It's happening right here in your community
Send your events to annekathryn@sc.rr.com. Events must be received by 3 pm on Friday for the following Friday's paper.
ART Art, Art, and More Art at Mays Park will offer classes through March. Just the two of us, parent and child for ages 2- 4; Homeschool art for ages 4- 7, 8- 12, and 12 and up; and Afterschool for ages 4- 7, 8- 12, and 12 and up. Contact Steve Hewitt, 545-3100.

AUDITIONS The Arpad Darazs Singers will hold auditions for all voice parts through Feb. 17 at Ashland United Methodist Church. 926-7306.

The Lake Murray Symphony Orchestra will hold auditions for violin, cello and string bass players. Contact Sylvia Howell, 359-4929.

CHURCH/CHARITY First Presbyterian Church's Wednesdays at First lunch service will begin at 11:30 am in Jackson Hall, 1324 Marion St. 799-9062.

Shandon Presbyterian Church, 607 Woodrow St., will host the Rev. Dr. Sherron George for lectures Sun., Jan. 27, 7 pm & Mon., Jan. 28, 7 pm. 771-4408.

Lexington United Methodist Church will hold a health fair Sat., Jan. 26, 10 am- 2 pm. Contact Nancy Edmonds, 730-8467.

Northside Baptist Church will host Lisa Whelchel Sun., Jan. 27, 6 pm. 461-0093.

ENTERTAINMENT The Robert Burns Society of the Midlands will hold its annual Robert Burns dinner Sat., Jan. 26, 5:30 pm at Seawell's. Contact Lois Lockhart, 798-2206.

Arts at Shandon will present the Cleve Edwards Band Fri., Jan. 18, 7:30 pm. 771-4408, ext. 27.

Columbia's Longest Days: February 1865 will be Feb. 15 & 16. Contact Liz, 217-0071. The S.C. Chapter of the Sierra Club will host a wine tasting and silent auction fundraiser Fri., Feb. 29, 6:30- 10 pm at the Ensor Keenan House. 736-2977.

The 25th annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival will be Sun., Jan. 27 at Boone Hill Plantation. Gates will be open 10:30 am- 5 pm. Advance tickets are $10; $12 at the door. Contact Kathy Britzius, 843-577-4030 or www.charlestonrestaurantassociation. com.

A Valentine's Day Ball will be Feb. 9, 6:30 pm, at the Joe E. Mann Center, Bldg. #3392, at Fort Jackson. Tickets are $20 for singles and $40 for couples. Tickets are available at Zion Canaan Baptist Church, 7820 Farrow Road. 269-4293.

FAMILY The 27th annual Snowman Run 8K Road Race and Youth Fun Run will be Jan. 19. Kids run at 12:30 pm; adults run at 1:30 pm. Contact Leigh Cheatham, 754-7275, ext. 220.

Columbia Jewish Day School will hold its annual Auction Fundraiser Jan. 19, 7 pm. 782-1831.

The Richland County Recreation Commission and Adult Activity Center will host Community Appreciation Week Jan. 26- Feb. 2. 754-7275.

The 13th Annual Magic Show, will be Sat., Jan. 19, 7:30 pm at the Township Auditorium. Proceeds benefit Palmetto Health Children's Hospital.

HEALTH Free recovery classes for those with mental illness will be offered Thursday nights, 6 pm beginning Jan. 10. Classes will last 10 weeks. Contact Naomi for more details, 739-5712.

The Capital Senior Center will host Yoga Day Sun., Jan. 27, noon- 3:45 pm. 783-4470.

The Columbia Eye Clinic, 1920 Pickens St., will hold a blood drive Jan. 21, 2- 7 pm. All donors will receive a commemorative T- shirt for their efforts, as well as having a catered canteen with great snacks and refreshments. 779-2126.

Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands offers community support groups for survivors of sexual abuse/assault in Richland, Lexington, and Newberry County. 790-8208.

The Providence Heart Institute will hold the 4th annual Red Dress Rally Tues., Feb. 5, noon at the State House. 256-5300.

The Columbia Council of Neighborhoods will offer free health screenings Jan. 21, 10 am- 2 pm at the Marriott Hotel. 929-0922.

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

The Arrowhead Toastmaster's Club meets the first and third Tuesday of every month 7- 8 am at Shoney's, 600 Bush River Road. 781-5248.

The Richland County Republican Party meets the fourth Monday of every month, 6 pm at the Suggs & Kelly Law Center, 500 Taylor St. Contact Lou Nolan, 254-9543.

Columbia's Parks and Recreation Toastmasters Club meets at noon 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.

Toastmasters Club meets every Friday, 7- 8:15 am at Lizard's Thickett, 10170 Two Notch. Contact Caro- line Meyer, 782-8844.

The League of Women Voters will hold a luncheon Fri., Jan. 18, 11:30 am at the Capital Senior Center. Contact Susan James, 256-6822.

