South Carolina Alliance of Black School Educators at Rock Hill will host its annual Historically Black Colleges and Universities Awareness Day 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 23 at Dutchman Creek Middle School.

Students will have the opportunity to speak with college representatives, attend workshops focused on transitioning from middle school to high school, SAT/ACT preparation, and enjoy free refreshments and entertainment.

Registration begins at 9:15 a.m. High school seniors should bring a copy of their transcript.

For information, contact Shandra Hall at shandra.hall@lcsdmail.net or Melody Jones at mjones@york.k12.sc.us.

Special events

• The annual Rock Hill Music Club Mid-Winter concert will be 3 p.m. Feb. 17 at St. John’s United Methodist Church featuring tenor John Fowler accompanied by pianist Lannia Bronola-Dickert and organist Virginia Moe. Reception after.

The concert is free to the public. This year marks the 99th anniversary of the club, which was founded March 20, 1914.

• Celebrate the Chinese New Year of the snake 3-4 p.m. Sunday at the Main Street Children’s Museum, 133 E. Main St., Rock Hill. Children can wiggle like snakes, create crafts of traditional Chinese festival symbols and make a take-home banner. The activity is included in general admission and registration is not required. Admission is $5 for children and adults and free for Culture and Heritage Museum members and children younger than 1.

For information, visit www.chmuseums.org or call 803.327.6400.

• Registration is due Friday for the 8th annual Joy of Gardening Symposium Feb. 23 at Baxter Hood Center, York Technical College, Rock Hill. Patrick McMilllan, Ph.D., director of Clemson University’s Campbell Museum of Natural History and host of S.C. ETV’s nature program, and Larry Mellichamp, Ph.D., director of the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens, will be the opening and closing speakers.

Gardening authorities will lead break-out sessions covering a variety of gardening topics. Eighteen vendors will offer plants, gardening books and other items during the event.

Registration opens at 8 a.m. The $50 fee includes lunch and drawings for door prizes. Details and online registration are available at symposium.yorkmg.org. Registration deadline is Feb. 15. For information, call Nancy Newman at 704-443-1366.

The Joy of Gardening Symposium is sponsored by the Master Gardeners of York County.

•  John Rosemond will present “Parenting with Love and Leadership” 2-5:30 p.m. Feb. 24 at St. John’s United Methodist Church, 321 S. Oakland Ave., Rock Hill. Rosemond, an author and speaker, is a child psychologist and syndicated in 225 daily newspapers. Tickets are $10 and on sale at the church office. Childcare space is limited. Reservations can be made when purchasing tickets. For information, call 803-327-3113.

•  Showcase of Woodcarvings will be 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 16-17, 2219 Tyvola Road, Charlotte. More than 100 carvers from 10 Southeastern states, including York County, will exhibit carvings in competition for $1,800 in cash awards. Theme is “The Wild Wild West.” There will be demonstrations and sale of carvings by nationally known carvers. Tom Wolfe will host a carving competition both days of the show. Also, seminars, vendors for carving supplies and a raffle. Free admission and free parking. 704-529-1748;

charlottewoodcarvers.com.

•  Ware Land & Timber, a forest management and timber company, will give away 800 oak seedlings for individuals to plant.

For info, email wmrogerware@aol.com, or call 803-366-1961 or go to wareforestland.com.

Fundraisers

• The 2012 stakeholder’s event to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of York County will be 5:30-8 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Magnolia Room at Laurel Creek, Rock Hill. The “Beach Bash” includes an open bar, dinner, wine pull, silent and live auctions. Music by DJ Travis Dupree and there will be a special performance by club members. Tickets are $50 individual and $90 a couple. Sponsorships are still available. For tickets go to bgcyc.org.

• The Be Great 8K road race to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of York County and Kiwanis Club of Rock Hill will be March 16 beginning at Winthrop Coliseum. Early registration is $25 through March 12. The one-mile fun run is free. For information go to bgcyc.org

• The Young Adult Ministry of Mount Holly United Methodist Church are hosting Project Joey, a fundraiser for Joey Funderburk of Sharon, to help purchase new prosthetic legs.

