Community News from York, Chester, Lancaster counties – July 2, 2015

The Museum of York County will host “Pluto-Palooza!” 6-9:30 p.m. July 14 to celebrate NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft’s flyby of distant dwarf planet Pluto.

The first close-up study of Pluto and its moons and other icy worlds in the distant Kuiper Belt, NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft has been collecting data since January 2006. New Horizons is scheduled to phone-home that evening. The museum’s Settlemyre Planetarium will present the live NASA TV broadcast from 8-9:15 p.m.

The Settlemyre Planetarium will feature bonus full-dome shows during “Pluto-Palooza!” from 6:30-7:30. The shows include:

“New Horizons for a Little Planet,” a 6-minute animated short film presenting a lighthearted introduction to NASA’s New Horizons mission to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt.

“Perfect Little Planet,” a 30-minute animated film about the ultimate family vacation exploring some of the best known sights of the solar system.

“From Earth to the Universe,” a-30 minute film showcasing an illustrious voyage of time and space.

The celebration includes Moon Pies, crafts, giveaways, and activities throughout the event.

The Carolina Skygazers, an amateur astronomy club that meets in the Settlemyre Planetarium, will be outside on the museum grounds with telescopes for safe viewing of the sun (weather permitting) until about 8 p.m.

The event is free with museum admission. Admission: adults. $6; seniors, $5; ages 4-17, $3; age 3 and younger and CHM members, free. For information, go to www.chmuseums.org/myco/ or call 803-329-2121.

Special events

▪ Agape Senior will host its third anniversary celebration and dog show from 9 to 11 a.m. July 11 at Agape, 1020 N. Congress St., York. Dog show registration will be 9-9:30 a.m., and shot records are required. Those who don’t have a dog are welcome to attend. Dog rescue groups from all over York County will attend to answer adoption questions, Pelican’s Shaved Ice will pass out snow cones for both two-legged and four-legged guests. There will be a drawing for a chance to win two tickets to the Lady Antebellum concert.

▪ An Afternoon of Bach with compositions from “The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I” performed on the clavichord by David Richardson of Rock Hill will be at 4 p.m. July 12 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 22 E. Liberty St., York. The event is free to the public.

▪ The Col. William Bratton Chapter of the South Carolina Society of the Sons of the American Revolution will have a wreath-laying ceremony at noon July 11 at Brattonsville Plantation, Brattonsville Road, McConnells.

The ceremony commemorates the 235th anniversary of the Battle of Huck’s Defeat. The re-enactment of the battle by the New Acquisition Militia, Helyar’s Company of the 7th, and the 64th Regiment of Foot begins at 2 p.m.

Capt. Christian Huck was a Loyalist officer noted for his “particular dislike for the Scot-Irish Presbyterians in the South Carolina backcountry or ‘rebels’ as the British called them.”

The destruction of Huck’s Loyalist force at Williamson’s Plantation on July 12, 1780, helped revive the morale of the people in South Carolina just when British victory seemed inevitable. It served as a rallying point for the backcountry Whigs, and set into motion a series of significant events that eventually led to even larger Patriot victories at King’s Mountain in October 1780, Cowpens in January 1781, and finally to the British surrender at Yorktown in October 1781.

▪ Count Me In To Do the Right Thing will host its eighth annual Back-2-School event 5-8 p.m. Aug. 8 at the Richburg Fire Department, 225 N. Main St., Richburg. The event will feature games, bingo and free school supplies to the first 100 students. Free refreshments. Bring lawn chairs. For information, email count15mein@truvista.net.

▪ Artisans, craftsmen, and holiday vendors are invited to participate in the third annual Artisans Holiday Show Dec. 5 at 212 S. Main St., Lancaster as part of the Red Rose Holiday Tour. This holiday market features handmade arts and crafts and holiday vendors. Participation fees start at $50. For applications, call 803-287-7853, email cmstevens@comporium.net, go online at http://bit.ly/1NzBcXf or by mail at P.O. Box 6, Van Wyck, SC 29744.

