Community Planner for Feb. 10

Cades Hebron yard sale

Cades Hebron Elementary PTO will sponsor a yard sale from 7 a.m. until noon Saturday in the school’s gym. For more information, call (843) 601-2081.

Gospel concert

A gospel concert to support research funding for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at the American Legion Hut at 180 Ravenel Drive in St. Stephen. Several local soloists, choruses and groups will perform. For more information or to register to perform, call Thea Gaillard at (843) 870-0379. Because of the weather forecast, this event is on standby.

Education forum

A special education forum conducted by Florence School District 3 Board of Trustees member Bernard McIntosh will provide 2009 assessment data and related educational updates at 7 p.m. Monday. Parents and community members in the district are invited to attend the event, which will be held in the Greater St. James AME Church at 339 W. Moore Street. They will have an opportunity to ask questions and express their views.

MS Society event

Florence-area residents can learn about multiple sclerosis and brainstorm local action plans with other volunteers during the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Mid-Atlantic Chapter’s annual “Celebrate.Inspire.Move” event from noon to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Hampton Inn and Suites at 1735 Stokes Road in Florence.

Anyone in the community interested in finding a cure for and improving the lives of people living with multiple sclerosis is welcome.

Chapter President Lori Hurd will celebrate the accomplishments of local volunteers and present an overview of the 2010 goals of the MS Society. A local multiple sclerosis expert will talk about the importance of overall wellness for people living with multiple sclerosis.

Attendees from Kingstree, Darlington and Florence will gather to share ideas about volunteer opportunities in the area. One of the event’s goals is to empower volunteers and encourage them to develop local action plans.

For information and to register for the Florence event, call (800) 344-4867 and choose option one, or visit www.nationalmssociety.org/ncp and click on “Programs and Services.”

Trail commission

The regular meeting of the Francis Marion Trail Commission will be held at 5 p.m. Feb.18 in the board room of the Stokes Administration Building at Francis Marion University.

Coker College Dance

Coker College Dance will present “Looking Back, Moving Forward,” its annual spring concert, at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday in the Watson Theater of the Elizabeth Boatwright Coker Performing Arts Center. Admission at the door is $5 or free with a Coker College ID.

Book signing

Bookworld, at 263 Kelley Street in Lake City, will have a book signing with LaShonda Smalls McElveen, the author of “Loving, Losing, and Living,” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 20. McElveen, a 1988 Lake City High School graduate, tells her story of dealing with grief after the death of her first husband. Her two small children gave her the will to live and press through the pain of grief. Many prayers later, she is now happily remarried and wishes to encourage others to get to the rainbow on the other side of the rain. Her book can be ordered online at www.lmtrustgod.com. For more information, call (843) 374-0948.

‘Illuscination’

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey will present “Illuscination” at the Florence Civic Center from Feb. 19-21. Tickets can be purchased by calling (800) 745-3000 or by visiting the civic center box office.

College Goal Sunday

Williamsburg Technical College will host College Goal Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 27 to help college-bound students and their families with the financial aid application process.

Financial aid professionals will be on hand to help complete the necessary paperwork to apply for federal and state funding available to students who plan to further their education at any two- or four-year institution.

Items needed to complete a financial aid application are the student’s and parent’s 2009 state and federal tax returns, Social Security number, driver’s license, verification of untaxed income, and alien registration number if you are an eligible noncitizen.

In addition, tours of the college’s campus will be available.

For more information, visit www.collegegoalsundaysc.org.

Tax forms, help

All locations of the Florence County Library System have basic federal and South Carolina tax forms and booklets for this tax season.

In addition, at the Doctors Bruce & Lee Foundation Library in Florence, two volunteer organizations will provide tax preparation assistance for low-to-moderate-income individuals at separate dates and times listed below:

• AARP-Tax Aide (low-to-moderate-income individuals and couples; emphasis on seniors): 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays through April 13. Please note that the library system will be closed for Staff Development Day this coming Monday, and no tax preparation will be done that day.
  
• VITA — Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (low-to-moderate-income individuals and couples): 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays through April 14.

Please bring picture ID and relevant documents from the list below:

• Social Security Cards for you, your spouse and dependents and/or a Social Security Number verification letter issued by the Social Security Administration
  
• Birth dates for you, your spouse and dependents on the tax return
  
• Current year’s tax package, if you received one
  
• Wage and earning statement(s) Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, from all employers
  
• Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099)
  
• A copy of last year’s federal and state returns, if available
  
• Bank routing numbers and account numbers for direct deposit
  
• Total paid for day care provider and the day care provider’s tax identifying number (the provider’s Social Security number or the provider’s business Employer Identification Number)

If filing taxes electronically on a married-filing-joint tax return, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms.

Register on-site only; no appointments will be taken. Tax assistance volunteers cannot respond to phone inquiries. For more information, call (843) 413-7074.

Class reunion

The Carver High School class of 1969 is planning a reunion. Please forward contact information, including an e-mail address, to Carver High class reunion 1969, P.O. Box 282, Lake City, SC 29560-2428, attn: Mattie Gaskin, or call (843) 210-3046.

Special needs

Parents or guardians who have a child or children with special needs and may be interested in becoming a part of a parent-to-parent support group can contact Tommy and Michelle Russell at (843) 373-0912 or (843) 356-5714 or visit pillaroutreach@yahoo.com.

Golf tournament

The Billie Hardee Home for Boys 10th Annual Golf Tournament will be March 26 at the Darlington Country Club. Deadline for entries is March 19. For information for entries or being a sponsor, call Dianne Dennis at (843) 393-8600, ext. 308, or Wayne Chapman at (843) 393-8600, ext. 304.