The group will sell smoked Boston butts for $25 (6pound minimum) and pounds of pulled pork for $10. Orders are due Tuesday and can be picked up Feb. 23 at the church. Orders can be placed via PayPal at mthollyumc.org. All proceeds will go to Funderburk or Grace’s Lamp, a charity he set up to help others with similar needs.

•  American Tango lessons will be offered at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays through March 20 at St. John’s United Methodist Church, Oakland Avenue, Rock Hill. Josh Love, owner and professional dance instructor at J’Adore Ballroom in Charlotte, will teach. You do not need a partner. The six-week session is $30 per person. The dance program is a fundraising effort for the children’s building. To register, call Pat at 803-980-4000 or email pathollisgrant@cs.com.

•  Clover Chapter No. 138 Order of the Eastern Star will have a poor man’s supper, 5-7 p.m. Saturday at the Alpine Masonic Lodge No. 208, 502 N. Main St.. Menu includes pinto beans, vegetable soup, cornbread, slaw, dessert and drink, Cost is $7 for all-you-can-eat. For information, contact David or Kathy Wallace at 803-222-3516.

• The 19th annual Pilgrims’ Inn fundraiser “Be Irish for a Night” will be 6:30-9:30 p.m. March 16 at St. Anne Catholic Church parish life center, Bird Street, Rock Hill.

Dinner includes corned beef and cabbage with Irish soda bread, wine and beer, homemade desserts and coffee. Entertainment will be provided by the Walsh-Kelley Irish dancers and Accordion Bob with his Irish music. There will be live and silent auctions, a 50/50 split the pot, and door prizes.

Tickets are $40 ($30 tax deductible). For sponsorships, call Ronnie at 803-327-7002. For tickets, call Kendra at 864-906-6257 or Pilgrims’ Inn at 803-327-4227.

Workshops

•  NAMI Piedmont Tri-County will host a 12-week Family to Family education program for caregivers of those with mental illness beginning Feb. 24 at Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church, 421 Oakland Ave., Rock Hill. Class is limited to 20 people. For information, call Susan Vogel at 803-366-6138 or Bennie Thompson at 803-789-5570.

Meetings

• The York County Marine Corp League’s local detachment, The Olde English Leathernecks, will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 732 W. Main St., Rock Hill,. The league consists of veteran and retired Marines and associates. Visitors are welcome. For information, contact Don Hicks at 803-328-1054 or 803-517-7253.

• The National Association for Active and Retired Federal Employees will meet 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Jackson’s Cafeteria, Rock Hill. Business meeting begins at noon.

• The Rock Hill Branch of the NAACP general meeting will be 5 p.m. Feb. 24 at St. Mary Catholic Church, 902 Crawford Road, Rock Hill.

For information, contact Sandra Oborokumo at 803-325-2855.

Clubs

• The Woman’s Club of Rock Hill will meet 5 p.m. Monday at the clubhouse, Aiken Avenue. Barbara O’Connell, coordinator of the York Soil & Water Conservation District, will speak about the school gardening program in Rock Hill schools. The club is affiliated with the General Federation of Women’s Clubs.

• The Col. William Bratton Chapter Sons of the American Revolution will meet 9:45-11:30 a.m. Feb. 16 at the Fort Mill Library, 1818 2nd Baxter Crossing. Historian Mark C. Anthony will speak on the requirements for SAR membership, the resources available to assist in your family historical research and the importance of the SAR membership.

Anthony is the current SAR South Carolina State Society Upstate vice president, former South Carolina Society State president and a member of the Daniel Morgan SAR chapter.

Recreation

• Rock Hill Parks, Recreation and Tourism will host a guided walk on the Piedmont Medical Center Trail, 9-11 a.m. Feb. 16 beginning at the picnic tables by the kayak launch at Riverwalk.

The free tour led by Hope Matthews, an interpretive naturalist, will discuss historical sites along the Catawba River, how the river has shaped our history and who we are today.

All activity levels are welcome and the recommended age for this program is 12 and older. Dress for the weather, wear comfortable shoes, and bring drinking water; this is a rain or shine program but will be cancelled in the event of severe weather.

To sign up, contact Hope Matthews at 803-817-5122 or hmatthews@cityofrockhill.com.

Nominations

• The York County First Steps Partnership Board is seeking nominations to the York County First Steps Board of Trustees. Nominees should reside or be employed in York County.

