Community News for York, Chester, Lancaster counties – Feb. 7, 2016

The Arts Council of York County will host its annual fundraiser Fire & Ice Gala 7:30 p.m. Feb. 20 at the City Club of Rock Hill, 140 E. Main St.

Diamond DJs Joe Larson and Michael Maul will spin the hottest hits in the Fire Ballroom. Fire dancer, Jack TuxedoKat will dazzle with her Flow Art using fire and LEDs. Jessica and Nelson will perform jazz in the Ice Lounge.

The event also includes photos with a fire and ice sculpture, open bar, food and silent auction of original art by local artists. An original, 6-foot tall, brushed stainless steel palmetto tree by South Carolina artist, Bob Doster will be raffledat the end of the night.

Tickets purchased by Monday are $85, members and $90, non-members. After Monday all tickets are $100. Raffle tickets for the original Doster stainless steel Palmetto tree are $50 and can be purchased in advance or at the gala. Raffle tickets are also available to those not attending the gala. The winner will be announced Feb. 22. Tickets are available online yorkcountyarts.org, by calling 803-328-2787, or at the Center for the Arts, 121 E. Main St. For sponsorships, call the arts council.

Special events

▪ The American Islamic Outreach Foundation will host “Come Meet Your Muslim Neighbor” 3:15-6:15 p.m. Saturday at the Islamic Community Center South Charlotte, 1048 Grant Road, Fort Mill. Imam Eesaa Wood, regional director for Al-Furqaan Foundation, will speak. Dinner will be served. For information or to schedule a seminar for a church or school, call 704-412-9040 or email info@AmericanIslamicOutreach.org.

▪ Kinard’s Fourth Grade Acrylic Painting Exhibit grand opening will be 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Gallery 120 at the Clover Recreational Center, 120 Bethel St.

▪ Community Bingo hosted by Agape Hospice in York will be 2 p.m. Feb. 16 at 12 N. Congress St. The event is free for those 55 and older. Seating is limited. RSVP to 803-818-5601.

▪ The York County Ag + Art Tour is accepting applications for York County farm sites interested in participating in the 2016 tour June 11-12. There is no fee to participate. Applications must be submitted by Friday. Apply at agandarttour.com/farms. Once farm sites have been identified, applications will be available for artists and artisans. For information, call Ben Boyles at 803-981-3021 or go to AgAndArtTour.com for details.

▪ Rock Hill NAACP is partnering with the Winthrop University Chapter of the NAACP to present a Founder’s Day Program, “Now and Then,” a look at the history of the NAACP, at 7 p.m. Friday in Richardson Ballroom at Winthrop. For information, contact Dr. Norma Gray at 803-230-9574

▪ Humane Society of York County will host an adoption event, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 13-14 at PetSmart in Pineville. More than 50 dogs and cats will be on site to meet new families. There will be goody bags and contests. For information, call 803-802-0902.

▪ The Gardener’s Bench, a weekly call-in show offering gardening advice, resumes 8:30-10 a.m. Saturday on WRHI 94.3FM/1340AM,. Hosts Clemson Extension Agent Paul Thompson and David Powell, a certified arborist with Bartlett Tree Experts, answer questions about lawn care, vegetables, and tree and shrub maintenance. The number is 803-324-1340. The Gardener’s Bench airs during February through November.

▪ The annual Charlotte Camellia Society Flower Show and Plant Sale will be 1-5 p.m. March 12 and 1:30-5 p.m. March 13 at the Historic White Home, 258 E. White St., Rock Hill. The event is free and open to the public. Visitors can see hundreds of blooms of the winners of the annual competition, buy camellia plantssuitable for growing in our area, and register for a drawing to win a free camellia plant. For information, call 803-984-3237.

Fundraisers

▪ A “Farewell Salute to Downton Abbey,” a fundraiser for Historic Rock Hill inspired by the PBS program, will be 6-9 p.m. March 5 at the City Club of Rock Hill, 140 E. Main St. The event will include cocktails, wine, champagne, and heavy hors d’oeuvres, period music, prizes and other 1920s forms of entertainment. Vintage dress is encouraged; black tie is optional. Tickets are $65, members; $70, non members if purchased by Feb. 19. Tickets are $10 more after Feb. 19. Each ticket includes two complimentary drink tickets with cash bar thereafter. Sponsorships are also still available. For information on how to purchase tickets or become a sponsor, contact Historic Rock Hill at 803-329-1020 or info@historicrockhill.com.

▪ Cub Scout Pack 349 will host its inaugural Chili Cook-off and Winter Carnival, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 20 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 22 E. Liberty St., York. Door prizes. Proceeds go to Tender Hearts Ministies. Send entry requests to 349cubscoutpack@gmail.com

▪ The Krispy Kreme Race – Run 4 Reading will be 8:30 a.m. Feb. 27 beginning and ending at Fountain Park in downtown Rock Hill. The 4-mile loop includes a stop at Winthrop University, where participants will be “challenged” to down a dozen doughnuts before racing back to the finish line. Other races include a casual run, a one-mile relay with four friends to carry a book to the finish line or be a “sleep-in” supporter and still get a T-shirt. Costumes encouraged and doughnuts available for all. Register at run4reading.raceonline.com. Proceeds go to the Early Learning Partnership of York County.