Meetings

▪ The Rock Hill branch of the NAACP executive meeting will be 6 p.m. Thursday at St. Mary Catholic Church, 902 Crawford Road. For information, call Sandra Oborokumo at 803-325-2855 or 803-366-2184.

▪ The York County Library board of trustees will meet 5 p.m. Thursday at the York County Library, 138 E. Black St., Rock Hill. Open to the public. For information, go to www.yclibrary.org or call 803-981-5831.

▪ The National Association of Active and Retired Federal Employees will meet 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Jackson’s Cafeteria. The business meeting begins at noon.

▪ Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 2008 Rock Hill, will meet 7 p.m. July 15 at VFW Hall, 732 W. Main St. All Purple Heart recipients are welcome. For information, call Rich Roszelle at 803 367-8328

▪ York County Genealogical & Historical Society will meet 2 p.m. July 12 at The White Home at the corner of East White Street and Elizabeth Lane, Rock Hill. The White Home is a farmhouse in downtown Rock Hill which predates the founding of Rock Hill. The admission fee will not be charged.

Recreation

▪ Rock Hill Parks, Recreation and Tourism is offering an etiquette class for ages 6-10 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 3 at Fewell Park Recreation Center. “The Rules of Nice,” taught by Karen Pounds, goes beyond learning how to shake hands. The class helps youth build communication skills, learn good manners and show respect for themselves and others. Lunch is provided. Cost is $34. Registration in advance is required. For information or to register, go to cityofrockhill.com/prt or call 803-329-5645.

Classes

▪ Casey Mink, a Suzuki certified teacher, will have his second annual violin camp July 24-26 in the Gettys Art Center Courtroom in Rock Hill for children in pre-kindergarten to second grade. No instrument is required. Cost is $80. For information, call 803-325-4047 or email caseyjamesmink@gmail.com.

▪ The application deadline for Master Gardener training for York, Chester and Lancaster counties is Tuesday. Classes are 9 a.m.-noon Tuesdays Aug. 4-Nov. 10 at the York County Clemson Extension office, 120 N. Congress St., York.

The mission of the Clemson Extension Master Gardener Program is to train volunteers to help the horticulture agent to inform others about sound gardening practices. For information, contact Paul Thompson at pthmpsn@clemson.edu, or 803-684-9919, ext. 112.

For those who cannot attend weekday classes, there is an online Master Gardener class. For more information, go to clemson.edu/extension/mg.

Library programs

The York County Library in Rock Hill will offer the following free programs. For a complete schedule of all library programs, go to www.yclibrary.org.

Comic Strip Creations, 3-4:30 p.m. July 13 for ages 11-17. Learn how to use online comic strip generators to create comics. Call 803-981-5830 to register.

Teen Tech Time: RHPD Got Game, 3:30-5 p.m. July 14 for ages 11-17. Meet officers from the Rock Hill Police Department and enjoy gaming technologies, including the Xbox One, on the big screen. Participants receive a free book and are eligible for door prizes. Call 803-981-5830 to register.

Fiction Frenzy: Graphic Novel Edition, 2:30 p.m. July 16 for ages 9-11. Create a comic strip, take superhero photos with props and more. Call 803-981-5888 to register.

Natural Solutions for the Entire Family: Summer Edition, 6-7 p.m. July 16. Join Jess and Brandan Lee from Greater Family Health Center to learn how essential oils can be used to support healthy living and treat bug bites, sunburns, and poison ivy. Samples will be provided. Call 803-981-5845 to register.

Be a Hero, 2-3:30 p.m. July 21 for ages 11-17. Put together care packages for the library’s homebound patrons and earn volunteer time. All materials provided. Call 803-981-5830 to register.

Spin Cycle Juggling, by Ken Julian and Austin Bruckner, 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. July 15 for ages 3-11. Julian and Bruckner will entertain with their amazing juggling skills. No registration required.

‘Stone Soup,’ by Porkchop Productions, 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. July 22 for ages 3-11. Porkchop Productions adapts the famous folk tale, with lots of audience participation. No registration required.