Nominees should have a commitment to the education, healthy development and well-being of children ages birth to 6. Nomination forms are available at York County First Steps offices, 410 E. Black St., Rock Hill or by calling 803-981-5780. Deadline is Feb. 22.

•  Home Instead Senior Care’s Salute to Senior Service program recognizes senior volunteers for their contributions.

Nominations are accepted through March 31. Visit SalutetoSeniorService.com for forms.

Home Instead will donate $500 the state winners’ favorite charity. In addition, $5,000 will be donated to the national winner’s nonprofit charity of choice.

Home Instead Senior Care office will host a free volunteer workshop at 10 a.m. Feb. 21 at the York County Chamber of Commerce, 116 E. Main St., Rock Hill.

For information, call 803-817-1901.

Scholarships

• The Woman’s Club of York County will award a $1,600 college scholarship to a York County high school student who is the child of an active service member or veteran. The scholarship is funded by the Club and the GFWC-SC Progress Foundation.

Students can contact their school’s guidance department for an application, which is due March 22.

Blood drive

•  Mount Prospect Baptist Church will host a Community Blood Drive with Community Blood Center of the Carolinas from 3-7 p.m. Feb. 18, in the fellowship hall, 339 W. Black St., Rock Hill. For appointments call, Sonya Burns at 803.493.8762.

Support groups

•  Alateen meets 8-9 p.m. Thursdays at Zoar Road Club, 14701 Thomas Road, Charlotte, behind Zoar Road United Methodist Church. Meetings are for two age groups: ages 6-12 and ages 13 and older. For information, call Lisa at 803-547-2124 or Sandy at 704-904-7834. Members only.

•  Al-Anon meets at 8 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays and 10:15 a.m. Wednesdays at the Serenity Club, 209 Grayson Road, Rock Hill.

•  Rock Hill Gamblers Anonymous meets 7:15 p.m. Thursdays at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1830 Celanese Road.

• The Brain Injury Support Group meets 6:30-7:30 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital, 1795 Frank Gaston Blvd., Rock Hill.

The support group is for individuals who have sustained a traumatic brain injury, an acquired brain injury or a stroke and their caregivers.

For information, contact the Brain Injury Association of South Carolina at 803-731-9823 or email sherry.gregor@homeinstead.com.

Volunteers

• The York County Council on Aging needs volunteers to help deliver meals to home-bound seniors in Rock Hill, York, Fort Mill and Clover in York County, and in Chester, Great Falls and Edgemoor in Chester County.

Those who would like to sign up to deliver meals or have questions should contact the center where they’d like to volunteer. Volunteers deliver a hot, nutritious lunch , but also and provide a brief period of companionship. Below is contact information for the centers in need of volunteers. To volunteer contact Paula Adams at 803-328-0197, ext. 302, in Rock Hill; Elaine Kershaw at 803-684-6115 in York; Billie Haney at 803-547-6184 in Fort Mill; Tonya Begley at 803-222-9286 in Clover; Marsha Locke at 803-385-6109 in Chester; Mary Colvin at 803-482-4196 in Fort Lawn; and Betty McCurry at 803-789-5420 in Edgemoor.

• Volunteers are needed at the York County Animal Shelter to help with bathing and grooming, exercising, socializing, training, providing adoption information and follow-up, publicity and marketing. Volunteers must be 18, and orientation and training are required. For more information, call 803-628-3190 or visit the shelter, 713 Justice Blvd., York. Applications are available at yorkcountygov.com.

Reunions

•  Rock Hill High School class of 1959 will meet at noon Tuesday at Golden Corral Restaurant, 1031 N. Anderson Road. All class members, spouses and friends are welcome.

• The Finley High School class of 1964 will meet 11 a.m. Saturday at the Golden Corral, 1031 North Anderson Road, Rock Hill, to plan the 50th reunion. All class members welcome. For information, contact Charlie M. Robinson at 803-327-4547, James Mayfield at 803-374-1090 or Kater Wylie Cornwell at 704-661-7701.

Send Community News items to communitynews@heraldonline.com or to 132 W. Main St., Rock Hill, SC 29730. Deadline for Thursday column is 5 p.m. Monday. Deadline for Sunday column is 5 p.m. Wednesday.