▪ “Be Irish for a Night,” the 22nd annual fundraiser for Pilgrims’ Inn, will be 6:30-9:30 p.m. March 12 at Saint Anne Parish Life Center, 1696 Bird St., Rock Hill. The event features a corned beef and cabbage dinner, homemade Irish corn bread and desserts, wine, beer, soft drinks, Irish dancers and music and live and silent auctions. Tickets are $40 ($30 tax deductible). For tickets, call 803-327-4227.

▪ The Arts Council of Chester County’s 10th Annual Oyster Roast & Auction Fundraiser will 6-9 p.m. March 19 at the National Guard Armory, 1025 Armory Road. The event features a silent and live auction, all-you-can-eat steamed oyster bar and Lowcountry boil buffet, slaw, bread, dessert, and sweet tea. Cash bar (beer and wine). Reserved tables are available for $600 and include eight tickets and preferred seating with business recognition. Half tables are available after at least one table has been purchased. Tickets are $40, members and $45, nonmembers. No tickets sold at the door. Tickets available at the Arts Council, 123 Main St. Cash or checks only. For information, call Lauren Medlin at 803-581-2030 or email artschester@truvista.net for details or reservations.

▪ Bethel United Methodist Church soup kitchen is open 11 a.m. Thursdays through March at the church, 1232 Curtis St., Rock Hill. Open to the community. Donations accepted.

Entertainment

▪ Rock Hill Community Theater presents “Almost, Maine,” 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and 3 p.m. Feb. 14 at the theater on Cherry Road. Residents of the town find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and hilarious ways. Tickets are $15, adults; $12, seniors and student (matinees are $2 less). For tickets go to rockhilltheatre.org or call 803-326-7428.

Meetings

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

▪ The SC Bar Pro Bono Program will sponsor a free legal clinic for seniors, 10-11 a.m. Monday at the York Seniro Center, 14 N. Congress St. Topics include Medicare, Medicaid and long term care insurance, presented by April D. Porter. Free and open the public. For information, contact the SC Bar Pro Bono Program at 803-799-6653, ext. 158.

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

Clubs

▪ Rock Hill Area Shag Club will host its seventh annual Winther Beach Blast, 7 p.m.-midnight Feb. 20 at American Legion, 524 Heckle Boulevard. Tickets are $35 and must be purchased in advance. Entertainment by The Entertainers and DJ Phil Long. Heavy hors d’oeuvres, free shooters, free beer, cash bar, 50/50 drawing door prizes and raffle basket. Raffle proceeds go the “Hall of Fame Foundation.” For tickets call Debbie Brown at 803-242-6104 or email shagdeb@comporium.net.

Classes

▪ A GAP (Good Agriculture Practices) workshop for area fruit and vegetable farmers will be 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Clemson Extension York County Office, 120 N. Congress St. in York. Learn what GAP is and the do’s and don’ts of GAP from “plant to pack.” Leave with a personalized GAP/farm food safety plan and the steps you need to follow to receive certification. The deadline to register is Feb. 15 but seating is limited. Sign up at catawbafarmandfood.org/gap or email catawbafresh@gmail.com or call 803-981-3021.

▪ National Alliance on Mental Illness will have a 15-hour education course for parents of children and adolescents with behavioral and emotional challenges from 6:15-8:45 p.m. beginning Feb. 15 in the doctor’s dining room at Piedmont Medical Center. The class runs six consecutive Mondays. Registration is required. Call Judy Rauppius at 803-610-8174 or email namiptc@gmail.com. Class size is limited to 15.

▪ Chester County Beekeepers Association is having a Beginner’s Beekeeping School, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Feb. 18-March 24 at Clemson Extension Office, 109 Ella St., Chester. This course is for ages 13 and older. Parents must attend with youth. Cost is $75 per individual, $125 per couple and includes book, curriculum, local and state membership, test, and refreshments. To register or for information, call 803-581-8031 or email chestercountybeekeepers@gmail.com.

Scholarship

▪ Applications for the York County Democratic Women’s Council third annual Bessie Moody Lawrence Scholarship are being taken. The award will be given to two college-bound York county Democratic women graduating this spring. For information or for an an application packet, contact your high school counselor or call 803-802-7021. Applications are due March 15.

Grants

▪ Deadline to apply for small grants through the Arts Council of York County is 5 p.m. March 1. The Small Grants Program provides support for small or pilot arts activities, artist professional development, new and developing programs or organizations, and special projects of high artistic quality that cannot support themselves. Organizations and individual artists may request up to $1,000 per grant and may receive up to two grants in a calendar year. Information and applications are available at www.yorkcountyarts.org. or call 803-328-2787.

