Community News: Registration open for Joy of Gardening symposium

Early registration is open for the 11th annual Joy of Gardening Symposium, Feb. 27 at Baxter Hood Center, Rock Hill.

The keynote speaker is Norman Winter, director of the University of Georgia’s Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens in Savannah, Ga. He also will lead one of six break-out sessions, covering topics ranging from attracting pollinators to succulent gardens.

Paula Gross, assistant director of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Botanical Gardens, will give the closing program.

Admission to the symposium, sponsored by the Master Gardeners of York County, includes lunch, vendors offering a variety of garden-related products and door prizes.

The early registration fee, which includes lunch, is $50. After Dec. 31, the cost will be $60. Register online at http://symposium.yorkmg.org/registration

To pay by mail, make checks payable to, Master Gardeners of York County, and mail to: 266 Fischer Rd., Fort Mill SC 29715.

Special events

▪ The Clover Woman’s Club Christmas in Historic Clover tour will be 2-5 p.m. Dec. 12-13 and feature 19th century homes, the landmark Jackson’s Kitchen, Red Boot Ranch and Gate Horse Farm. A two-day pass is $10 and available from members, Good Things Consignment and More, Palmetto House and the Great Clover Chamber of Commerce. Proceeds to the scholarship fund.

▪ 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. Saturday at the high school on Harris Street. Tickets: $8, adults; $5, children. To reserve tickets, email fmdtbreakfastwithsanta@yahoo.com.

▪ York Parks and Recreation will host Breakfast with Santa, 8-10 a.m. Saturday at the York Recreation Center. Breakfast includes all you can eat pancakes and bacon. Tickets are $4 until Monday and $5 after that. Ticket available at the door and take out is available. For information, call 803-684-3742.

▪ The Richburg Christmas Tree Lighting will be 5 p.m. Sunday in the Richburg Town Park with carol singing and Santa.

▪ Blackstock Bluegrass will host a Christmas party and dance, 6:15-9 p.m. Saturday in Blackstock. Meal at 5:45 p.m. Bring covered dishes, finger foods and desserts. Meat provided. For information, call O’Dell at 804-581-4740.

Entertainment

▪ With Strings Attached, a duo of Elda Franklin on viola and Mary Ann Helton on piano, will present “Music for the Season” at noon on Dec. 15 in the sanctuary of St. John’s United Methodist Church, Oakland Avenue, Rock Hill. Joining them will be guest artist, mezzo-soprano JL McDaniel-Milliken. Admission is free but donations of canned goods for local food pantries are encouraged.

▪ The York County Ballet presents “The Nutcracker,” 8 p.m. Dec. 17-19 and 3 p.m. Dec. 18-19 at Johnson Hall Theater at Winthrop University. Tickets are $15 and available at the Winthrop Bookstore and yorkcountyballet.org.

Meetings

▪ The National Association of Active and Retired Federal Employees will meet 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Jackson’s Cafeteria, Rock Hill. It’s the annual Christmas lunch, paid for by the chapter. Donations for Alzheimer’s Association will be accepted.

▪ The York County Marine Corps 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, call Don Hicks at 803-517-7253.

▪ The York County Board of Disabilities and Special Needs will meet 6 p.m. Thursday at the administration building, 7900 Park Place Road in the East York Industrial Park, off S.C. 5.

▪ The Western York County branch of the NAACP will meet 6 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Greater York Chamber of Commerce. For information contact Wanda Simril at 803-684-6200.

Clubs

▪ The Catawba Chapter of the DAR will have its Christmas meeting 2 p.m. Dec., 15. RSVP to Addie. Holiday pecans are still available.

York County Library

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

Friends of the Library Holiday Book Sale, 3:30-5 p.m. Sunday 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. Monday 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 Tuesday 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. Wednesday. He is the author of “Prisoner B-3087,” a 2015-16 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.

▪ York County Library branches will collect Food for Fines through Dec. 31. Library users can pay off fines for overdue materials with nonperishable food and personal hygiene items. For each donated item, $1 will be credited to outstanding fines, but will not cover the cost of lost or damaged materials. For information, go to yclibrary.org.

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

▪ Rock Hill Parks, Recreation and Tourism will host a Holiday Craft Workshop 6-8 p.m. Dec. 16 at the Boyd Hill Recreation Center. Cost is $20. Participants can decorate a variety of ornaments and tiles. Supplies provided. To sign up call, 803-329-5652 or go to www.cityofrockhill.com/PRT. Mail payment to the City of Rock Hill PRT, Katie Conley, PO Box 11706, Rock Hill, SC 29731 or take it to Parks, Recreation and Tourism office locations during business hours.

Health

▪ North Central Pediatric and Adolescent Center will offer free pictures with Santa, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 21 at 225 S. Herlong Ave., Suite 250, Rock Hill. For information, call 803 325-8742. North Central Family Medical Center in Chester will offer free pictures with Santa, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 22 at 115 Cestrain Square. For information, call 803 581-0574.

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.

Reunions

▪ The Finley High School class of 1964 Christmas celebration will be 1 p.m. Saturday at the Front Porch, S.C. 9, Richburg. Classmates and guests are invited. For more information contact Charlie M. Robinson at 803-327-4547, James Mayfield at 803-374-1090 or Kater Wylie Cornwell at 704-661-7701.

▪ The Emmett Scott High School class of 1967 will meet for its December birthday fellowship dinner at 5:30 p.m. Monday at The LongHorn restaurant, Rock Hill.

▪ The Rock Hill High School class of 1954 will meet 1 p.m. Thursday at the Golden Corral, Anderson Road. Members, family and friends are invited.

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

▪ Former employees of US Plywood, Champion International and Georgia Pacific at the Catawba Plant will meet for lunch and fellowship 1 p.m. Thursday at the Golden Corral, Anderson Road. All former employees, spouses and friends invited.

Support groups

▪ NAMI monthly support groups and education sessions will be Tuesday 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 at 7:30 p.m. in the basement dining area. Bill Lindsey, NAMI SC executive director will speak. 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. Tuesday 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.

This story was originally published December 5, 2015 at 5:33 PM with the headline "Community News: Registration open for Joy of Gardening symposium."