Community News for York, Chester, Lancaster counties: Nov. 26, 2015

The York County Coroner’s Office staff and the CARE Team will host an open house to light the Fifth Annual Remembrance Tree, 3-5 p.m. Tuesday at the coroner’s office on Heckle Boulevard in Rock Hill.

Families who have lost loved ones are invited to bring an ornament to place on the tree in their memory.

Families also can take ornaments to the office weekdays during office hours.

For information, call 803-909-8400.

Special events

▪ The Central City Optimist Club will host its 31st annual Senior Citizens Banquet, 2-4 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Rock Hill Elks Lodge, 344 E. Main St. Free for ages 60 and older. For information, contact Larry Burnside at 803-327-0540 or Charlie M. Robinson at 803-327-4547.

▪ Selecting and Caring for Christmas Trees is the topic for First Friday in the Garden, 11 a.m. Dec. 4 at the Glencairn Garden Learning Center, 825 Edgemont Ave., Rock Hill. Clemson horticulture agent Paul Thompson will present the program. Free and open to the public.

▪ The Fort Mill High School dance team will host Breakfast with Santa, 8:30-10 a.m. or 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Dec. 12 at the high school on Harris Street. Tickets: $8, adults; $5, children. To reserve tickets, email fmdtbreakfastwithsanta@yahoo.com.

▪ Historic Brattonsville will host its Christmas Candlelight Tours, 3-9 p.m. Dec. 5 and 12 at the site in McConnells. Tickets: $10, adults; $8, seniors; $5, ages 4-17 and free, ages 3 and younger and Culture and Heritage Museum members. Information: chmuseums.org/brattonsville.

▪ Keystone will host an open house, 4-6 p.m. Wednesday at the center, 199 S. Herlong Ave., Rock Hill. Open to the public. For information, call 803-324-1800.

▪ The Woman’s Club of Rock Hill is taking reservations for its Victorian Teas, which are ChristmasVille events. Teas will be at noon Dec. 4 and 4 p.m. Dec. 6 at the historic Armstrong-Mauldin House, 607 Aiken Ave. Traditional English savories, scones and a variety of sweet treats will be served. Cost is $20. The event includes carolers and servers in Victorian attire and musical interludes. The Sugar Plum Boutique will feature some new vendors showing Christmas gifts, decorations and homemade holiday treats. The club’s cookbook, “Traditional Tea Time Favorites,” will be available. A Children’s Tea with Mrs. Claus will be 11:30 a.m. Dec. 5. Cost is $15. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For reservations call Betty at 803-415-7278 or the clubhouse at 803-328-8888 and leave a message. Your call will be returned.

Fundraisers

▪ Pilgrims’ Inn “Adopt a Family” for Christmas program has begun. For information, call 803-327-4227, ext. 230, or email cdixon@pilgrimsinn.org. Donations are tax deductible.

Entertainment

▪ The York County Choral Society will present Handel’s “Messiah” Part 1 at 4 p.m. Dec. 6 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1320 India Hook Road, Rock Hill. Tickets are $20, adults; $10, seniors; and $5, students.

Meetings

▪ Rock Hill branch of the NAACP general meeting will be 9 a.m. Saturday at Bannon Hall at St. Mary Catholic Church, Crawford Road.

Clubs

▪ The Ballroom Dance Club’s Holiday Dance will be 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Oak Room of the Fort Mill Golf Course, 101 Country Club Drive. Holiday attire. Guest admission is $15, couples; $7.50 singles. Bring finger food to share; beverages provided. All skill levels are welcome. For information call Bob at 803-329-5764, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

▪ The Newcomers Club of York County, a women’s social and civic-minded organization, will meet at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 9 at The Brakefield at Riverwalk, 1111 Brakefield Drive, Rock Hill. Doors will open at 10:30 a.m. for the silent auction to supports the group’s charities of the year. Items, made and donated by members, include baked goods and craft items. Luncheon is $15. For reservations contact Kris at ycnewcomers@yahoo.com or 954-821-9310 by 10 p.m. Dec. 4. Toys can be donated for “Toys for Tots” at the meeting.

▪ Lake Wylie Shag Club’s fall harvest members re-up party will be 8 p.m. Saturday at the Fort Mill Moose Lodge, 1676 Harris Road. Tommy Salmole will be guest DJ. Admission is $3 members; $5, guests.

York County Library

▪ All York County library locations will be closed Thursday-Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday. For information on library programs and services, go to yclibrary.org.

▪ The York County Library in Rock Hill will offer the following free events in December:

Elves in the Shelves, 4-6 p.m. Dec. 3 with music by Dale Brook, the Magikal Minstrel, children’s crafts provided by community partners and an appearance by the Elf on the Shelf. No registration required.

Friends of the Library Holiday Book Sale, 3:30-5 p.m. Dec. 6 with gift-quality, gently used books, including holiday titles, children’s books, cookbooks and more, all at bargain prices.

Innovation Station: Holiday Gift-Making, 4:30-6 p.m. Dec. 7 for ages 11-17 to create unique gifts with all materials provided. Call 803-981-5830 to register.

Affordable Care Act: Questions and Answers, 10 a.m.-noon Dec. 8 to learn how to navigate the Health Insurance Marketplace, also known as the Affordable Care Act, from a certified educator. No specific benefits or details will be discussed. Open enrollment ends Jan. 31. Call 803-981-5845 to register.

Meet Alan Gratz, young adult and children’s author, 6-7 p.m. Dec. 9. He is the author of “Prisoner B-3087,” a 2015-2016 S.C. Junior Book Award nominee. His books will be for sale and signing after the program. Recommended for age 9 and older. Call 803-981-5888 to register.

