Lake City Community Planner for Oct. 14

Rotary fundraiser

The Lake City Rotary Club will hold a spaghetti dinner to raise money for Polio Plus, youth activities, scholarships and community projects.

The dinner will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Lake City United Methodist Church fellowship hall, at 229 W. Main St., across from the post office.

Plates cost $5 each and are available for eating in, carryout, drive-through or free delivery, with a 10-plate minimum.

Food gift certificates

The Lake City Senior Citizens Association will be distributing $25 food gift certificates to persons who are unemployed or underemployed in the Lake City community.

The certificate must be used for food only, with no cash returned, and must be used at a local designated vendor. The association is working in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assist individuals who are facing hardship and financial difficulties at this time.

Qualifications for receiving the food gift certificate are:

• 50 years of age and older
  
• Picture ID
  
• Proof of age
  
• Live in the Lake City area
  
• Proof of income of $500 or less
  
• One gift certificate per household
  
• Unemployed or underemployed

Applications will be available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day through Friday at the Lake City Senior Center, on North Acline Street. Completed applications must be returned by 1 p.m. Monday. No applications will be accepted after that date and time. The association has a limited number of food gift certificates.

For additional information, call the Lake City Senior Center at (843) 394-2432.

Domestic violence awareness

The Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Assault will hold a lunch-and-learn event, “Domestic Violence and Your Family,” in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. From noon to 1:30 pm today in the Railway restaurant in Lake City, guest speaker Lake City Mayor Lovith Anderson Jr. will present a program about how domestic violence affects families in our community. The event is sponsored by the coalition and the Lake City Police Department. Preregistration is required as seating is limited.

Blood drive

The American Red Cross will hold a community blood drive in Santee Electric Cooperative’s Conference Room at 424 Sumter Highway, Kingstree, from 2 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

The goal for this drive is 28 units of blood. You can schedule an appointment by calling (843) 355-0508 or visting www.donatebloodtoday.org on the Internet. An appointment gives time priority over those without one.

To minimize the possibility of a low iron level, it is important to eat food sources high in iron such as red meat, fish, poultry, liver, beans, breads, raisins, lentils, peas, cereals, prunes and watermelon. Foods that will help your body absorb the iron are oranges, tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, kiwifruit, strawberries, potatoes and cabbage. Eat a good meal and drink plenty of liquids before giving blood.

Bring positive identification in the form of a donor card, driver’s license, etc.

Dominos of Lake City is providing pizza for the effort.

Child safety seat check

Safe Kids Florence, led by McLeod Health, will hold the upcoming Third Thursday with Kohl’s Child Safety Seat Check from 4 to 7 p.m. this Thursday in the Florence Kohl’s parking lot, at 3041 W. Radio Drive.

This child safety seat check is held the third Thursday of each month at this same time and location.

Safe Kids certified child safety seat technicians will check proper installation of child safety seats, correct those in need, and offer education proper installation and use. Participants must have both child safety seat and child present. Expecting parents, please bring your child safety seat.

For more information, call Safe Kids Florence at (843) 777-2592.

Community Breakfast

The Care and Concern Organization Soup Kitchen will hold its annual Community Breakfast at 9 a.m. Nov. 7.

Lake City Mayor Lovith Anderson Jr. and other city officials will assist in preparing and serving food during the event, at 800 E. Main St. in Lake City.

The soup kitchen is asking for monetary donations; checks should be maybe payable to Care and Concern Organization Soup Kitchen.

The breakfast has been held for five years, and the kitchen prepares 900 to 1,100 meals a month, Pastor Samuel Burgess said.

For more information, call (843) 558-3267 or e-mail careandconcernsoupkitchen@yahoo.com.

Volunteer training

The Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Assault will sponsor volunteer training from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Oct. 21, 24, 26 and 27 at the Lake City Fire Department, on North Acline Street.

This training will give anyone who wishes to volunteer the tools and resources to assist women, children and men who are victims of domestic and sexual assault and child abuse.

If you have any questions or wish to register for the training please call either LaBonie Guerra, Rural Florence County victims advocate, at (843) 394-8566 or Freda Cox, Williamsburg County coordinator, at (843) 354-6481.

McNair 5K

The Fifth Annual Dr. Ronald E. McNair 5K Run/Walk and Health Fair will take place Saturday in Lake City.

The event will kick off at 8 a.m. at the Ronald E. McNair Memorial Park, on East Main Street next to the Lake City Public Library.

The event for all ages will include the 5K run and walk, a one-mile fun walk, a half-mile kids run, games, balloons, prizes and refreshments for all.

Health-care professionals also will provide free health screenings and health information in the Town Square.

Registration forms for the race events are available at the Greater Lake City Chamber of Commerce, at 144 S. Acline St.; the National Bean Market Museum Gift Shop, at 127 E. Main St. in Lake City; and from members of the Ron McNair Committee.

Registration fees for the race are $15 for adults and $7 for students younger than 18. On-site registrations will require a $5 late fee.

Call (843) 389-3282 for more information.

National Guard reunion

The Lake City National Guard reunion will be at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Kingstree National Guard. For information, call (843) 687-7735.