Library programs

The Lake City Public Library will offer weekly children’s programs for ages 3 through 17.

Preschool story times will be held at 9:15 a.m. and at 10:15 a.m., which will be a repeat of first 45-minute session.

A weekly elementary school program will take place at 4 p.m. on Wednesdays. The afterschool programs will consist of activities including games, crafts, guest speakers and movies.

The Readers Are Leaders Book Club will meet at 4 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month. Independent Readers ages 8-12 are encouraged to participate. A different book will be discussed each month. Books will be provided by the library. Children may pick up the book for February, “Bud Not Buddy” by Christopher Paul Curtis.

Young adult programs will be held at 4 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month and include age-appropriate activities such as guest speakers, crafts, games and movies.

All programs will be in the library’s community room. Children younger than 10 must be accompanied by an adult age 18 or older at all times.

For more information, call (843) 394-8071 or stop by the Lake City Public Library, at 221 E. Main St.

Ron Rash lecture

Francis Marion University’s Hunter Lecture and Reading by Ron Rash will take place at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Lowrimore Auditorium of the Cauthen Educational Media Center. Admission is free. For more information, call (843) 661-1521.

Lecture series

Francis Marion University’s Gallery Lecture Series will feature “A 3-dimensional Afternoon” at 1 p.m. Thursday in the university’s Hyman Fine Arts Center. Admission is free. For information, call (843) 661-1385.

Brass quintet

Francis Marion University’s Chamber Recital Series will present Brass 5X5 (brass quintet) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Kassab Recital Hall of the Hyman Fine Arts Center. Admission is free. For information, call (843) 661-1385.

Safe Sitter courses

Safe Kids Florence, led by McLeod Health, will hold a series of Safe Sitter courses for girls and boys ages 11 to 13. The courses will take place from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. in the McLeod Medical Plaza Classroom.

Upcoming dates are as follows:

• Friday
  
• March 30 (register by March 16)

Safe Sitter is a medically based program that teaches young adolescents how to effectively handle emergencies when caring for children. Thousands of adolescents across the country have been trained by Safe Sitter instructors to handle life-threatening emergencies.

Safe Sitter students will receive hands-on practice in basic lifesaving techniques to handle a potential crisis. They will also learn helpful tips to make them more confident caregivers, including safety precautions, how to understand children of different ages, and even the business of babysitting.

Safe Kids asks that parents or guardians escort their child to the class in the morning in order to briefly provide them with important information.

The class is $35, which covers class materials, a T-shirt, a certificate and lunch. The McLeod Medical Plaza is located at 800 E. Cheves St. in Florence.

To register, call McLeod Reservations and Scheduling at (843) 777-2005. Space is limited.

Safe Kids Florence, led by McLeod Health, is funded in part by the McLeod Health Foundation.

FMU planetarium

• Francis Marion University’s Dooley Planetarium will present “Universe of Dr. Einstein” at 3 p.m. Sunday on the second floor of the Cauthen Educational Media Center. Admission is free. For information, call (843) 661-1441.
  
• Francis Marion University’s Dooley Planetarium will present “The People” at 3 p.m. Feb. 28 on the second floor of the Cauthen Educational Media Center. Admission is free. For information, call (843) 661-1441.

FMU senior exhibits

Francis Marion University is hosting a senior exhibit in the Hyman Fine Arts Center North Gallery. The free exhibit may be viewed between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. An exhibit by Jill Lynch will be on display through Friday. For more information, call (843) 661-1385.

FMU film series

Francis Marion University’s Cinema Film Series will present “Love the Hard Way” by Peter Sehr on Feb. 16. The free film will be shown at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in the Lowrimore Auditorium of the Cauthen Educational Media Center. For more information, call (843) 661-1385.

FMU art exhibits

Francis Marion University’s Art Gallery Series will feature three exhibits in the Hyman Fine Arts Center. The free exhibits may be viewed between 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday:

• Feb. 16-26: FMU photography classes, North Gallery
  
• Feb. 16 through April 1: panoramic photography by Sidney Glass
  
• Feb. 16 through April 1: interlacements by Kim Keats

For more information, call (843) 661-1385.

FMU Theatre

Francis Marion University’s Theatre will present “Eleemosynary” at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18-20 in the Hyman Fine Arts Center. Admission is free. Call the Theatre box office at (843) 661-1365 between 1-5 p.m. Monday through Friday for seating availability.

FMU homecoming

Francis Marion University’s homecoming will be held Feb. 20. For activity information and registration, call (843) 661-1228.

Wind Symphony

Francis Marion University’s Wind Symphony will perform at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23 in the Chapman Auditorium of the McNair Science Building. Admission is free. For more information, call (843) 661-1385.

Piano concert

Francis Marion University’s Artist Series will present Joel Fan on piano at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25 in the Kassab Recital Hall of the Hyman Fine Arts Center. Admission is free. For more information, call (843) 661-1385.

FMU open house

Francis Marion University will host an open house for prospective students and their families on Feb. 27. For registration and information, call (843) 661-1231.

Guided canoe excursion

A guided canoe excursion will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 6. The trip is a scenic three-mile guided paddle of the Lynches River from Lynches River County Park to the boat landing at U.S. 52. The excursion is free, but space is limited to 14 people per trip. Registration is required. Call (843) 389-0550 to reserve a space.

Narconon

No matter where you are or what day it is, if your loved one is addicted to drugs or alcohol, get him or her 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.