Calendar

Misa Kuranaga, the 2006 International Ballet Competition Gold Medalist in the Senior Division from Osaka, Japan, and currently performing with the Boston Ballet, will be one of the professional dancers performing in this year's

ANIMALS

Greyhound Lifesavers will be at the Harbison Petsmart, Jan. 20, 11 am- 3 pm. Contact Judy Horton, 957-3866 or www.greyhoundlifesavers.org.

BOOKS

USC will host The James Dickey Conference Jan. 19- 20. Pat Conroy will speak Sat., Jan. 20, 4 pm in the Belk Auditorium of the Moore School of Business. Contact Dr. William Thesing, 777-7073 or JamesDickey.org.

The SC Council on Economic Education will host an Econ. Book Club meeting, Jan. 23, 5:30- 7 pm at the Columbia College Breed Leadership Center, 1301 Columbia College Dr. 777-8676 or sccee@moore.sc.edu.

CHILDREN/FAMILY

Riverbanks Zoo will hold spring and summer camps for kids ages 6- 10.

799-8717, ex. 1113 or www.riverbanks.org.

CHURCH/charity

First Presbyterian Church continues its Wednesdays and Thursdays at noon lunch service in Jackson Hall. Lunch begins at 11:30 am followed by a speaker from 12:25- 12:50. A hot meal is $6. Soup and salad is $5. 799-9062.

The Shepherd's Center of Columbia will begin its winter session Jan. 17 at Trenholm Road United Methodist Church. Call 779-4449.

The Shepherd's Center of St. Andrews will present its winter session through March 13. Classes and activities are 9 am-2 p. 731-9394.

Shandon Presbyterian Church, 607 Woodrow St., will present Preston lectures Sun., Jan. 28, 7 pm & Mon., Jan. 29, 7 pm with a reception following the Monday lecture. 771-4408.

DANCE

The Greater Columbia Chapter of the U.S. Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association will hold their twice-monthly dance parties Sat., Jan. 13 & Sat., Jan. 27, 7:30- 10:30 pm, at the Hugh Dimmery Memorial Center, 680 Cherokee Lane. Contact Patricia Hill, 781-5248 or www.USADance.us.

Contra Dance will host a dance Sat., Jan. 13, 7- 10:30 pm at the Arsenal Hill Park Building. The cost is $7. Please bring clean, soft- soled shoes. 796-8935 or www.contracola.org.

MEETINGS

A women's business leads group is forming. Meetings are held the second Tuesday of every month at 12:30 pm. Categories will be protected. 261-0006.

Horrell Hill Family and Community Leaders Club meets the first Thursday of each month at 10:30 am. Contact Alice Williams, 776-7888, for the next meeting location.

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 meets every Wednesday at the Summit Club for breakfast to share sales' leads. Contact Ken Connor, 256-2354.

The Downtown Columbia Lions Club meets the first and third Mondays for lunch. Contact Lloyd Pitts, 798-8256.

The West Metro Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center will host the first West Metro Mayors Prayer Breakfast Wed., Jan. 17, 7:30- 9 am at the Brookland Baptist Church's Banquet and Conference Center, 1006 Sunset Blvd. 794-1538 or westmetrochamber@aol.com.

The American Association of University Women will host an Afgan war veteran Jan. 18, 7 pm at the Eau Claire Town Hall, 3908 Monticello Rd. 454-0088.

MUSEUM

EdVenture Children's Museum will host its annual winter exhibit Snowville through Feb. 25. EdVenture Museum will open a new exhibit, From Here to Timbuktu, Jan. 20. 779-3100 or www.edventure.org.

MUSIC/entertainment

Columbia Harmonizers male chorus/ensemble meets Thursdays, 7:30 pm at Shandon United Methodist Church, 3407 Devine St. 798-1538.

Big Band Dance at Shandon Presbyterian featuring Cleve Edwards and the Big Society Band in Shandon's Activity Center 7:30 pm Fri. Jan. 19. Shandon Presbyterian is at the corner of Woodrow and Devine Streets. Free admission. Call 771-4408, ext. 27 Arts at Shandon for more information

The Lake Murray Symphony Orchestra winter concert will be Feb. 18, 3:30 pm at Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church, 5503 Sunset Blvd. The concert is free.

USC will host a public lecture series featuring historian and author Dr. Walter Edgar every Wed., Jan. 17- April 25, 5:30- 7 pm at the SC Archives & History Center on Parklane Rd. 777-5195.

The 1st Annual Performance, Swap, Shop and Sell Car show will be Jan. 12- 14 at the SC State fairgrounds in the Hampton Building. Show hours are Fri., 3- 9 pm, Sat. 9 am- 6 pm and Sun., 9 am- 3 pm.

The rpád Darázs Singers will hold auditions for all voice parts through

Feb. 15 at Ashland United Methodist Church, 2600 Ashland Rd. 926- 7306 or www.adsingers.org.

AAA Travel and Holland America Line will sponsor On Stage Alaska, a free program that brings to life all there is to see and do in Alaska, Jan 11, 6 pm at Irmo Elementary School. 798-9205.

The St. Pats in Five Points Committee is scheduling musical entertainment for the festival. Those interested in performing should send in a demo and press packet. 748-8555 or www.stpatsinfivepoints.com.

USC's Dance Program will present five top dancers from The New York City Ballet March 31, 7 pm at the Koger Center. Tickets are available at the Carolina Coliseum box office or 251-2222. Contact Susan Anderson, 777-7264 or www.cas.sc.edu.

The Columbia Philatelic Society will hold the first of its semiannual annual stamp and picture postcard shows Jan. 27- 28 at the Spring Valley High School cafeteria, 120 Sparkleberry Lane. Show hours are Sat., 10 am- 5 pm & Sun. 10 am- 4 pm. Contact Bill Mitchell, 254-3727.

The annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration will be Mon., Jan. 15, 4 pm at the Martin Luther King Park and Community Center, 2300 Greene St.

Workshop Theatre, 1136 Bull St., will hold auditions for The Secret Garden, Jan. 20, 10 am and Jan. 21- 22, 7:30 pm. 799-4876 or www.workshoptheatre.com.

SCHOOLS

Richland Northeast High School, 7500 Brookfield Rd., will hold an open house Jan. 18 and 23, 6:30 pm. Contact Lori Marrero, 699-2800, ext. 2811 or www.richland2.org.

Richland Two Elementary Schools will be holding registration for kindergarten through Wed., Jan. 31. Contact Theresa Riley, 738-3210 or www.richland2.org.

SPORTS

The Columbia Tennis Center, Southeast Park and Tennis Center and Greenview Park will offer tennis lessons. Contact Jeff Kefalos, 733-8440.

Columbia's Parks and Recreation Department, 1932 Calhoun St., will offer several leagues and tournaments. 545-3100.

VOLUNTEERS

The 2007 Homeless Count will be Jan. 25. Volunteers are needed. Contact Linda Renner, 343-3437 or homeless@uway.org.

Meals on Wheels needs volunteers. 252-7734 or www.seniorresourcesinc.org.

Home Works of SC will sponsor Winter Blitz, Sat., Jan. 27. A planning meeting will be Thurs., Jan. 18, 6:30 pm at Benedict- Allen Community Development Center, 2001 Two Notch Rd. Home Works of SC will also go to Covington, Louisiana, March 3- 11. Contact Hank Chardos, 781-4536 or Homewrksc@aol.com. LifeChance Gala of the Stars