Ga., or online at parkplanning.nps.gov/parkHome.cfm?parkId=390 and click open for public comments. For details, call Kings Mountain at (864) 936-7921.

Realtor group honors service men, women

The Piedmont Regional Association of Realtors will have an appreciation reception honoring service men and women from 2 to 4 p.m. May 18 at the Palmetto Room, 135 E. Main St., downtown Rock Hill. The event will kick of the 2008 community service project, which is adopting a military unit leaving for the Middle East in late May.

The unit, based in Columbia, has many members from the Piedmont area. The association will collect monetary donations and items for care packages to be sent to soldiers throughout the year. There will be a donation area for care package items. The program will feature a soldier who served in World War II.

Suggested items needed for the care packages are hygiene items, such as shaving cream, razors and soap; plastic-covered soap dishes; shower shoes or crocs; chapstick; hand-held games; other types of games; movies; sunblock; Crystal Light iced tea powder; gum; blankets; battery alarm clocks; and batteries.

Admission to the event is free, but donations will be accepted. Finger foods and beverages will be served. Local caterers have donated their time and food. The caterers include Melanie Rowe and Old Town Bistro. For details, call Adrienne Guyett at (803) 322-7929.

Create Carolina show reflects current events

The second annual Create Carolina Arts Festival: A Southern Fried Arts Festival will be May 19 through June 7 at Winthrop University. The event will feature productions by established and emerging artists from around the country.

Inspired by the current political climate, Create Carolina participants will write and produce an innovative theater piece about the untold story of Victoria Woodhull, the first female stockbroker who ran for president, and Fredrick Douglass, a former slave whom Woodhull selected as her vice presidential nominee.

Festival writer-in-residence Jonathan Davidson will collaborate with Winthrop University students to create the multimedia theater production examining the parallels between the political processes of the late 1800s and today. The project will premiere at the festival at 8 p.m. May 30 and 31 and June 7 in the Johnson Theater.