Hartsville Happenings Jan. 1

TODAY – JAN. 7

Southern Trail Riders: Through Sunday at 634 Lamar Highway in Timmonsville. Cookout begins at 6 p.m. today and Saturday followed by a dance with live music. There will be a 12-mile and 18-mile horse ride at your own pace beginning at 11 a.m. today and Saturday. Cost: $30 per person. Info: (843) 346-3878

New Year’s Day Closings: County offices, Darlington County recycling centers and The Messenger office will be closed today.

People to People Meeting: 6:15 p.m. Monday at Florence-Darlington Technical College Hartsville Center, 225 Swift Creek Road. All citizens are invited to attend and join the discussion to improve our community. Info: (843) 332-3420

Mortgage Foreclosure Clinic: Monday and Tuesday at CDC of Marlboro County, 106 E. Market St., Bennettsville. Bring a recent mortgage statement, a budget, your last two bank statements, your most recent tax return, a statement from a utility company and your last two pay stubs with you. Cost: $50 for pre-modification information session and $18.45 for the U.S. Postal Service fee. Info: (843) 454-2188

Hartsville Community Players Auditions for Dinner Theater: 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday upstairs at Center Theater. Need four men and three women who can play characters ages 20 to 50.

First Day to Pick Up Christmas in April Applications: Wednesday at Heritage Community Bank in Hartsville. Homeowner applications must be returned by Feb. 16. Applications may be picked up from and returned to Heritage Community Bank. The Christmas in April 2010 workday is scheduled for April 17.

“You Are What You Eat - Food As Medicine” Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce Lunch and Learn: Noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday at Education Room at Carolina Pines. Through Functional Medicine we can learn how the proper chemical balance of foods that we eat can help make us healthy and prevent disease. Speaker: Dr. Emmanuel Quaye, Internal Medicine. Cost: $6. RSVP: (843) 339-4195.

What is Diabetes? By Gwen Davis, the State Diabetes Nurse Consultant: 12:30 p.m. Thursday at Hartsville Country Club. Kiwanis Club of Hartsville. Anyone wishing to attend can contact any Kiwanis member or Membership Chairman Charlie Deitz at (843) 332-2984.

Greater Darlington Chamber of Commerce Member Appreciation Day: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at Darlington Chamber of Commerce, 38 Public Square, Darlington. Open house and light refreshments. Meet the chamber staff and share your input with us to help us better serve you and market your business.

Fall Sports Awards Banquet: 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Hartsville High School cafeteria.

JAN. 8-14

Second Annual Good Living Marketplace Chili Cook-Off: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 9 on Cargill Way between Fourth and Fifth streets in conjunction with the monthly Good Living Marketplace. The event is open to all Hartsville area restaurants. Deadline for applications is Thursday. Interested establishments should contact the HDDA at (843) 332-1600 for further details and application information.

Hartsville Civic Children’s Chorale Seeks Singers: 4:30 p.m. Jan. 12 at First Presbyterian Church in Hartsville. All girls and boys ages 8 to 14 with unchanged voices are welcome. The group meets 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Info: Mrs. Macdonald (843) 968-8397

Wild Turkey Federation Discussion by Louis Yount: 12:30 p.m. Jan. 14 at Hartsville Country Club. Kiwanis Club of Hartsville. Anyone wishing to attend can contact any Kiwanis member or Membership Chairman Charlie Deitz at (843) 332-2984.

JAN. 15-21

Care Innovations’ Black and White Gala: 6 to 10 p.m. Jan. 16 at Hartsville Country Club. Cost: $50 for couples, $30 for individuals. To benefit HIV/AIDS patients in our community. Tickets: (843) 378-3441

Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Service: Noon to 1 p.m. Jan. 18 at Mount Calvary AME Church, 1106 S. Sixth St. Guest speaker: Honorable Bakari Sellers. Light lunch provided by Chi Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Info: Clayton Richardson (843) 332-3420, Barbara Carraway (843) 383-8852 or Eunice Jackson (843) 339-2560

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Twelfth Annual Celebration: 6 p.m. Jan. 18 at Center Theater. Keynote Speaker: Bishop Kenneth Swaringer, pastor of Greater Gethsemane Apostolic Church. Performance by the EOC Community Children’s Choir, the Jerusalem Baptist Church’s Concert Choir and Mime and Drama Ministries. Free. Donations accepted. Proceeds benefit the Elohim Outreach Center, 219 S. Sixth St., Hartsville. Info: (843) 332-5626 or (843) 332-1098

