Community events

Olanta to mark holiday with tree lighting

The Annual Christmas Tree Lighting for the town of Olanta will be Saturday, Dec. 13 at 5:30 p.m. behind the Olanta Fire Department on Jones Street. Special Christmas music will be performed by local church choirs as well as other singers and groups. There will be Christmas carols around the tree for all to sing and Santa Claus will be in attendance and pictures with Santa Claus will be allowed. Light refreshments will be served. Dress warm and bring a friend and a chair, and join us for this special event. Pictures with Santa will be $3 and pit-cooked barbecue sandwiches will be on sale at the event.

For information, call Kaye McElveen at (843) 659-4853.

DSN will hold monthly meeting Thursday

The monthly meetings of the Florence County Disabilities and Special Needs Board (governmental entity), the Florence County Disabilities and Special Needs Board (nonprofit entity) and The Trellis Apartments Inc. will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Florence Training Room, 1209 National Cemetery Road in Florence.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons with disabilities and special needs may request special accommodations by contacting the board’s office in advance at (843) 667-5007, ext. 303.

Commissioners will hold quarterly meeting

The Commissioners of South Lynches Fire District will hold their quarterly meeting Thursday in the Conference Room of the Lower Florence County Public Service Building at 7:30 p.m. The public may attend.

American Red Cross will hold blood drive

Together we can make a difference in our community and help to save lives All walk-ins are welcome at these blood drives, and you can find out about upcoming blood drives in your area by calling 1 (800) GIVE LIFE or by visiting http://www.givelife.org and typing in your zip code. For the Lake City area: Lake City High School, 652 N. Matthews Road, Lake City Dec. 2 from 8:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. and Wal-Mart, 230 Kelley St., Lake City, Dec. 20 from noon to 6 p.m.

‘Supper With Santa’ will be held Dec. 11

Doodle Bug Academy will have “Supper With Santa” on Thursday, Dec. 11 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Cost is $6 per person for dinner; children ages 6 and older, $3, and pictures with Santa $4.

Coker will hold Baseball Camp

The annual Coker College Christmas Baseball Camp will be Dec. 19 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Coker Timberlake Gymnasium and Dec. 20 and 21 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Coker College Baseball Complex for ages 6-17 and cost is $60 for the three-day session conducted by Head Baseball Coach Dave Schmotzer. Participants will need to provide their own bat and glove. The camp will furnish all other equipment. Each camp participant will receive a camp T-shirt.

For information, call (843) 383-8105 or register Dec. 19 in the gym. Parents are invited to attend and experience the instruction with their son(s) at no extra cost.

Lake City will hold Christmas parade

The annual Lake City Christmas Parade will be Friday at 6 p.m. There is no entry fee. Call the Chamber at (843) 374-8611 for a registration form. Everyone is invited to join in the fun and celebrate the season!

Barrineau community to hold holiday parade
Barrineau community Christmas parade will be Saturday, Dec. 6 at 11 a.m. All proceeds will be given to charity.

Lake City chamber will hold banquet

The Greater Lake City Chamber of Commerce would like to invite you to the Annual Lake City on Parade Banquet and Celebration on Thursday from 7 to 10 p.m. at the National Bean Market Museum. Cost: $20 per person. This event is the time when the Chamber and the City recognize the Lake City Business of the Year, the Contributor of the Year, Citizen of the Year and the Humanitarian of the Year. This is a great opportunity to network. Each business will have their own table and you can decorate it to show off your business and your employees. For information call 374-8611.

Christmas pageant will be held in Johnsonville

The Miss and Master Merry Christmas Pageant will be Saturday at Johnsonville Middle School sponsored by Johnsonville Christmas Parade Committee. For an application or details, call Camelia Stevens at (843) 386-2611, e-mail: or Abby Stevens at .

Fire department looking for volunteers

The Lake City Fire Department is looking for energetic people to become volunteers, to join forces with our full-time firefighters.

If you would like to make a positive contribution to your community and have the will to save lives, then you’re just who we’re looking for. We will provide you with the training and professional support, so that you will develop into a proficient and skilled firefighter. Females are encouraged to apply and background and physical checks will be conducted.

To obtain more information about how rewarding your experience as a volunteer can be, call Lt. Thomas Black or Chief Tony Singletary at (843) 394-2470.

We look forward to welcoming courageous men and women to our family of firefighters.

Library will offer computer classes

The Lake City Library will offer computer classes for Senior Citizens on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. The four-week class will teach Microsoft Word Basics and Internet Basics.

After completing the four-week classes, seniors should have the knowledge to research illnesses, medications, shop online and keep in touch with family and friends using e-mails. For details, call (843) 394-8071.

Lake City class of 1988 will hold holiday event

The Lake City High School class of 1988 will hold a “Class of 1988 Holiday Soiree” in honor of its 20-year reunion on Dec. 27 at The Market Place Church Street Lake City from 7 p.m. to midnight.
All classmates are asked to contact James Singletary at or (917) 992-5830 or Robin Coletrain at or (803) 556-9697.

Grant seminars offer training

More than $450 billion in grants will be awarded in 2008 from more than 70,000 sources nationally for schools, districts, nonprofits, faith-based, criminal justice, health care and government agencies.

Join us at one of our upcoming seminars: Certified Grants Specialist on Dec. 1-3 and Setting Up a Successful Grants Office on Dec. 4 t the Columbia Conference Center in Columbia and are certified for continuing education units (CEUS) by The University of South Carolina.

For information or to register for trainings, contact us at 1 (866) 697-9924; http://www.grantexperts.com or 169 Laurelhurst Ave., Columbia, SC 29210.

Group seeks parade participants for April

The Week of The Young Child Parade will be in April. We are looking for any group, organization, day cares, and pastors to be in the parade. No registration fee. Call to reserve your spot in Our Week of the Young Child Parade. Contact person is Markeda Stuckey at (843) 394-5466.