To submit events, the absolute deadline is Friday before publication. However, it is best to send items at least 2 weeks before your event date by email to lexingtonchronicle@gmail.com. You may also fax your event to 803-359-2936. Please also send events that have been cancelled or rescheduled due to covid-19.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

BLOOD DRIVES: Give blood, save a life and receive a $5 Amazon.com gift card and be tested for Covid-19 antibodies. Lexington: 2/15/2021: 10 am -3 pm, Northside Baptist Church, 4347 Sunset Blvd. West Columbia: 2/11/2021: 10 am -2 pm, West Columbia Community Center, 754 B Ave. 2/15/2021: 9 am -3 pm, Lexington Medical Center Irmo, 7035 St. Andrews Rd.

BURNING DEBRIS: Burn permit required for burning debris in unincorporated areas of Lexington County. Call the SC Forestry Commission at 1-800-705-8613.

LEXINGTON CO. COLLECTION/RECYCLING STATION HOURS: Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 7 am until 7 pm; Sundays 3 pm until 7 pm; Tuesday and Thursday closed. Closed New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Inclement weather or other emergency situations may result in temporary closings of some or all collection and recycling centers on a per incident basis. Every effort will be made to notify the public if such closings are required.

E-lEARNING & TOURS

AMERICA’S BATTLEFIELDS: Get lots of information and see great videos at American Battlefield Trusts website: www.battlefields.org/

CARLSBAD CAVERNS: You can visit places most tourists never get to see when you visit www.360parks.com/carlsbad_caverns_virtual_tour.shtml .

E-LEARNING AT THE MUSEUM: The SC State Museum offers opportunities for learning online with virtual programs for the whole family. To learn more, visit www.scstatemuseum.org

GARDEN TOURS: Take a tour of the world’s most beautiful gardens right from your own computer. Visit www.bing.com/search?q=garden%20virtual%20 form

GRANd CANYON: Hike the trails virtually when you visit www.nps.gov/grca/learn/photosmultimedia/virtualtour.htm

HISTORIC COLUMBIA ONLINE TOURS: Tour Columbia and Richland County neighborhoods and districts from the comfort of home. Visit https://www.historiccolumbia.org/tours/online-tours .

LEXINGTON COUNTY STORY MAPS: Story maps tell a narrative story related to features, places and landmarks including historic tours, a tour of the Lexington County Museum, and Lexington County Heritage. See all available tours any time at https://maps-lexco-gis.hub.arcgis.com/ .

LONDON TOURS: See some of the most famous places in the world when you tour London at www.standard.co.uk/go/london/attractions/london-virtualtours-attractions-landmarkscoronavirus-lockdowna4401481.html

USC TOURS: Virtual tours at www.sc.edu/visit/virtual_tour/index.php

WASHINGTON DC: Explore the nation’s capital while you self-isolate. Online tours are found here: www.scholasticatravel.com/2014/02/24/washington-dc-virtual-tour/

EVENTS

COTTONTOWN ART CRAWL: March 13, 10 am-3 pm, Cottontown Neighborhood, Columbia (Sumter and Scott streets). 82 artists will sell their work at 40 locations in the neighborhood. Masks and social distancing required. Info: jseel1@sc.rr.com

The Excavation of Castle Pinckney: March 16, virtual lecture on the small fortification constructed by the US government by 1810 in the harbor of Charleston which served as a prisoner-of-war camp and artillery position. Learn the latest on what has been discovered through excavation. $5 per program for non members of SC Archives & History. Register at https://scarchivesandhistoryfoundation.org/2021/01/25/virtual-spring-speaker-series-2021/

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES: Contact-free order and delivery available for cookies through March 7. If you don’t know a Girl Scout, visit www.bit.ly/3a7l6qi or gssc-mm.org . Girl Scouts of South Carolina-Mountains to Midlands is offering a shipping subsidy that amounts to 50% off to customers who purchase 6 or more boxes.

Meeting Street Artisan Market: Now open every Saturday 9 am-1 pm, 425 Meeting St., West Columbia. Artisans under the pavilion selling original art, crafts, foods and produce. Social distancing guidelines in effect. Handwashing station and hand sanitizer available.

COVID VACCINES: SC residents 65 or older can schedule an appointment for the Covid-19 vaccine by calling the DHEC Care Line at 1-855-472-3432.