National Council of Negro Women Darlington County Chapter Meeting: 5:30 p.m. Jan. 19 at Butler Heritage Foundation Conference Room, 1103 South Sixth St. Theme: United we serve. All women are welcome to attend and join. Info: Pat Barker (843) 383-8931, Joyce Franklin (843) 260-3387, Dr. Gwen Dixon-Coe (843) 393-0169 or Barbara Carraway (843) 383-8852

FastTrac New Venture Class: 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 19 to March 23. The 10-week program costs $150 and is offered by the Small Business Development Center, Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce and the Continuing Education Division at Florence-Darlington Technical College. Programs are designed to help entrepreneurs hone the skills needed to create and develop a successful business plan. To register for this course, contact Emily Brown at (843) 805-3042 or e-mail ebrown@charlestonchamber.org.

88th Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet: 6 p.m. Jan. 21 at Hartsville Country Club.

JAN. 22-31

Stars of Darlington Annual Banquet: Jan. 28. Cost: $35 per person or reserve a table for 8 for $245. Info: Greater Darlington Chamber of Commerce (843) 393-2641

Miss Mayo: Jan. 30 at Center Theater.

FEBRUARY

Women's League of Hartsville Auction: Feb. 6

Last Day to Submit Christmas in April Applications: Feb. 16 at Heritage Community Bank in Hartsville. The Christmas in April 2010 workday is scheduled for April 17.

SUPPORT GROUPS

Alzheimer’s Caregiver’s Support Group: 10 a.m. first Tuesday of the month at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church. Info: Margaret Coker (843) 332-7478.

Alcoholics Anonymous: Daily at 310 McFarland St., Hartsville. Meeting schedule posted on door.

Depression Support Group: 6 p.m. third Monday of the month at St. Luke United Methodist Church, 302 Dunlap Dr., Hartsville. Info: Danny at (843) 616-2723 or Kathy at (843) 307-8220.

Divorce Care: This is a weekly seminar and support group for people who are separated or divorced. Info: (843) 332-7771.

CLASSES

Cardio Fun Exercise Class: 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday at Coach T.B. Thomas Sports Center at Byerly Park. Cost: $20 for city residents and $26 for others.

Cardio Step Class: 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Coach T.B. Thomas Sports Center at Byerly Park. This is an intermediate level class but beginners are welcome. Bring a large towel and water. Cost: $20 for city residents and $26 for others.

Exercise Classes: 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday and 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Hartsville Recreation Department. Remember your resolutions with cardio, step and lunges classes. Cost: $25 for city residents and $31 for others.

Fitness Over 50: Classes meet 9 to 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at the Coach T.B. Thomas Sports Center. This workout program for those over 50 is available through the Hartsville Recreation Department. New members are always welcome.

Japanese Martial Arts with Gary Carpenter: Mondays and Wednesdays at the Coach T.B. Thomas Sports Center, Hartsville Recreation Department. Ages 5 and older. Cost: $50 per month. Info: (843) 383-3020 for time.

Living Well South Carolina: This new program is designed to help individuals that suffer from a chronic disease such as COPD, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and other health problems. These conditions are associated with pain, fatigue, depression and many other issues that change the way you live. Classes are being held in Darlington, Hartsville, Society Hill and Lamar to help you live better with your condition. Call Ashley at (843) 393-8521 to sign up or for more information. All classes are free.

A Matter of Balance Fall Prevention Classes: Free classes are held in Darlington, Hartsville, Society Hill and Lamar. Fear of falling can be just as dangerous as falling itself. Classes can help you improve the quality of life and remain independent and include easy exercises and information that will help you to enjoy your life. Info: Ashley at (843) 393-8521.

Pet CPR Classes: Available through the Hartsville Recreation Department. Cost: $35 for a three-hour class. Times vary. Info: (843) 383-3020 or (843) 917-4549.

Scrapbooking 101: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesdays at Hartsville Recreation Department. Cost: $40 for city residents and $46 for non-city residents. Info: (843) 383-3020.

ONGOING & RECURRING

Board of Directors of Darlington County Disabilities and Special Needs Board Meetings: 5:30 p.m. last Tuesday of the month at the Scott Center, 201 N. Damascus Church Road, Hartsville. The public is invited to attend.

