Lake City Community Planner for March 10

Hospice training

McLeod Hospice is offering a volunteer training for those interested in serving hospice patients and families from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at McLeod Hospice House, at 1203 E. Cheves St. in Florence. McLeod Hospice serves Florence, Darlington, Marion, Dillon and Lee counties. Its Hospice Care Team works to promote comfort and dignity to dying patients. For more information about McLeod Hospice, how to become a volunteer, or to register for the training, call volunteer coordinator Andrea Mozingo at (843) 777-2994 or (843) 777-2564.

‘South Pacific’

“South Pacific” will come alive during the first weekend of spring at the Blanding Street Auditorium in Lake City. Production dates and times will be 7:30 p.m. nightly from March 18-20 and 3 p.m. March 21.

Rehearsals are well under way for “South Pacific,” which is based on “Tales of the South Pacific,” a Pulitzer Prize-winning 1948 novel by James Michener. The music was written by Richard Rodgers, with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and book by Hammerstein and Joshua Logan.

Tickets are on sale in the meeting room of the Lake City Chamber of Commerce, at 144 S. Acline St. Tickets will remain on sale on weekdays through March 20. They will also be on sale one hour prior to each production at the auditorium.

The board of the Lake City Community Theatre also will offer a sneak preview of South Pacific to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Blanding Street Auditorium. A sign language interpreter will be present.

For more information, call the Greater Lake City Chamber of Commerce at (843) 374-8611 or e-mail Marge Ern at curtaincall530@yahoo.com.

Pro se divorce clinic

South Carolina Legal Services will hold a pro se (do-it-yourself) divorce clinic for Florence County residents at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the Lake City Library. You must pre-register. For qualifications to participate or to register, call South Carolina Legal Services at (843) 413-9500.

S.C. State drop-in

Lake City graduates of South Carolina State University will have a drop-in at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mt. Clair Baptist Church, at 1009 E. Main Street in Lake City, for high school seniors who may be interested in attending the university. The graduates will assist students and parents with the total application process, and students and parents are asked to bring their 2009 tax documents if possible.

BBQ Shag Festival Pageant

The South Carolina BBQ Shag Festival Pageant will be held Saturday at the Mitcheom Community Center in Hemingway. Categories are beauty, photogenic and portfolio. The pageant is for girls from birth to 24 years old. For an application, call Camelia Stevens at (843) 386-2611 or e-mail cameliastevens@yahoo.com or scbbqshagpageant@gmail.com. Applications are available at Bold & Sassy Children’s Boutique, at 109 N. Acline St. in Lake City.

Minister’s Breakfast

The City of Lake City and The Senior Citizens’ Association will hold its first Minister’s Breakfast at 9 a.m. March 20 in the Lake City Senior Center, at 198 N. Acline Street in Lake City. To RSVP, call (843) 394-2432 by March 18.

Health care forum

South Carolina Geographical Area III Chapters of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. will host a public health care forum on March 20 in the Fred C. Fore Auditorium of the 400 Building at Florence-Darlington Technical College, in Florence. The forum will begin at 10 a.m. and allow the community to hear information regarding proposed health care legislation, discuss the legislation, and voice their opinions to public figures and elected officials. A representative from Congressman James Clyburn’s Washington Office will be featured among the panel of those in the fields of law, health care and politics. For additional information, call Sherry Bess at (843) 389-3282.

O-Run

The first Palmetto State O-Run Team Challenge will be held on March 20 in Lynchburg. Registration information and directions to the course can be found at www.theorun.com. There is a $100+ fee per group. For more information, call (803) 404-4142.

Food gift certificates

The Senior Citizens Association will be distributing $25 food gift certificates to unemployed and underemployed people in Florence County. The certificates can be used to purchase food only, no cash returned, at a local designated vendor.

The association is in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assist individuals facing hardship and financial difficulty.

To receive a gift certificate, a person must:

• Be 55 years of age or younger
  
• Provide a picture ID
  
• Provide proof of age (driver’s license or ID)
  
• Live in Florence County
  
• Provide proof of Income of $700 or less per month (statement from the employment office, food stamp office, Social Security office, etc.)
  
• Be unemployed or underemployed

Applications will be available at the Leatherman Center, at 600 Senior Way in Florence, and the Lake City Senior Center, at 198 N. Acline St. in Lake City, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through March 19. All applications must be completed and returned by March 19.

A limited number of food gift certificates will be awarded. The candidates selected will be notified by phone or mail.

For more information, call the Senior Citizens Association at (843) 669-6761; call the Leatherman Center at (877) 856-5529 or the Lake City Senior Center at (843) 394-2432.

Free movie showings

The Lake City Public Library will offer free weekly movies for adults at 11:30 a.m. every Monday. Movie selections for March will be “The Time Traveler’s Wife,” “The Boys Are Back,” “Good Hair,” “Carriers” and “Everybody’s Fine.”

The Friends of the Florence County Library purchased an annual public performance site license, which allows the library to legally incorporate movies into its programming without copyright infringement.

