AROUND LEXINGTON COUNTY

Summers seem to get shorter since school bells ring in August. In preparation for school, SC is offering a tax-free shopping weekend Aug. 2-4. Shoppers won’t be charged sales tax on a variety of eligible items. Online purchases are tax free, but smart phone ones are not.

Parents and students will all be out filling their carts with supplies and taking advantage of the savings. Tax-exempt items include clothing and accessories, footwear, school supplies, electronics, computers, and bed and bath items.

Not all families are financially able to purchase schoool supplies for their children. This is where you can help. Mission Lexington’s school supply drive is in full swing. This allows a child to choose a back pack and fill it with each item on their list. Mission Lexington makes sure students have what they need to succeed.

Donations may be dropped off at the building’s back door, 216 Harmon St., Lexington, Monday through Friday, 9 am-5 pm and Saturdays 10 am-5 pm. If your office would like to collect supplies and you need a barrell, request one from online at missionlexingtonsc.org/hostadrive .

Most needed items are backpacks, full-size, gender neutral binders, tab dividers, notebooks, loose leaf paper and sharpened #2 pencils. Monetary donations are always accepted and appreciated.

Finals of the Distinguished Young Women of South Carolina 2020 competition were held Saturday at Lexington High. A former SC Junior Miss and Miss South Carolina, Heather Hudson Sistare, emceed the event. Her mother, Vickie Hudson, has contributed much to the success of this program locally and statewide.

Carsyn Leigh Barbary, the current Distinguished Young Woman of SC relinquished her title to Faith Davis of Aynor High School. Emma Grace Johnson of Lexington was first runner up, Lillie Hyman of Lexington was 2nd runner up and also won the interview portion. Two Lexington residents placed respectfully in their competitions, Mary Ashton Jenkins in self expression and Jayne Carson in talent. Congratulations to all.

Thank you to Dorothy Dickert of Lexington, who came by last week and brought her beautiful cross-stitched “Footsteps in the Sun.” Dorothy is 90 and drives over to Dorn Veteran’s Hospital four days a week to volunteer. She gets up at 4:30 am to start her day at 6 am, organizing and then calling over 300 patients a day for appointment reminders.

Dorothy asissts with hospital activities and adds much energy and assistance wherever needed.

How would you like to be served tea on a Sunday afternoon? You may enjoy this on Aug. 11 at 2 pm when Lexington’s Main Library will hold a Southern High Tea. Tea, served in china cups, will be accompanied with assorted sweets and sandwiches. You will be entertained by a speaker talking about tea and related topics. Ladies’ hats are encouraged for this special event. Call 785-2600 for information.

For the past two Saturdays, two local churches have held indoor yard sales. St. Alban’s Episcopal Church held its sale July 20 to benefit missions in Equador. Saxe Gotha Presbyterian held one July 27 to reduce the church mortgage. Reports are that both fund-raisers were most successful.

Happy birtthday to our Congressman Joe Wilson, to Smokey Davis, Edwin Gerace, Ella Scoggins, Fran Felkel, Marie Parkinson, Anne Catherine Derrick, Paula Jacobs, Robert Roemer, Janet Lehman, Beth Mathias, Kay Waites, Cooper Morris, Gale Harman, Carol Ann Sox, Brian Taylor, Emily Baughman, Chris Gaskins, Hazel Henderson, Christi Kellar, Elizabeth Riley, Merritt Jones, Mike McCaskill, Mickey Maxwell, John Turner, Luke Lorick, Wade Billings, John Lester, Katie Sayles, Tami Smith, Marge Spears, Pamela Brown, Mark Hendrix, Michael Jeffcoat, Sierra Lewis, Daniel Robinson, Bubba Easler, Brogdon Gamble, Kristin Hook, Chloe Morris, Julian Sharpe, Marjorie Shealy and Tyler Shealy.