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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.

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.

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.

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.

A presentation of the production, "Train Wreck -- My Life as an Idiot," will be at 8 p.m. May 23. Writer and director Todd Williams will answer questions about the film, which was an official selection of the Hampton and Seattle International film festivals.

Also presented will be the documentary "A Man Named Pearl," at 8 p.m. May 24. The documentary tells the story of self-taught topiary artist Pearl Fryar of Bennettsville. Fryar will talk about his work before the screening.

Other events will include an 8 p.m. June 5 and 6 reading of "God's Man in Texas," written by David Rambo, and an 8 p.m. June 4 reading of a new play, "Discretion," by Rock Hill writer Terry Roueche.

In addition to the presentations, the event offers a university three-hour credit course, performance opportunities, lectures and master classes.

The activities will provide Winthrop students and the public with a variety of hands-on cultural events. Some events are free and others require tickets. For details, visit www.createcarolina.org or call Amanda Woolwine at (803) 323-2399.

An art exhibit featuring the work of youth ages 3 to 21 from YouthNet and other youth organizations will be on display beginning Thursday at the Center for the Arts, 121 E. Main St., Rock Hill.

An opening reception will be from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday. The exhibit will be in recognition of May 8 as National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day. YouthNet and Weed and Seed are sponsoring the event. This year's theme is celebrating differences.

After Thursday, the art will be on display from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 5 through 7 and 12 through 16 at YouthNet, 507 E. Black St.

The exhibit is free and refreshments will be provided. For details, call public information coordinator Antoine X. Knox at 366-3391, Ext. 105, or e-mail him at axk79@scdmh.org.

A women's conference, Set Yourself Free, will be from 5:30 to 8 p.m. May 17 at The Body, 1711 Cherry Road, Rock Hill. Cost is $15, which includes a sit-down dinner, drinks, dessert, entertainment and speakers.

Tickets can be purchased from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday or from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Grounds of Faith, 1707-102 Cherry Road, Rock Hill. The number of tickets is limited.

Keynote speaker will be Dianne Collard, an international speaker living in North Carolina. There will also be a speaker from Concerned Women for America, founded by Beverly LaHaye, and other entertainment.

Northside Elementary School will have a children's art show from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the cafeteria, 840 Annafrel St., Rock Hill.

This exhibit has been organized in conjunction with the art curriculum, and is an integral part of the school's efforts to promote the exploration of self-expression in students. Parents, families and teachers are invited. All signed original paintings are matted and framed gallery-style and will be available for sale.

The Henry's Knob Group of the South Carolina chapter of the Sierra Club will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Wesley Foundation, 406 Stewart Ave., Rock Hill.

Wayne Welborn of Rock Hill will present a slide show and discuss his experiences in Iceland. Guests are welcome and admission is free. For details, call Mary Keenan at 327-9610.

• A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments of South Carolina chapter of York County will have its 16th annual poker run and party to benefit the Worthy Boys and Girls Camp Saturday at the Crowbar, 1474 E. Main St., Rock Hill. Registration is from noon to 1 p.m. Fee is $10. The event ends at Busters place, 4805 McConnells Highway, Rock Hill. Best hand is $100 and worst hand, $25. Extra card is $5 at any stop. Activities include door prizes and live music by Rebels-N-Debt. Last bike in is at 6 p.m. Food will be $5 for non-riders. For details, call 628-0365 or visit www.abateofyorkcounty.50megs. com.

• The Fort Lawn Fire Department will have a barbecue fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 30 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 31 at the station, 5671 Pleasant Ave., Fort Lawn. Barbecue plates are $7 and include one-half pound of barbecue, baked beans, slaw, roll and dessert. For tickets, call Lt. Richard A. Hulse at (803) 872-7309.

• The first spring gospel sing will be from 6 to 8 p.m. May 24 at the McCelvey Center, 212 E. Jefferson St., York. Admission is a $5 donation. For tickets or details, call Jubilee Christian Center at (803) 628-5293, Lake Wylie Christian Assembly at (803) 831-1640 or Pastor Denis Jones at (803) 448-1640.

• The third annual Mustangs and Memories and other Classics car show to benefit the South Carolina Alzheimer's Association will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 7 at the Old Kirby Auto Mall, 1691 J.A. Cochran By-pass, Chester. Activities include a 50/50 raffle, door prizes and 24 classes of cars, including race car and drag car. Trophies will be awarded in all classes. Food and craft vendors will be at the event. Car show registration is $25. Active Day Inc. is sponsoring the event. Registration forms are available online at www.activeday.com; click on locations and then click on South Carolina-Chester location. For details, call Marie at (803) 385-7588.

Mary Jo Balasco • 329-4067 | communitynews@heraldonline.com | This column is published on Tuesdays, Thursday and Sundays. Deadline is 5 p.m. two business days in advance of publication. Deadline for the Sunday column is 5 p.m. Wednesday.