For more information, call the Lake City Public Library at (843) 394-8071.

Children’s library programs

The Lake City Library is offering weekly programs for children and youths ages 3 to 17.

Preschool story times are offered at 9:15 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. on Wednesdays. The 10:15 session will be a repeat of the 9:15 session. Each session will last 45 minutes. Preschool story times will consist of story sharing, singing, movement activities and an occasional craft.

Weekly elementary school programs will be offered at 4 p.m. Wednesdays. The after-school programs will consist of activities including games, crafts, guest speakers and movies.

The Readers are Leaders Book Club will be held at 4 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month. Independent readers ages 8 to 12 are encouraged to participate. A different book, provided by the library, will be discussed each month. Activities will vary according to the book’s theme. Children may stop by the library now to pick up the book selection for March, “The Lemonade War” by Jacqueline Davies.

Young adult programs will be held at 4 p.m. the second Thursday of each month. Age-appropriate activities will include guest speakers, crafts, games and movies. An art program is scheduled for March.

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

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

Lake City High reunion

The Lake City High School Class of 1971 is planning a class reunion on June 12, 2011, in Lake City. Forward contact information and questions to Jerry Singletary at Jerry52@ftc-i.net or Cynthia W. Burgess at CynthBrg1@AOL.com.

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.

FMU planetarium

Francis Marion University’s Dooley Planetarium will present “Hubble’s Universe” at 3 p.m. Sunday on the second floor of the Cauthen Educational Media Center. Admission is free. For more information, call 843-661-1441.

Pee Dee Coalition

The Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Assault is seeking volunteers. The coalition is a nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to the reduction of rape, family violence and child abuse and to the needs of its victims. Volunteers make a direct impact in the lives of victims. Whether it is holding someone’s hand at the hospital or organizing a pantry at the shelter, the coalition has programs that cover a variety of interests. The next training class is scheduled to start in March. For more information, call County Coordinator Freda Cox at (843) 354-6481.

FMU spring break

Francis Marion University’s spring break is scheduled for Monday through March 19. University offices will remain open. Classes will resume March 22. For more information, call (843) 661-1220.

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.

Pee Dee male conference

Reducing Our Assault Risk (ROAR) will present the Pee Dee Male Conference on April 10 in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

The event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 513 Barnes St. in Florence. It includes free lunch, live entertainment, resource booths and door prizes.

The following workshops will be offered:

• “It’s All in the Music,” a look at music and its effects on youths
  
• “Brother to Brother, Honest Talk About HIV/STDs”
  
• “Sexting, Texting, Twittering — What Parents Should Know”
  
• “New Fads in Alcohol” (parents only)
  
• “Get Your Swag Game On” — coming into manhood as defined by today’s generation
  
• “Protecting the Lady in Your Life” — The important role males play in ending violence against girls and women

Registration is required by April 5. Register online at www.peedeecoalition.org or call Tracey Williamson at (843) 395-2748.

‘Fiber Arts’

“Fiber Arts” will run through April 3 at the Florence Downtown Development Corp. Art Trail Gallery, at 135 S. Dargan St. in Florence.

The exhibit will explore how fiber is part of everyday existence in practical and imaginative ways. Visitors will see examples ranging from the traditional arts of weaving, knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, embroidery, threadwork and tatting to papermaking, basket making, quilting, surface transformation, dyeing, silk painting and more.

The exhibit will be open daily from 1 until 4 p.m. with the exception of Sundays and special events. Admission is free. The gallery is online at www.art-trail-gallery.com. Watch the Web site for information on free classes.

For more information, e-mail Jane Madden at janemadden@bellsouth.net or call her at (843) 673-0729.

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.
  
• 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.

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.

The upcoming session will take place March 30, and participants must be registered by Tuesday.

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.

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.

FMU student exhibit

Francis Marion University’s Student Gallery Series will present an exhibit by visual communication classes between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. from March 23 through April 2 in the Hyman Fine Arts Center North Gallery. The free exhibits may be viewed Monday through Friday. For more information, call (843) 661-1385.

Moran Address

Francis Marion University will present the Fourth Annual Moran Address, “The Fun of It All,” by Dr. Julia Krebs at 4 p.m. March 25 in the Lowrimore Auditorium of the Cauthen Educational Media Center. Admission is free. For more information, call (843) 661-1521.

‘Tell Me Something’

Francis Marion University’s Cinema Film Series will present “Tell Me Something” by Chang Youn-Hyun at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. March 23 in the Lowrimore Auditorium of the Cauthen Educational Media Center. For more information, call (843) 661-1385.

V-Day panel

Francis Marion University’s Gender Studies program will sponsor a V-Day panel discussion at 1 p.m. March 25 in the Thomason Auditorium of the Lee Nursing Building. Admission is free. For more information, call (843) 661-1467.

FMU performance

Francis Marion University will present “The Vagina Monologues” by Eve Ensler at 7:30 p.m. March 25 and 26 in the Chapman Auditorium of the McNair Science Building. For tickets and more information, call (843) 661-1502.