Superhero Comic Con, 3-4:30 p.m. July 28 fro ages 11-17. Enjoy gaming and other activities including pictures in the photo booth, creating comic strips and superhero trivia. Appropriate costumes may be worn. Registration open July 14, call 803-981-5830 to register.

Superheroes of the Circus, by Lee Andrews Productions, 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. July 29 for ages 3-11. Lee Andrews Productions presents Lew-E the clown and his clown car, which produces all sorts of silly things. No registration required.

Family Game Night, 6-7:30 p.m. July 30 for all ages accompanied by an adult. Family-friendly night of board, Wii and Kinect games, a colossal deck of cards and Mega Twister. Registration opens July 16, call 803-981-5888.

Library Lock-In, 7-10 p.m. July 31 for ages 11-17. Gaming, scavenger hunts, author Skype chats, and more. Registration open July 17, call 803-981-5830.

Health

▪ The Adult Enrichment Centers of Rock Hill caregiver support group will meet at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at 359 Park Ave. Open to the public. For information, call Dee Curran at 803-327-7448.

▪ Piedmont Medical Center will offer a free seminar on surgical weight loss Thursday. To register, call 1-888-457-5211.

Volunteers

▪ The nonprofit Friends of the York County Animal Shelter needs volunteers to help bathe, groom, exercise, socialize, train and provide adoption information for the animals, as well as assist in follow-ups, publicity, marketing and fulfilling other jobs at the shelter. Time and mileage may be tax-deductible. Volunteers must be 18 or older; orientation and training are required. For information, call 803-818-6485 or go to the shelter at 713 Justice Blvd., York.

Reunions

▪ The Emmett Scott High School class of 1967 monthly birthday dinner will be 5:30 p.m. Monday at The Mayflower, Celanese Road, Rock Hill.

▪ A reunion is being organized for Sunset Park Pirates baseball and softball players. For information, call Don Perry at 803-370-4930 or Heyward Moffatt at 803-329-9622 or Earl Chisholm at 803-554-7193.

▪ The Chester High School class of 1975 40th class reunion will be Sept. 11-13 in North Charleston. A dinner cruise is planned for Sept. 12. Cost is $65 per person. RSVP by July 15 to Bertha Rhinehart Sims at 803-209-2523 or Diane Hooper Wilmore at 803-385-6985 or Theodore Wilder 803-374-1310 or email tedwilder@truvista.net for hotel information and an itinerary of events. On Facebook, the contact is Patricia Wilmore Hampton.

▪ Former Hillcrest Elementary School students will meet 11 a.m. July 11 at Tabernacle AME Zion Church, 320 Old Friendship Road, Rock Hill.

▪ The Rock Hill High School class of 1970 is planning its 45th class reunion on Oct. 9-10. To sign up, register at rhhs1970.com or call 803-315-6921.

Support groups

Affirmation of York County is a support group for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, their families and friends. The group will meet 7 p.m. July 14 at Grace Presbyterian Church, 2955 S.C. 160, Fort Mill. For information, call Ellen at 803-417-0954, Melissa at 803-547-6042 or email affirmationofyc@gmail.com.

▪ A GriefShare, 6:30-8 p.m. Thursdays at Covenant Presbyterian Church at the corner of Mount Gallant and Celanese roads. For information, contact Bill at wmstroud@comporium.net or 803-517-6177.

▪ Alateen meets 8-9 p.m. Thursdays at Zoar Road Club, 14701 Thomas Road, Charlotte. Meetings are for two age groups: 6-12 and 13 and older. For information, call 803-547-2124 or 704-904-7834.

▪ Al-Anon meets at 8 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays at Serenity Club, 209 Grayson Road, Rock Hill; at noon Tuesdays upstairs at Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church, 421 Oakland Ave., Rock Hill; at 8 p.m. Mondays at Grace Presbyterian Church, 2955 S.C. 160, Fort Mill; and at 8 p.m. Tuesdays in the house beside First Baptist Church, 121 Monroe White St., Fort Mill.

This story was originally published July 4, 2015 at 3:32 PM with the headline "Community News from York, Chester, Lancaster counties – July 2, 2015."