2009 starting off with varied events from local groups

By From staff reports - The Herald

The York County Arts Council has the following announcements:

• Catawba River Art Guild meeting, 10 a.m. Thursday. Details, www.catawbariverartguild.com

• Monique Luck Exhibition, through Jan. 31, City Hall Rotunda Gallery, 155 Johnston St, Rock Hill.

• 2008 S.C. Heart Gallery Exhibition, through Jan. 31, Perimeter Gallery, Center for the Arts, 121 E. Main Street, Rock Hill. Opening reception will be 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 22. Details, www.scheartgallery.org.

• Fort Mill Art Guild meeting, 7 p.m. Jan. 13. Details, www.fortmillartguild.com.

Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday. Second and fourth weekend hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Jeans, blouses on sale at Thrift Store Ministries

Thrift Store Ministries of Western York County, 31 N. Congress St., York, will have a buy-one-get-one free sale on all ladies jeans and ladies blouses this week. Proceeds from store sales help needy families in the York school district.

Registration underway for parenting classes

First Presbyterian is hosting 1-2-3 Magic parenting classes from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, beginning Jan. 14. There is no charge, but registration is required. The class will be taught by Marion Clemans, a certified leader of Active Parenting. She is director of children's and adult ministries at First Presbyterian Church of York. Children age 4 through fifth grade are invited to participate in "Sing and Ring" programs. Pre-registration is required and child care is available for children three and younger. Please register for 1-2-3 Magic by Wednesday by calling Clemans at 803-684-2356 or e-mail marionclemans@yahoo.com.

The following groups have events planned

• First Friday in the Garden will meet from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at the Glencairn Learning Center, 825 Edgemont Ave., Rock Hill. This month's topic will be water conservation in landscape.

• The Palmetto Chapter of the American Needlepoint Guild will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at Two's Company, 351 East Main Street. Details, call Marilyn at 803-981-5303.

• The National Alliance on Mental Illness of the Piedmont Tri-County area of South Carolina, serving York, Lancaster, and Chester counties, will sponsor the NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program specifically for families of persons diagnosed with serious mental illness. The 12-week series of classes will start in Rock Hill from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 11 at Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church, 421 Oakland Ave..

The course will cover information about schizophrenia, the mood disorders, panic disorder, borderline personality disorder, obsessive compulsive Disorder, and co-occurring brain and addictive disorders. The course will also address coping skills such as handling crisis and relapse, basic information about medications, communication skills, problem-solving skills, recovery and rehabilitation, and self-care. Co-teachers for the Rock Hill area will be Bennie Thompson and Susan Vogel.

Pre-registration is required and the class is limited to 20 people. Call Vogel at 803-366-6138 or Thompson 803-789-5570 to register. There is no charge for this class.

• Bill and April Bragg will teach a series of four dance lessons in two step from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays, starting this week, at St. John's United Methodist Church, 321 S. Oakland Avenue, Rock Hill. A $20 per person donation to the new children's and youth building is asked for the four-week series. The classes are for beginners and experienced dancers. Details, call Pat at 803-980-4000.

• An on-going, facilitated, support group for adult, female survivors of sexual assault and abuse. Safe Passage provides a safe place for women to come together and begin to work on healing and recovery with other victims and survivors. This group encourages women to share their experiences and understand that they are not alone. Acceptance, support, and strength are the foundations of this group.