Events

ANIMALS

SCE&G's ZooView webcam will feature Riverbanks' mother tiger and her three one-year-old cubs as they interact and play with one another through September 6.

779-8717 or www.riverbanks.org.

Earth Fare, 3312-B Devine St., will host the second frozen yogurt/ice cream social, August 12 from 10 am-1 pm, to support the Greyhound Pets of America/South Carolina. The cost is $7 a dog, includes delicious frozen yogurt for dogs and their human pets. There will be raffles, prizes, and pet food samples all morning. 799-0048.

ART

The Columbia Museum of Art will present Perfect Likeness: European and American Portrait Miniatures from the Cincinnati Art Museum, August 18-October 22. Related programs and events will also take place during this time. 799-2810.

The S.C. State Fair will be accepting entry registrations from Aug. 1-31 with no entry fee for the 2006 Fine Art Exhibition to be held during the fair, Oct. 11-22. The late registration period will be Aug. 31-Sept. 7, with a $25 late fee. Each exhibitor is limited to two pieces of artwork. 799-3387, ext.10.

AUDITIONS

The Lake Murray Symphony Orchestra will hold auditions for all string section players, bassoon, and oboe. Rehearsals will be Tuesday nights in Lexington. Contact Sylvia Howell, 359-4929.

Company auditions for Carolina Ballet will be Sat., August 26 at CMFA, 914 Pulaski St. Registration begins at 1 pm; there is a $10 audition fee. Call 771-6303 for information about attire. Auditions for Carolina Ballet's The Nutcracker will be Sun., August 27, also at CMFA. Registration begins at 1 pm; there is a $10 audition fee. Dress requirements are the same. 771-6303.

The Trustus Theatre will hold auditions for its production of Jonathan (Rent) Larson's musical tick..tick..BOOM! at City Art, 1224 Lincoln St. Sun., Aug. 27 at 7 pm. Roles are available for two men and one woman, ages 25-40. All ethnicities are welcome. Prepare a short pop/rock, contemporary or Broadway-style song. An accompanist will be provided. Bring your own sheet music, tape, or CD. Run dates are March 23-April 14, 2007. 254-9732.

The S.C. Poetry Initiative at USC will accept entries for the state's second annual chapbook contest. Chapbook entries must be postmarked no later than Sept. 17, and winners will be announced at a ceremony on Oct. 7 at the Columbia Museum of Art. Submissions must be accompanied by a $15 non-refundable entry fee. Contact Charlene Spearen, 777-2230.

BOOKS

Richland County Public Library, 1431 Assembly St., will display Images of the Congaree National Park through Sept. 12 in the Wachovia Gallery, which is open from 9 am-9 pm, Monday-Thursday; 9 am-6 pm, Friday and Saturday; and 2 pm-6 pm on Sunday.

CHURCH/charity

First Presbyterian Church, 1324 Marion St., will present The Thornwell Lecture Series, Sun., August 13 and 30 at 9:45 am in the Family Life Center, 1420 Washington St. Dr. Sinclair Ferguson, senior pastor, will speak on Kingdom Kaleidoscope: Integration and Inspiration.

Bethel United Methodist Church, 4600 Daniel Dr., will present a program on Alzheimer's and other dementias, Sun., August 13 at 7 pm. The speaker will be Carol Waters, LISW-CP, a social worker with Senior Primary Care Practice. Contact Nancy Johnson, 782-3015.

First Baptist Church, 1306 Hampton St. will offer a free six-week seminar for couples considering marriage, Sundays beginning September 10 at 9:15 am.

343-8585 or www.FirstBaptistColumbia.com.

First Presbyterian Church, 1324 Marion St., will hold a blood drive Sun., August 20 from 9 am-2 pm in Jackson Hall. For appointments, call 799-9062, ext. 261, or just drop by to give. Photo ID or Red Cross donor card required.

DANCE

Pavlovich Dance School is registering now for classes. Lessons are taught in classical ballet, point, jazz and tap for beginners through adult. Call between 3:30 pm and 7 pm. 782-8847.

The Greater Columbia Chapter of the U.S. Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association (USADance) will hold dances on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, from 7:30-10:30 pm at the Hugh Dimmery Memorial Center, 680 Cherokee Lane, West Columbia. Admission is $5 for USADance members and $8 for non-members. 781-5248 or www.USADance.us.

MEETINGS

The Palmetto Personal Computer Club will meet Thurs., August 10 from 6-8:30 pm at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 3200 Trenholm Rd. Meetings are open to the public. Contact Buster White, 315-3678 or www.PalmettoPC.org.

The Richland Democratic Women will meet Mon., Aug. 14 at 5:30 pm at the Adult Activity Center, 7494 Parklane Rd. Guests and visitors are welcome. Contact Margaret Feagin, 790-1101.

Columbia's Parks and Recreation Toastmasters Club meets at noon on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at The Charles R. Drew Wellness Center, 2102 Walker Solomon Way. Contact Larry S. Thompson, 545-3095.