Community Chaplains of America Program: This certified program will teach you to serve as a chaplain to many people who do not have a pastor or church that they regularly attend. As a spiritual caregiver, your training will equip you with the 10 essential disciplines every community chaplain must have to serve God and see lives changed. Info: (843) 332-7771.

DAV Chapter 47: 5:30 p.m. third Monday of the month at the library. All veterans and spouses are invited to attend. Info: J.W. O’Neal (843) 383-8670.

The Golden Hands Needlework Group: 5:30 p.m. first and third Monday of the month at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Hartsville. The group knits and crochets hats, sweaters, blankets and other items to donate to charities.

Guide Right Initiative: The Hartsville Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. extends an invitation to high school males to join the Kappa League Program. The purpose is to help African-American males choose and pursue useful careers by exposing them to cultural enrichment and character development. The young men will participate in seminars and activities to develop leadership skills, refine self-image, build self-esteem and improve social skills. Info: Coach Corey Lewis at HHS at (843) 332-4337.

Hartsville American Legion Post 53 and Auxiliary: Third Tuesday night of each month at the post on North Fifth Street at Society Avenue just across Prestwood Lake. A meal is served at 6:30 p.m. with the monthly meeting following. All members, eligible veterans, active reserve and National Guard personnel and spouses are invited to attend and join the largest veterans organization in the U.S. Info: Jim Ousley, Post Commander, (843) 332-9340.

Hartsville Toastmasters: Second and fourth Monday at 7 p.m. at the Black Creek Arts Council, 116 W. College Ave. Free. Toastmasters International is a nonprofit club specializing in the improvement of leadership and speaking skills in a controlled, constructive setting. Guests are welcome. Info: Dr. Andrew Jackson (843) 332-6151.

Keep Darlington County Beautiful: The organization offers citizens, businesses and industries opportunities to contribute to their communities; promotes community pride; and publicly recognizes the efforts of citizens, churches, schools, businesses and industries that participate in activities. Individuals and organizations that would like to participate in Keep Darlington County Beautiful programs such as Adopt-A-Highway, recycling programs or serve on the committee can call (843) 398-4810.

Kiwanis Club of Hartsville: 12:30 p.m. Thursdays at Hartsville Country Club. Anyone wishing to attend can contact any Kiwanis member or Membership Chairman Charlie Deitz at (843) 332-2984.

Lamar Scrabble Club: 11 a.m. second Saturday of the month at Lamar Library, 103 E. Main St. Info: (843) 326-5524

Lamar Town Council Meeting: 5:15 p.m. second Monday of each month at Court Room, 117 W. Main St., Lamar. Info: (843) 326-5551

The Major James Lide Coker Camp #146 Sons of the Confederate Veterans Monthly Meeting: 7 p.m. second Tuesday of the month at Hartsville Memorial Library meeting room.

Mayo High Class of 1969 Meeting: 6 p.m. third Sunday of the month at Post 210 in Darlington. Info: (843) 393-1486.

Morning Running Club: 7 a.m. every Saturday at Hartsville YMCA.

SGTM Lyles Scholarship Fund: A scholarship fund has been established in memory of SGTM Clinton “Blue” Lyles Jr. by the S.C. Army National Guard Scholarship Association. Lyles dedicated 40 years of his life to the service of the S.C. Army National Guard. He served as administrator at the Hartsville Guard Unit, Company C of the 3rd Battalion, 178th Field Artillery. Donations to the fund are tax deductible. Make checks payable to the NGASC Scholarship. Send donations to: 1 National Guard Road, Stop 36, Columbia, SC 29201.

Southern Animal Welfare League: The group is dedicated to helping abused and neglected animals in our area. Some of the organization’s programs include building doghouses for dogs without shelter, educating children about pet care, supporting local spay and neuter programs, promoting change and enforcement of animal welfare laws and much more. Info: (843) 206-1129 or visit www.southernanimalwelfareleague.org.

Umpires: The Hartsville Area Recreation Department is looking for umpires. If you are an experienced umpire or would be interested in umpiring contact the Hartsville Area Recreation Department for additional information. Info: Lee Andrews (843) 383-3020.

Yesterdays Indoor Flea Market: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays at 1140 N. Fifth Street (Old Gloveslingers Building beside IGA Foodliner).