Autism Awareness Celebration at Fountain Park Thursday

Chrysalis Autism Center will sponsor an Autism Awareness Celebration at Rock Hill’s Fountain Park 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday in support of International Autism Awareness Day.

During opening ceremonies, parents of children with autism will share their hope, strength and experience. There will be a blue balloon release to honor those with autism.

The celebration will include face painting, music, games, snow cones, food and prizes. Autism awareness goods will be available for suggested donations to support the efforts of Chrysalis Autism Center. Admission is free.

Special events

▪ The town of Clover will host its sixth annual Easter egg hunt, 6-8 p.m. Thursdayon Memorial Drive. The egg hunt will begin at 7 p.m. for age groups: 2-4, 5-8 and 9-11.

The first hour will include kids’ inflatables, games, music, snacks and refreshments. The Easter Bunny will make an appearance for pictures. Rain or shine. Register children to get a ticket for free popcorn.

For information go to www.cloversc.org. To volunteer, call Amy Gonzalez at 803-222-9493.

▪ York Parks and Recreation Department and Bi-Lo will host an Easter egg hunt at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at at the York Recreation Complex, 74 Fourth St. The event is free for children 12 and younger. Bring an Easter basket. Bi-Lo will serve hot dogs, with all proceeds going to York Place. For information, call 803-684-3742.

▪ The Woman’s Club of Rock Hill Spring Luncheon and Garden Tour will be 11 a.m.-2 p.m. April 18 at the clubhouse, 607 Aiken Ave. Lunch includes a buffet of salads, sandwiches, homemade desserts and drinks. Tickets are $15 for adults and $7.50 for ages 10 and younger. For reservations, call 803-328-8888 and leave a message or email Peggy Enright at Enrightp63@gmail.com. Drop-ins welcome. Proceeds support the club’s community activities and upkeep of the house and gardens.

Fundraiser

▪ The second annual Hippity Hoppity Hope 5K fun run and walk will be April 11 at First Baptist Church, 102 S. Congress St., York, to benefit the church’s Relay for Life team, which is raising money for the annual American Cancer Society benefit.

A children’s race will begin at 7:50 a.m. and the 5K race will be at 8 a.m. Cost is $20 for the 5K only. Proceeds benefit the cancer society. Register online at www.sportoften.com.

▪ The National Honor Society chapter at Northwestern High School will host a yard sale 8 a.m.-noon April 11 at the school. Clothing, furniture, toys, household items and other goods will be sold. There also will be a bake sale and face painting. Proceeds will benefit the society’s scholarship.

▪ The 2015 Festival Golf Classic will be April 21 at Pinetuck Golf Club with a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start. Team entry is $240 and includes mulligans, on-course beverages and box lunch. Cash prize for hole-in-one, and awards for closest to the pin. Proceeds go to the Children’s Attention Home and the Palmetto School at the home. For information, call Jerry Couch at 803-329-1734 or Lewis Murray at 803-327-1141.

Entertainment

▪ Sarah Jarosz, a singer-songwriter from Austin, Texas, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday at McClevey Center, 212 E. Jefferson St., York, as the finale of Culture and Heritage Museum’s 2014 Southern Sound Series.

She is widely recognized for her skillful musicianship and blend of contemporary folk, Americana and roots music.

Jarosz will perform with Jedd Hughes and Mark Schatz.

Jarosz has had numerous Grammy nominations and was nominated by the Americana Music Association for Album of the Year in 2014, New/Emerging Artist of the Year in 2010, Instrumentalist of the Year in 2011, and Song of the Year in 2012.

Hughes is a guitar player, songwriter and singer. He can be heard on many country and Americana albums.

Mark Schatz is a bassist, banjoist, clogger and producer who has recorded and toured with many artists. Schatz has received two awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association for Bass Player of the Year and is a renowned solo artist.

Tickets are $25, Culture & Heritage Museum members; $30 general admission. Tickets are available online at http://chmuseums.org/southernsoundseries/ or by calling 803-909-7313 or 803-909-7488.

▪ Gene Barban, retired Winthrop University professor of music, will give a piano recital at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Byrnes Auditorium. He will play Chopin and other selections. The concert is free and open to the public.

Meetings

▪ Clemson Extension Agent Paul Thompson will talk about flowering vines at the First Friday in the Garden, 11 a.m. Friday at the Glencairn Learning Center, 825 Edgemont Ave., Rock Hill. Free and open to the public.

▪ Col. William Bratton Chapter Sons of the American Revolution will meet at 10 a.m. April 11 at the Fort Mill VFW Post 9138, 1442 Harris Road, Fort Mill.

Daniel Woodruff, president of S.C. Society of SAR, and Bob Krause, color guard commander, will speak on “Weapons of the Revolutionary War” and provide a live demonstration of the long rifles used to defeat the British army. Open to the public.

Members of the chapter and the S.C. State genealogist will be on hand for those who would like to trace their Revolutionary War family history and consider joining the chapter.

Nominations

▪ Rock Hill Neighborhood Empowerment Office is accepting nominations for the 2015 Rolling In Rock Hill paint project, Sept. 19.

To be eligible, homes must be owner-occupied and located in the city limits. Homeowner must be in the low-to-moderate income bracket, an elderly resident or physically unable to paint your own home.