The Garden Club Council of Greater Columbia will meet Jan. 28 at the Garden Council Building, 1605 Park Circle, Maxcy Gregg Park. The Board meets a 9 am. Refreshments prepared by Lexington Garden Club will be served at 9:30 am, and the program begins at 10 am.

The Trenholm Artists Guild will meet Feb. 11, 7 pm at the Forest Lake Recreation Center. 865-1431.

MISCELLANEOUS The Winter Session of the Shepherd's Center of Columbia at Trenholm Road United Methodist Church will be Jan. 16- March 12. Classes begin at 9 am. The cost is $21. 779-4449.

The 3rd annual doll and bear show and sale will be Sat., Feb. 2, 9:30 am- 3:30 pm at the Fairgrounds. 783-8049.

The Columbia Philatelic Society will hold a stamp and picture postcard show Jan. 26- 27 at Spring Valley High School. Contact Bill Mitchell, 254-3727.

River of Words, a nonprofit that encourages participation in an international poetry and art contest, is accepting applications for this year's contest. Students in grades K- 12 are eligible, and the deadline is Feb. 15. 771-2477 or www.riverofwords.org.

MUSEUM The Columbia Museum of Art will present Excavating Egypt: Great Discoveries from the Petrie Museum of Egyption Archaeology Jan. 27- June 8. 799-2810.

McKissick Museum will

present Grandeur Saved:

Photographs of the Aiken-

Rhett House by Michael Eastman through April 26. 777-7251.

USC's Thomas Cooper

PLaibgreasr fyr owmil lt hshe oPwacsta:sAe

Legacy of Medieval Books

in South Carolina Collections

through March 31. 777-5400.

The Columbia Museum of Art will present the Baker and Baker Winter Concert Series Sun., Jan. 27, 3 pm. 343-2216.

The Columbia Museum of Art will host their 4th annual Face- off Sat., Feb. 9, 8 am- 4:40 pm. 343-2208.

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

USC's Schol of Music will present a viola recital featuring Dr. Constance Gee Feb. 24, 7:30 pm. 777-5400.

The Sundays at Lowman Piano Recital Series concludes its season Sun., Jan. 27, 3:30 pm. 732-8800.

The Palmetto Concert Band will present a winter concert on Sat., Feb. 16, 8:45 pm in the Koger Center for the Arts. Admission is free and open to the public. 777- 4278.

USC's School of Music will present an inaugural chamber innovista concert Jan. 27, 3 pm. 777-4336.

SCHOOLS Rosewood Elementary will host a kindergarten open house Tues., Feb. 5, 6:30 pm. 343-2930.

SPORTS The Fire Girls 10U and 12U softball teams will hold tryouts January 26, 11 am at Ridge View High School. 447-9917 (Columbia) or 309-6588 (Lexington/ West Columbia).

The Richland County Recreation Commission will hold registration for the spring adult basketball league through March 1. 732-3220.

The S.C. High School Soccer Coaches Association will hold the 12th annual winter clinic Jan. 25 & 26. Visit www.scsoccer. com for locations and more information.

USC will host its annual baseball and softball preview party Thurs., Jan. 31, 6- 8 pm at the Field House. 777-5400.

The Columbia Jet is holding basketball tryouts for boys 15 and under. 414-0635.

The 9th annual Kids for Kicking Cancer Soccer Clinic benefitting Children's Chance will be Sun., Feb. 16- 17, 2:30- 4:30 pm at USC's Indoor Fieldhouse on Whaley St. 254-5996.

TRAINING/EDUCATION The Environmental Resource Center will offer HazMat Certified Training Jan. 28- 30 at the Hilton Garden Inn. 537-2372.

USC's Small Business Center will hold three entreprenuer workshops Jan. 23, Feb. 27, and March 26, 12:30- 3 pm. 777-5118.

USC will present the lecture

series Inside Oval

Office beginning Jan. 23- March 5, 5:30- 7 pm. 777-5195.

The S.C.Women's Business

Center will hold Are

You Ready to Start a Business?

Jan. 30, 10 am- noon. 461-8900, ext. 232.

Wrightslaw, an education program designed to meet the needs of parents, educators, health care providors, advocates, and attorneys, will hold a special education law and advocacy training session Feb. 27, 8:30 am- 4:30 pm at the S.C. State Museum. 759-4776.

The S.C. Bar Young Lawyers Division (YLD) will sponsor its annual Minority Pre- Law Conference for college students interested in attending law school Fri., Feb. 15, 9 am- 2 pm at the Swinton Center on the campus of Benedict College in Columbia. 799-6653, ext. 155

VOLUNTEERS The Friends of the Richland County Public Library need individuals and businesses to sponsor a basket or donate items for the 15th annual Silent and Live Auction Sat., Feb. 16, 7 pm. 929-3440.