education events

Heritage Christian Academy Open House: Dec. 6, 8:30 am; Jan. 31, 8:30 am; Feb. 28, 8:30 am. Visit Heritage Christian Academy at 649 Barr Rd, Lexington in the Heritage Chapel. Learn more about the only classical, Christian school serving Lexington. Visit classrooms, meet teachers, and learn more. RSVP to Admissions Director Mrs. Blair Robinson at 803-951-3901. Learn more about the school at http://heritagechristiansc.com/ .

Heritage Christian Academy Kindergarten Screening: Dec. 9, 8:30 am; Feb. 6, 8:30 am; Mar. 5, 8:30 am. Visit Heritage Christian Academy at 649 Barr Rd, Lexington. Rising Kindergarten students are invited to assess readiness and appropriate class placement with loving and well-qualified teachers. Heritage has 2 levels of Kindergarten. Spaces fill quickly, so please RSVP. Call 803-951-3901. Learn more about the school at http://heritagechristiansc.com/ .

EVENTS

50% off Book Sale: Nov. 15-16 from 8:30 am-5:30 pm each day at Lexington Main Library, 5440 Augusta Rd, Lexington. Friends of the Lexington Main Library are overflowing with book donations. Grow your to-read pile and get a bargain.

Books for Gifts: Nov. 19, 5-8 pm at Lourie Center, 1650 Park Cir., Columbia. 2nd Annual Books for Gifts event. 25 local authors present to sell and sign their books. Wine, other beverages, and refreshments will be served. For more info: www.facebook.com/events/407462336607203 .

Fall Open House: Nov. 23, 9 am-1 pm at Hen House Ministries at Hwy 3 and Whetstone Rd, Swansea. Come visit the hand-made crafts, bake sale, and unique yard sale. There will be a raffle for a hand-made USC quilt. Questions? Call 803-568-5499 and leave a message. All calls will be returned.

Operation Turkey: Nov. 27, 3:30-8:30 pm and Nov. 28, 10 am-1 pm. At Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church Gym, 5503 Sunset Boulevard, Lexington. For the 25th year Saxe Gotha members will prepare and deliver over 1000 Thanksgiving Day meals to people in need in our community. To volunteer for this ministry or make an online donation, please go to saxegotha.org/events . Contact Dawn Cochran at dawncochran1@gmail.com or Mary Mc-Ilwain Fuller at scmcilwains@gmail.com with any questions.

Food and fun

Jamil Food Truck Jamboree: Nov. 20, 12 pm at Jamil Shrine Center. Local food trucks come together. Live music by Heart Shaped City. A beer wagon will be present for adults with proper ID. FREE bounce house, small train rides, and face painting for children 12 and under. Admission $5, children 12 and under free.

Holiday Events

Holiday Concert: Dec. 8, 3 pm at Lexington 1 Performing Arts Center at Lexington High School. This concert by the Lexington Community Band is free and open to the public. Everyone is welcome to attend.

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA: Dec. 14, noon, 11th annual wreath-laying ceremony at Fort Jackson National Cemetery, 4107 Percival Rd., Columbia. Parking will be at the Blue Cross Blue Shield parking lot at 4101 Percival Rd., across from the cemetery and you will be shuttled into the cemetery. Shuttles start at 10:30 am for general public and 9 am for volunteers. No parking in the cemetery on Saturday, but limited handicapped parking on a first come first serve basis with proper identification. To volunteer contact Carol Davis, waaftjackson@gmail.com or call 803-467-4482. To raise funds visit www.weathsacrossamerica.org/ .

lessons/training

GAL Training: Free 30-hour volunteer Guardian ad Litem training teaches about the family court system, how to recognize abuse and neglect and how to communicate with children, foster parents and every party involved in the case. For more info and how to become a GAL volunteer, visit http://gal.sc.gov or call 803-957-6484

meeting

ACTIVE AND RETIRED FEDERAL WORKERS: National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) is the only organization dedicated to protecting and preserving the pay and benefits of all active and retired federal workers. Meets the 2nd Friday of each month, 11:30 AM, at Seawell’s Restaurant, 1125 Rosewood Dr., Columbia. For more information, call 803-796-3106 or visit www.narfe.org/ .