Applications are available at cityofrockhill.com/neighborhood on the Rolling In Rock Hill page, or contact Dorene Boular in the Housing & Neighborhood Service Department at 803-325-2527 or Dorene.boular@cityofrockhill.com.

Enrollment

▪ The Children’s School at Sylvia Circle is enrolling 3K and 4K for the 2015-2016 school year. Enrollment packets are available at the school, 929 Sylvia Circle.

The Children’s School is the only public Montessori School in the Rock Hill school district and offers a half-day 3K early childhood program. Families can tour the school by appointment. For information, call 803-981-1380.

▪ Carolina Community Actions Head Start is accepting applications for children ages 3-4 in York and Chester counties for the 2015-16 year. Head Start serves low-income families and children with disabilities. For information, call 803-366-5398.

Classes

▪ The Arts Council of Chester County will host an Adult Art Class “Silkscreen on Pottery” with artist Katie Linn, 5:30-7 p.m. April 7 at the arts council, 123 Main St.

Participants can choose from a selection of designer silkscreens to add intricate detail to your pottery. The technique will be used on a round hanging vase. Allow two weeks for firing.

Cost is is $42, members and $45, non-members. Supplies are provided. Registration deadline is Friday. Refreshments are welcome, but optional. To register, call the arts council at 803-581-2030 or email artschester@truvista.net.

Workshops

▪ First-time homebuyers can get questions answered at a free workshop, “Inside Track to Buying Your First Home,” conducted by Family Trust Federal Credit Union at 10 a.m. April 11 at the branch on Dave Lyle Boulevard.

Kim Gillette, assistant vice president of Mortgage Production, will lead the workshop. Topics include how to qualify for a mortgage, how to prepare for the mortgage process, and how to select the right loan option. Family Trust mortgage representatives will pre-qualify buyers. Handouts will be provided.

Real estate agents will be on hand to answer questions and activities will be provided for children.

To register, visit familytrust.org and click on advice and education/workshops or contact James Sheedy at jsheedy@familytrust.org or 803-326-2187.

▪ The Rock Hill Chapter of the South Carolina Writers Workshop is presenting the ninth annual Writers Intensive Workshop on April 25 at Grace Lutheran Church, 426 Oakland Ave.

This year’s theme is “Writers’ Secrets Uncovered.” Each participant can choose four of 24 sessions, a panel discussion, and optional critiques. Sessions are presented for beginning writers through published authors and include many genres, poetry, and illustration. Registration is 8:30-9 a.m. The cost is $30 for non-members and $25 for members and students age 16 and older. Lunch is included. Space is limited. For information and registration, got to at www.rockhillscww.org.

Tax help

▪ The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program will offer free tax-preparation assistance 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-4:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays through April 15 at the Rock Hill City Hall Wellness Center. Volunteers are IRS certified and trained by the S.C. and N.C. departments of revenue. Tax returns are electronically filed.

Bring current year’s tax forms, W-2 and 1099s, information regarding other income, information for all deductions and credits, a copy of last year’s tax return, proof of account for direct deposit of refund (e.g., voided check), Social Security or individual taxpayer identification cards, proof of identification.

▪ Free federal and state tax preparation for low- and moderate-income taxpayers and those 60 and older will be offered 12:30-3:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays through April 9 at the Adult Education Center at the Flexible Learning Center, 1234 Flint St. Ext., Rock Hill.

Bring a copy of last year’s tax return, Social Security card, picture identification and any W-2s, 1099s and other forms showing income or deductions. No appointment needed. Filings completed on a first-come basis.

▪ AARP Tax-Aide Program offers free federal and state income tax preparation 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays through April 14 at the Fort Mill branch of the York County Library in Baxter Village. Clients taken on first-come basis. Last client taken at 3:30 p.m. No age or income limit. Limited appointments can be scheduled at calendly.com/fortmilltaxes. Bring 2014 tax return, picture IDs, Social Security cards for all being claimed, 1099s, 1098s, 1095A forms, W-2s and any other proof of deductions or income. For information, email FortMillTaxes@gmail.com.

Health

▪ The Adult Enrichment Centers of Rock Hill offers a caregiver support group open to the community at 10:30 a.m. on April 7 at 359 Park Ave. For information, call Dee Curran at 803-327-7448.

▪ North Central Family Medical Center, 1131 Saluda St., Rock Hill, will have special enrollment for the Affordable Care Act, 9 a.m.-noon April 10 and 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. April 25.

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

▪ Former Hillcrest Elementary School students will meet 11 a.m. April 11 at Foundation AME Zion Church, Neely Store Road, Rock Hill, to plan a reunion. Bring pictures of former Hillcrest teachers.

▪ Rock Hill High School class of 1960 will host its 55th reunion, 3-8 p.m. May 23 at Elks Park with a catered dinner. Reservations are due May 1. For information, call 803-324-9982.

Support groups

▪ GriefShare, a group open to all who are grieving the loss of a loved one, will meet 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays through May 28 at the family life center at Grace Nazarene Church, 1029 Mount Gallant Road, a block from Cherry Road. For information, call Bill at 803-517-6177 or email wmstroud@comporium.net.

▪ 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 March 28, 2015 at 4:11 PM with the headline "Autism Awareness Celebration at Fountain Park Thursday."