Emancipation Proclamation “Jubilee Day” observance Friday

▪ The Rock Hill NAACP is sponsoring its annual Emancipation Proclamation “Jubilee Day” observance at noon Friday at New Covenant Baptist Church, 358 Hampton St.

The program is a day for reflection, re-dedication, and celebration of heritage and to commemorate our country’s dedication to the belief in liberty and equality for every citizen.

Dr. Pastor Jacques Days, pastor of Adams Chapel AME Church and the incoming NAACP president, will speak. Days will be sworn in at the event and NAACP officers will be rededicated to service. The program is open to the public. For information, call 803-327-4879.

Special events

▪ The Rev. Charles Aurand of Abiding Presence Lutheran Church in York will have his elaborate train and village collection on display 4-8 p.m. Dec. 26-30 in the church fellowship hall at 323 N. Congress St. Admission is a canned or boxed food item to donate to food pantries in York.

▪ The 2016 Heart Gala, sponsored by the Heart 2 Heart Foundation, will be Feb. 6 at the City Club of Rock Hill, East Main Street. The event includes a VIP reception with open bar, Hero with Heart Awards, food, photo booth, raffle and live auction. Tickets are $50 until Thursday. Table sponsorships are $600 for a table for six; $800, table for eight. For information, go to theheart2heartfoundation.org.

▪ Early registration is open for the 11th annual Joy of Gardening Symposium, Feb. 27 at 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 Thursday, 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, send to: 266 Fischer Road, Fort Mill, S.C. 29715.

Clubs

▪ Rock Hill Shag Club’s New Year’s Eve celebration will be 8 p.m. Thursday at Celebrations at Ramada Inn, Cherry Road. Heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served along with a midnight champagne toast. Cost is $20 per person.

Auditions

The Fort Mill Community Playhouse will hold auditions for its March musical production, “The Honky Tonk Angels,” 2:30-4 p.m. Jan. 9 and 6:30-8 p.m. Jan. 10 at the Fort Mill Community Playhouse, 615 Banks St. Roles are available for three females with strong voices for solos and harmony. The musical runs March 3-6, 11-13 and 17-20. For information go to fortmillplayhouse.org or call 803-548-8102.

Workshops

Bob Doster’s Backstreet Studio in Lancaster will hold metal sculpture workshops, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 30, March 5, and April 30 at 217 E. Gay St. Participants can make a bottle tree, sculpture, or metal ornaments and will design, draw, cut, polish, and weld under the instruction of Doster. Cost is $100 with supplies included. Wear work clothes and closed-toe shoes. Bring a bag lunch or visit downtown restaurants. To register, call 803-285-9190 or email rcdoster@lancastersc.com. For information on the studio, go to www.bobdoster.com.

York County Library

▪ The following events will be offered at the York County Library, Black Street, Rock Hill:

Family Game Night, 6:30-7 p.m. Wednesday for a night of board, Wii and Kinect games, plus a colossal deck of cards and Mega Twister. All ages, accompanied by adult. Call 803-981-5888 to register, starting Wednesday.

Bogie in the 40’s Movie Series, noon-4 p.m. Jan. 2, 9, 23 and 30. Bring lunch and watch some of Humphrey Bogart’s best films. Movie discussion after each. For film titles, go to www.yclibrary.org. No registration required.

Naturopathic Approach to Healthy Living: New Year Nerves, 6:30-8:30 Jan. 11 with naturopath and master herbalist Wendy Creel. She will talk about a variety of herbs to help with tired and frayed nerves, insomnia and to restore a broken down nervous system. Call 803-981-5845 to register.

Affordable Care Act: Questions and Answers, 10 a.m.-noon Jan. 12 with a certified educator, learn how to navigate the Health Insurance Marketplace, also known as the Affordable Care Act or ObamaCare. This program is for educational purposes only; no specific benefits or details will be discussed. Open enrollment ends Jan. 31. Call 803-981-5845 to register.

Teen Advisory Board Meeting, 4:30-6 p.m. Jan. 11 for ages 11-17. Help select materials for the library’s young adult collection and plan events for teens, while earning volunteer time. No registration required.

Fiction Frenzy, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Jan. 14 for ages 9-11. Participate in group activities and hear about 5-star chapter books from Miss Amy and other kids. No registration required.

Tech Help Drop-In, 1-4 p.m. Jan. 15 for those who need help with laptops, tables or have questions about email, Internet safety, social media or software or which library products will work with an e-reader. Bring your own computer or device or library staff members will demonstrate using library-owned equipment on a first-come basis.

Chester County Library

▪ The Chester County Library will kick off its “Reading with Ringling Bros.” program with a visit from a Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey clown at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 4 at the main library, 100 Center St. The story time and clown activities is for children up to fourth grade but families are invited. Free and open to the public. For information, go to readingwithringling.com or any Chester library.

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.

Volunteers

▪ The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program needs volunteers to help low-income, senior 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 Boulevard, York.

Reunions

▪ Lewisville High School Class of 1971 is planning a 45-year reunion. For information, contact James Harris at 803-789-3351 or Flora Barber by Friday.

Support groups

▪ GriefShare Recovery Group, 7-8 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church, 830 N. Jones Ave., Rock Hill beginning Jan. 20. GriefShare is for people grieving the death of a loved one. It is a non-denominational group and features biblical teaching on grief and recovery topics. For more information contact Calvary Baptist Church 803-328-6632 or register at www.cbcrh.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 December 23, 2015 at 9:23 AM with the headline "Emancipation Proclamation “Jubilee Day” observance Friday."