Pre-diabetes class

The McLeod Diabetes Center will offer a pre-diabetes and diabetes prevention class from 4 to 6:15 p.m. Oct. 21 at the McLeod Diabetes Center, located in McLeod Medical Park East, Suite 250. McLeod Medical Park East, adjacent to the McLeod Pavilion, is at 901 East Cheves Street, Florence.
For more information, call (843) 777-6000 or visit www.mcleoddiabetes.org.

Fall Festival

J.C. Lynch Elementary School will hold a Fall Festival from 5 to 9 p.m. Oct. 23 at the school, at 124 Hicks Road in Coward.

The event will feature games, prizes, balloons, face painting, a photo room, a cakewalk and a fire truck. Food will include baked goods, hot dogs, chips, popcorn and drinks.

A raffle for a $250 gasoline card will be held at 8 p.m.

Wristbands for the event will be on sale for $2 at the door.

Track-or-Treat

Lake City Elementary School will sponsor its annual Track-or-Treat event from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 30 at the track between Lake City Elementary and Lake City High Schools.

Track-or-Treat is an event where parents can bring their children to trick-or-treat instead of going door to door through neighborhoods.

Children from all over Florence School District 3 are invited to this event.

The school is asking for donations of candy and other items to be given to the children as they circle the track. Anyone interested in setting up a station should call Patrick Pinckney at Lake City Elementary at (843) 374-2353.

Miniature art competition

The Florence Museum of Art, Science and History invites artists to submit work for the 21st Annual Miniature Art Competition presented by The Friends of the Florence Museum.

Each work cannot exceed four inches by five inches, and artists are allowed to submit two works for a single $15 registration fee. First place award will be $300, with the other awards given on a descending scale to four honorable mentions at $65 each. One artist will receive the Ann Finch Award, given specifically to a work executed in the watercolor medium.

Also this year, concurrent with the exhibit, the Friends will be hosting the second annual Holiday Art House. This event will be a temporary retail space in the museum where regional artists and authors will have items for sale for Christmas. All items will be priced at $50 and under. A prospectus for interested artists is available for download at www.florencemusuem.org.

For information, call (843) 662-3351.

The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Car show

The Central Carolina Corvair Club will hold an Open Classic car show from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Auddie Brown Chevrolet in Darlington. Auddie Brown Chevrolet is at the intersection of U.S. 52 and U.S. 52 Bypass between Florence and Darlington. Spectators are welcome, and there is no admission fee.

Registration ends at noon, and judging begins at 12:30 p.m.

Basketball coaching clinic

The Francis Marion University women’s basketball program will offer a basketball coaching clinic from 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 24 in FMU’s Smith University Center.

The clinic will feature Patriot head coach Heather Macy, Clemson University head coach Cristy McKinney, Elon University head coach Karen Barefoot and VMI head men’s coach Duggar Baucom.

The cost of the clinic is $20 for individuals and $40 for an entire staff if registration is completed by Oct. 16. Registration on the day of the clinic will be $25 for individuals.

Prior to the clinic, coaches are invited to attend an open practice by the Francis Marion 2009-10 women’s squad from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Both Macy’s and Baucom’s squads won national scoring titles last season.

For details or to get a registration form, contact the FMU women’s basketball office at (843) 661-1249 or hmacy@fmarion.edu.

Fall Frenzy

ScienceSouth will hold Fall Frenzy from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 24 at Lynches River County Park, at 1110 Ben Gause Rd, Coward.

FMU college fair

Francis Marion University will hold a free college fair from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27 in the university’s Smith University Center. For information, call (843) 661-1231.

Compassionate Friends

The Compassionate Friends of the Pee Dee Area will host Alan Pedersen, a bereaved dad and singer-songwriter, for the “Celebrate the Children” concert at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 27 in the The Sullivan Family Center of St. Anthony Catholic Church, at 2536 Hoffmeyer Road, Florence.

Pedersen writes songs relevant to the challenges that family and friends encounter after suffering the death of a child. Alan is the father of two teenage boys. In August 2001 Alan’s 18-year-old and only daughter, Ashley, was killed in an automobile accident.

Alan will sing and tell his story and would like to hear others’ “stories” as well.

Pedersen is performing at no charge to The Compassionate Friends of the Pee Dee Area. On the evening of the event, the group will able to donate toward his travel expenses. Pedersen’s three CDs will be available for purchase that evening.

Narconon

No matter where you are or what day it is, if your loved one is addicted to drugs or alcohol, get them into an effective substance abuse treatment program as soon as possible. For information on the drug and alcohol rehabilitation program at Narconon Arrowhead, call (800) 468-6933 or visit www.stopaddiction.com. Narconon offers free counseling, assessments and referrals to more than 11,000 centers nationwide.

Farmers market

The Lake City Farmers Market will hold the following scheduled activities:

• First Saturday of every month — yard sales
  
• Second and fourth Saturdays of every month — bake sales
  
• Third Saturday of every month — barter days

If you are a nonprofit organization or group and need to do a fundraiser, please contact the National Bean Market Museum office to participate in any of the above activities. If you participate in the yard sales for profit, a $5 fee is required for joining the yard sale group.

On barter days, there is no charge for the public to bring items to the market to trade with others who participate (the farmers market is not included in barter days).

For more information, call Sherri Moore at (843) 374-1500.