Classes

▪ The Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation will have a Water Watcher training course, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 23 at Cabela’s at Carowinds to learn to properly monitor the river basin. Free and open to the public. Lunch available for purchase at Cabela’s deli and grill. Register at catawbariverkeeper.org. For information, call Lauren Kim at 704-679-9494.

▪ National Alliance on Mental Illness Piedmont Tri-County will host a Family to Family education program, noon-2:30 p.m. Jan. 9 at The Hut at Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church, Rock Hill. The free series of 11 classes will cover information about mental illness for family members and caregivers. Registration is limited to 20. To sign up, call 803-610-8147 or email namiptc@gmail.com.

Recreation

▪ US Soccer instructors will conduct instruction and certification for new soccer referees Jan. 10 at Manchester Meadows. Register at screferees.gameofficials.net. Cost is $80. For information, contact Bob Delaney at delaneys@comporium.net or 803-230-0582.

▪ The Rock Hill Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department’s Happy Travelers trip to the Islands of New England will be June 3-10. Adults of all ages are welcome; participants do not have to be a member of the group to travel. Travelers will visit Providence, Newport, Boston, Plymouth Rock, Plimoth Plantation, Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Hyannis and Provincetown. Cost is $2,750 ($3,150 single occupancy) and includes airfare, motorcoach transportation, sites of interest, lodging and some meals, and taxes and gratuities. Cancellation insurance is available. A $250 deposit is due by Dec. 1. The balance is due by March 25. Registration and payment is taken at the PRT Office at City Hall 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays or online at cityofrockhill.com/prt. Fees can also be mailed to City of Rock Hill, Katie Conley, PO Box 11706, Rock Hill, SC 29731. For space availability, call Katie at 803-329-5626. For details go to cityofrockhill.com/owls.

▪ The Upper Palmetto YMCA is planning its annual ski trip to Aspen/Snowmass, Colo., Feb. 20-25 (or if you’d like to stay longer, we can make those accommodations for you). Cost includes lodging, equipment rentals, ski school (if needed), transfers, tips, taxes, lift tickets, two “get acquainted” dinners. One-, two- and three-bedroom units are available. For information, contact Jimmy Johnson at 803-324-9622, ext. 228, or jimmyjohnson@upymca.org, or go to upymca.org.

Health

Sisters United As One, an organization to unite, encourage and embrace all women, will host its inaugural hygiene drive, 11 a.m. Dec. 5 at the ROC, East White Street, Rock Hill. Those facing homelessness and low-income families will be given hygiene items and a hot meal. There also will be blood drive.

▪ Early Learning Partnership’s free children’s clinic hours are 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Fridays in the Rock Hill Family Resource Center, 410 E. Black St. Children up to age 18 who do not have health insurance can see a doctor or nurse practitioner. Services include sick visits, immunizations, and sports and school physicals. For appointments, call 803-322-6636. Other clinics are held Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in York, Fort Mill and Clover. York County children can attend any of the four clinics.

Volunteers

▪ The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program needs volunteers to help low-income, elderly and handicapped taxpayers prepare income tax returns. Volunteers will be trained by the Internal Revenue Service, N.C. and S.C. Departments of Revenue to prepare basic tax returns. Training is free and is offered to volunteers who are willing to learn to prepare 1040A, 1040EZ, and the basic 1040 forms with schedule A and B. Training will include filing on computers. Training will be 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 11-15 at Rock Hill City Hall in the wellness center on the first floor. Volunteers can choose hours and days they wish to work. For information, call Bill Perry, York County coordinator, at 803-322-4195.

▪ 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 other jobs at the shelter. Time and mileage may be tax-deductible. Volunteers must be 18 or older; orientation and training required. For information, call 803-818-6485 or go to the shelter at 713 Justice Blvd., York.

▪ Make-A-Wish South Carolina is seeking volunteers to help make wishes come true for children across the state. Bilingual volunteers are especially needed. Interest webinars are offered the second Wednesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. Preregistration is required. Contact Brennan Brown at bbrown@sc.wish.org or 864-250-0702, ext. 112, to register for the webinar or to start the application process.

Reunions

▪ The Rock Hill High School class of 1954 will meet 1 p.m. Dec. 10 (not Nov. 26) at the Golden Corral, Anderson Road. Members, family and friends are invited.

▪ Chester High class of 1980 Christmas Gala will be 8 p.m.-midnight Dec. 12 at the Chester War Memorial Building, 154 Main St. Attire is semi-formal. Cost is $25 and is due by Saturday. Pay with cash to Brenda Jones Bradley, Anita Springs, Karen Taylor Houston or Yvonne Gregory Hughes or by money order payable to CHS Class of 1980 and mail to CHS Class of 1980, c/o Brenda Jones Bradley, P.O. Box 37802, Rock Hill, SC 29732. For information, email 1980classofchs@gmail.com or call Yvonne Gregory Hughes at 803-374-4935.

Support groups

▪ NAMI monthly support groups and education sessions will be the second Tuesday of each month at Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church, 421 Oakland Ave., Rock Hill. Support group meetings are at 6:15 p.m., connection support group in room 202 and family support group in room 203. The educational meeting is at 7:30 p.m. in the basement dining area. There will be presentation about a program for middle and high school students, “Ending the Silence,” on identifying mental health conditions in themselves and their friends and what to do about it. There also will be a discussion on psychiatric service dogs. For information, call 803-610-8174 or go to nami.org/sites/NAMIPiedmontTri-County.

▪ Affirmation of York County is a faith-based support group for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, their families and friends. The group will meet 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month 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.

▪ 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 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 November 25, 2015 at 10:59 AM with the headline "Community News for York, Chester, Lancaster counties: Nov. 26, 2015."