Health

▪ Clover Community Health Fair will be 7:30-10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Clover Community Center, 120 Bethel St. Basic screenings will be conducted by Piedmont Medical Center. Carolina Cardiology will be scheduling EKG’s (reservations will need to be made in advance). There will be information on sleep apnea, diabetes, smoking cessation, and more. Heart 2 Heart Foundation will also be qualifying referrals for calcium scoring. To sign up call, 803-222-9493 or stop by the community center.

School registration

▪ York School District One will have 4-year-old pre-school registration and 5-year-old kindergarten registration 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Tuesday and 2:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday for students who will be four or five years old on or before Sept. 1. Registration will be at Cotton Belt Elementary School, Harold C. Johnson Elementary School, Hickory Grove/Sharon Elementary School, Hunter Street Elementary School, and Jefferson Elementary School.

To register, parents must bring a copy of the child’s S.C. Immunization Form, state issued birth certificate, proof of residency (most recent property tax notice or utility bill) and valid picture id parent/legal guardian. if applying for full day 4k, bring current Medicaid card, Food Stamp case number or W2 form/check stub/income tax return. A Social Security card is optional.

▪ Clover School District will have pre-kindergarten and kindergarten registration 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Feb. 22-26 at each school. Returning students can register online at clover.k12.sc.us. New students can complete the registration form online and take proper documentation to the school the process.

Documents required are two proofs of residence with the name of the parent or guardian on each, immunization record signed by a doctor within the last year and a legal birth certificate with the state seal. Students must be of age by Sept. 1.

Tax help

▪ AARP will have free federal and state income tax preparation Tuesday and Thursdays through April 14 at the Fort Mill Library in Baxter Village. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. with the last client taken at 3:30 p.m. The service is primarily first come but a limited number of appointments are available. There is no limit on age or income. Bring all tax documents and last year’s returns. For information, email FortMillTaxes@gmail.com.

▪ Taxaide will offer free tax preparation 12:30-3:30 p.m. through March 31 and April 13-14 in the adult education area at the Flexible Learning Center, 1234 Flint St. Ext., Rock Hill. Additional hours will be 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 9 and 23, March 8 and 22 and April 5 at the Charlotte Avenue YMCA, Rock Hill. Bring tax documents and last year’s returns.

▪ Volunteer Income Tax Assistance will offer free tax preparation, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-4:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays through April 14 in the wellness center at Rock Hill City Hall. Saturday service will be offered Saturdays in February from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Rock Hill Galleria, Leroy Springs Recreation Complex in Fort Mill and the Clover library. Bring tax documents and last year’s returns.

Volunteers

▪ Agape Hospice would like to invite you to a volunteer drop-in, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 16 at 1326 Ebenezer Road, Rock Hill and from 1-6 p.m. Feb, 16 at 12 N. Congress St., York. Light refreshments. Kay Lee, volunteer manager, will be available to talk about volunteer opportunities. For information,call 803-517-2021 or email kaylee@agapesenior.com

▪ Make-A-Wish South Carolina will host a volunteer meeting 6:15 p.m. Feb. 18 at Baxter Village YMCA. Bilingual volunteers are especially needed. For information, contact Brennan Brown at bbrown@sc.wish.org or 864-250-0702 ext. 112.

Reunions

▪ The Rock Hill High class of 1959 will meet for lunch and fellowship 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Golden Corral, Anderson Road. All classmates, spouses and friends invited.

▪ The Finley High School class of 1964 will meet noon Saturday at the Chester Cove Restaurant 1622 JA Cochran Bypass. All classmates are encouraged to attend. For information, contact Charlie M. Robinson at 803-327-4547, James Mayfield at 803-374-1090 or Kater Wylie Cornwell at 704-661-7701.

▪ Former Hillcrest Elementary School students will meet 11 a.m. Feb. 20 at Foundation AME Zion Church, Neely Store Road, Rock Hill.

Northwestern and Rock Hill high schools classes 1975-77 will have a reunion 6-11:30 p.m. July 2 at the American Legion on Heckle Boulevard featuring the Fantasy Band and fellow classmates. Tickets are $35 and include dinner. Tickets available at eventbrite.com. No tickets at the door. For information, call Gloria A. Akram at 803-479-6858 or Lavenia Dickerson Pride at 803-417-6195.

Support groups

▪ A Parkinson’s support group will meet 1:30 p.m. Feb. 17 at Westminster Towers Community Room, 1330 India Hook Road, Rock Hill. Patrice Hinnant, director of wellness at Westminster Towers, will demonstrate exercises. For information, call 803-328-5231.

▪ Sufficient Grace, a support group for women who are caregivers for aging loved one, will meet 6 p.m. Wednesday Feb. 10 in room 321 at First Baptist Church, Hood Center Road, Rock Hill. Seth Zamek, executive director of Senior Helpers, will speak. The group meets the second Wednesday each month. For information, call Kathy at 803-448-1012.

▪ 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 February 6, 2016 at 1:03 PM with the headline "Community News for York, Chester, Lancaster counties – Feb. 7, 2016."