POLAR PLUNGE: Feb. 13, 10 am-noon, Topspin Pool, 5346 Sunset Blvd., Lexington. Sponsored by Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics SC. For info, contact Mike Still, mstill@ so.sc.org

Preserving Family Treasures: Virtual lecture Feb. 16 on proper steps to handle, stabilize and preserve family papers and photographs. $5 per program for non members of SC Archives & History. Register at https://scarchivesandhistoryfoundation.org/2021/01/25/virtual-spring-speaker-series-2021/

WILD ABOUT RECYCLING: Feb. 27, 9 am-1 pm, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, for Lexington and Richland counties residents. Accepting electronics, paper, scrap metals, tires and used cooking oils. No businesses. Arrive early and remain in vehicles. Enter from Greystone Boulevard and proceed down Rivermont Drive. Details on Riverbanks’ website or by calling 803-576-2467.

MEETINGS

ADHD Support Group of Lexington: Meets 2nd & 4th Mondays, 6:30 pm by Zoom. Open to anyone with AD-HD or who want to support and assist ADHD individuals. For login information email attention deficithelp@gmail.com

COMMUNICATIONS & LEADERSHIP:The Lexington County Toastmasters communications and leadership club meets online at 7:15 am each Thursday. For details, email Mary Thompson at maryemyers95@gmail.com

FAMILY/CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP: for those who have loved ones diagnosed with Alzheimers/Dementia. First Thursday of each month 6–7 pm. Sponsored by Oakleaf Village of Lexington. Currently using a “Virtual” format. Call 803-808-3477 for connection information.

Lexington County Council: Feb. 23, 4:30 pm, Council Chambers at County Admin Bldg

LEXINGTON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY: Executive Committee meets Feb. 15, 6:30 pm, via Zoom. Contact Joe Madge at jmlcdpchair@ gmail.com or 803-315-7245 for details.

TOWN OF PELION: Feb 11, 6 pm, Pelion Town Hall

TOWN OF SALLEY: TBA (originally scheduled for Feb 16)

TOWN OF SWANSEA: Tues, Feb 16, 6 pm, Tele-confrence only

museums & ZOO

12,000 YEAR HISTORY PARK: 1120 Fort Congaree Trail, Cayce. Accessible 24/7. Police monitored from Sunrise-8 pm. Virtual history tours available. Get schedule at www.cayce12000years.com or call John Jameson at 850-322-5636.

LEXINGTON COUNTY MuSEUM: Now open with precautions. Tours by appointment only with face masks and social distancing. Call 803-359-8369 for tours 10 am to 4 pm Tuesday through Saturday and 1 pm to 4 pm on Sundays at 231 Fox Street, Lexington.

RIVERBANKS ZOO & GARDENS: Timed tickets required. Face masks also required. Visit www.Riverbanks.org for information, times and tickets.

SC STATE MUSEUM: 301 Gervais St, Columbia. Jan. 18 -Feb. 28, the museum will be closed Monday and Tues., open Wed–Sat: 10 am to 5 pm, Sun: 12–5 pm. Ages 3 and up must wear masks and adhere to social distancing. Adult $8.95, Senior (Ages 62 +) $7.95, Children (ages 3-12) $6.95. Buy advance tickets online at www.scmuseum.org

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

1543: Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and English King Henry VIII sign anti-French covenant

1766: Stamp Act declared unconstitutional in Virginia

1768: Samuel Adams letter, circulates around American colonies, opposing Townshend Act taxes

1790: Society of Friends petitions Congress for abolition of slavery

1794: 1st session of US Senate open to the public

1808: Anthracite coal 1st burned as fuel, experimentally, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

1809: Robert Fulton patents steamboat

1811: President Madison prohibits trade with Britain for 3rd time in 4 years

1812: Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry signs a redistricting bill -first “gerrymander”

1852: First British public female toilet opens (Bedford Street, London)

1854: For the 1st time coal gas is used to light major streets in San Francisco

1858: First vision of the Virgin Mary to 14-year-old Bernadette of Lourdes, France

1861: US House unanimously passes resolution guaranteeing noninterference with slavery in any state

1895: Georgetown became part of Washington, D.C.

1899: -61°F, Montana (record low temperature)

1902: Police beat up universal suffrage demonstrators in Brussels

1916: Emma Goldman arrested for lecturing on birth control

1916: Germany and Austria-Hungary notify the US that they will sink any armed merchant ships starting on 1 March

1918: US President Woodrow Wilson makes another speech before Congress and announces ‘the Four Principles’ - freedom of navigation, and end to secret diplomacy, and similar items - that supplement his Fourteen Points

1922: “April Showers” by Al Jolson hits #1

1935: 1st US airplane flight with auto slung beneath fuselage, NY

1941: Lt-Gen Erwin Rommel arrives in Tripoli

1943: US General Eisenhower selected to command the allied armies in Europe; British General Montgomery not best pleased

1943: Transport #47 departs with French Jews to nazi-Germany

1945: Declaration of Liberated Europe signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin after the Yalta Conference