Communications & Leadership: Lexington County Toastmasters offers a way to learn and grow. 7:15 am on the 1st-3rd Thursday except holidays, 2nd floor conference room, Lexington Medical Center, 811 West Main Street, Lexington. For details, contact Jerry Bellune at jerrybellune@yahoo.com or 803-331-6695. Richland 2500 Toastmasters International meets 1st & 3rd Thursday each month except holidays, 6:45-8:45 pm at Irmo Medical Park building - 7033 St. Andrews Road, Columbia, SC 29212 in room 302. Contact: Donald Dills, 803-917-7726, Kalenna Ginyard, 803-873-5433.

Friends for LaVie: Nov. 24 at 4 pm at Midlands Christian Church, 1312 W. Main St., Lexington. This community pro-life group supports LaVie Pregnancy Care Center through talents, abilities, or donations of items. The group is open to everyone and donations are welcome. For more info email friendsforlavie@gmail.com .

Home League: Every Thursday at noon, women age 16 and up are welcome to meet at the Salvation Army at 7532 Irmo Dr., Irmo. Enjoy fellowship, education, worship and service as part of the Salvation Army Church of Irmo women’s fellowship club. For more info call or text Captain Amy Rockwell at 803-466-1071.

Parkinson’s Support Group: 2nd Friday of each month at 2 pm at Deepwood Estates, at 203 Old Chapin Road, Lexington, SC 29072 inside Deepwood Estates Retirement Community in the activities room. Open to all those impacted by Parkinson’s. Patients, loved ones, and caregivers are welcome to learn and share.

Pulmonary Fibrosis Support Group: Meets every month 3rd Tuesday at 2 pm at Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church, Lexington. For more information, call Carolyn Brooks 803-960-9949.

SMART Recovery: Tuesday nights at 7 pm, at LRADAC Richland County’s campus at 2711 Colonial Dr, Columbia, in Room 604. The meeting offers Self-Management And Recovery Training for all ages. For more info on this or other programs by the Courage Center visit www.couragecentersc.org .

Youth Recovery Support: Monday nights at 7 pm, youth ages 15-18 are invited to meet at the Courage Center, 860 Park Rd, Lexington. For unique recovery support and mentoring personalized to the individual. For more info on this or other programs by the Courage Center visit www.couragecentersc.org .

Music/theater

GOSPEL SINGING: Dec. 7, 6 pm, The Midland Gospel Singing Center, 705 Martin Smith Rd.,Gilbert. Guests will be Glory-land and the Chordsmen Quartet. Free admission. A love offering will be accepted and refreshments will be served.

HAIL BRITANNIA: A concert by the Lake Murray Symphony Orchestra. Nov. 24, 3:30 pm, Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College, 7300 College St., Irmo. A rousing tribute to British composers, Vaughn-Williams, Sullivan and more. Free admissions; donations accepted at the door. Info: LMSO.org or call 803-400-3540.

Jazz Piano: Nov. 23, 7:30-9:30 pm at Johnson Hall, USC Darla School of Business, 1014 Greene St, Columbia. See Kenny Barron and the SC Jazz Masterworks Ensemble. For info and tickets visit www.scjazz.org or call 803-238-7944.

Motown Experience: Nov. 15, 7:30 pm at Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College. See Thelma Houston in this salute to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. The show is a non-stop medley of classic Motown songs. Thelma was the 1st solo female artist at Motown to win the GRAMMY award for Best R&B Female Vocal Performance. Tickets available online at www.HarbisonTheatre.org or by calling the box office at 803-407-5011.

Santa Claus the Musical: Dec. 21, 3:30 pm at Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College. Columbia Children’s Theatre presents this show about when Santa Claus is ready to retire. Who will take his place? Santa and his elves will meet you after the show! Tickets available online at www.HarbisonTheatre.org or by calling the box office at 803-407-5011.

SC Philharmonic: Dec. 15, 3:30 pm at Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College. Do you hear what we hear? Morihiko Nakahara and the S.C. Philharmonic musicians return for another year with 2 performances of this wildly popular show. Tickets available online at www.HarbisonTheatre.org or by calling the box office at 803-407-5011.

WINTER’S HOPE: A Christmas concert by The Dutch Fork Choral Society, Dec. 12, 7:30 pm, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 170 St. Andrews Rd., Irmo. Includes Vivaldi’s  Magnificat and “Winter”  from his Four Seasons, and the well-loved Seven Joys of Christmas by Kirke Mechem.  Free to the public. Donations accepted. Info: Call Jim Buck, (803) 318-0488 or (803) 414-2222 or visit www.dutchforkchoralsociety.com .