The Business Association of Columbia, sales leads club, meets every Wednesday at the Summit Club for breakfast to share sales leads. Contact Ken Connor, 256-2354.

The Kiwanis Club of Richland meets the 1st & 3rd Mondays of each month at the Lizard's Thicket on Beltline. Call Ken Connor, 256-2354.

MUSEUM

USC's McKissick Museum will present the exhibit, Talking with the Turners: Southern Folk Pottery. The exhibit will remain on display through January 6. 777-7251 or www.cas.sc.edu/MCKS/.

MUSIC/Entertainment

SC Wildlife Federation will host events throughout August. For more information on dates, visit www.scwf.org.

USC's String Project, the nation's leader in string-music education, will hold its fall registration through Sept. 5 for children and adults interested in learning to play a stringed instrument. There will be an organizational meeting Tues., Sept. 5, 7:30 pm at the String Project Annex, 511 S. Main St. Parents of students and participating adults must attend this organizational meeting and register. The cost is $70 for students and $90 for adults. Contact Barnes, 777-9568 or visit www.music.sc.edu/Special_Programs/StringProject/index.html.

The Quest, a contest which will allow you a chance to win merchandise & gift certificates donated by the merchants in Five Points, will be Sat., August 19 from 10 am-3 pm at the Fountain in Five Points. Contact Elizabeth Comer, 256-9747.

The Columbia Philatelic Society will hold the second of its semi-annual stamp and picture postcard shows Aug. 12-13, in the Spring Valley High School cafeteria, 120 Sparkleberry Lane. Show hours are Sat., 10-5 pm and Sun., 10-4 pm. Contact Bill Mitchell, 254-3727 or billmitchell@sc.rr.com.

Columbia Harmonizers male chorus/ensemble meets Thursdays, 7:30 pm at Shandon United Methodist Church, 3407 Devine St. Call Joe Solito, 783-8475.

Dr. Paul Farmer, physician and medical anthropologist, will give a free, public talk Mon., Aug. 21, at 6 pm in the USC School of Law auditorium. Contact Jennifer Latino,

777-8869.

Thomas Cooper Library will host William Blake, Visionary and Illustrator, at USC's Mezzanine Gallery, through September 15. 777-8154.

ReDo Remix! will be Aug. 18-20 at the State Fairgrounds, at both the Cantey and Ellison Buildings! Show hours are Fri., 11 am-9 pm; Sat., 9 am-8 pm; and Sun., 11 am-5 pm. Admission is $7 for adults and free for children 12 and under during show weekend. Discounted tickets can be purchased through August 17 at NBSC locations in Columbia and Lexington. 256-6238 or visit www.remcouncil.com.

SCHOOLS

Lower Richland High School, 2615 Lower Richland Blvd., will host Diamond Day Celebration, August 26 from noon-5 pm. Funds raised at the event will provide college scholarships, educational summer camps, and transportation to afterschool tutorial programs. Residents and businesses can rent information booths. The fees are $50 for individuals and $100 for businesses. Contact Sallie Lakin, 695-3022 or 695-3000.

The Richland County Public Library, 1431 Assembly St., will host three back to school sessions of Get Research Ready at the following times: Get Middle School Research Ready, Wed. August 16 at 6:30 pm; Get High School Research Ready, Thurs., August 17 at 6:30 pm; and Get College Research Ready, Thursday, September 14 at 6:30 p.m. 929-3457.

TRAINING/Education

The Lt. Governor's Office on Aging will host the annual Summer School of Gerontology, the continuing education forum for S.C.'s senior community, Sun., Aug. 20, through Fri., Aug. 25. 622-5412 or www.aging.sc.gov/docs/SummerSchool2006Brochure.pdf.

USC Small Business Development Center will hold an Entrepreneur (Business Startup) Information Session, Wed., Aug. 23 from 12:30-2:45 pm in the Lumpkin Auditorium, 8th Floor of Moore School of Business. The cost is $25 in advance and $30 at the door. 777-5118 or www.uscbiz.net.

The Alliance for Women And The S.C. Commission on Women will host two fall conferences, The Transformative Power of Women's Philanthropy, Sept. 19-20 with a registration fee of $50 and Empowering Girls: Perceptions, Realities and Choices, Sept. 29 with a registration fee of $30.

VOLUNTEERS

A replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is coming to Columbia Oct. 27-29. Greenlawn Memorial Park & Funeral Home needs volunteers. Contact Tammy Chandler, 776-1092.

Youth for Understanding is currently seeking volunteer families to host international high school exchange students for the upcoming 2006-2007 school year. Students are between 15 to 18 years old and are from one of 50 countries around the world. Contact Aimee Herring at 800-872-0200, ext. 274or herring@yfu.org. www.yfu-usa.org.

Meals on Wheels needs volunteers to pack and deliver meals Monday-Friday during the midmorning hours. Schedules are available to deliver or pack meals weekly, twice a month, as a substitute or only one time on a day you have free. Contact Gail Byrum, 252-7734.