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. Chapin: 2/3/2021: 2 pm - 7 pm, Chapin Middle School, 11661 Broad River Rd. Gilbert: 2/2/2021: 2 pm - 6 pm, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 246 St. Paul’s Church Rd. Leesville: 2/1/2021: 2 pm - 7 pm, Fire Dept., 431 East Church St. Lexington: 2/5/2021: 9 am - 1 pm, Lexington Technology Center, 2421 Augusta Highway. 2/8/2021: 2 pm - 7 pm, Red Bank United Methodist, 2909 Old Barnwell Rd. 2/9/2021: 11:30 am - 4:30 pm, Country Club of Lexington, 1066 Barr Rd. 2/15/2021: 10 am - 3 pm, Northside Baptist Church, 4347 Sunset Blvd. Pelion: 2/5/2021: 10 am - 3 pm, Shumpert’s IGA, 861 Pine St. West Columbia: 2/8/2021: 2 pm - 7 pm, St. David Lutheran Church, 132 Saint David’s Church Rd. 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/photos-multimedia/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-virtual-tours-attractions-landmarks-coronavirus-lockdown-a4401481.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

Girl Scout Cookies: Contact-free order and delivery available for cookies Feb. 12-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 70 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://scarchivesandhistory-foundation.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.

LESSONS/SEMINARS

GAL TRAINING: Free 30-hour Guardian Ad Litem volunteer training teaches about the Family Court system, how to recognize abuse and neglect and how to communicate with children and foster parents. For more info visit http://gal.sc.gov or call 803-957-6484

MEETINGS

ADHD SUPPORT GROUP OF LEXINGTON: Meets 2nd & 4th Mondays, 6:30 pm by Zoom. Open to anyone with ADHD 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 9,4:30 pm and Feb. 23, 4:30 pm, Council Chambers at County Admin Bldg

LEXINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT 4: Feb 8, 6:30 pm, District 4 office

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

MUSIC

GOSPEL SINGING: Feb. 6, 6 pm, Midland Gospel Singing Center, 705 Martin Smith Rd., Gilbert. Guest are Forever Changed and the Bledsoes. Admission is free. Social distancing guidelines will be followed. Love offering accepted and light refreshments will be served.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

1194: Ransom is paid for Richard I, the Lionheart, King of England

1697: Three Dutch East India Company ships anchor at Dirk-Hartogeiland, Australia

1784: 1st unmanned balloon flight in Ireland

1789: 1st US electoral college chooses George Washington as President and John Adams as Vice-President

1822: Free American Blacks settle Liberia, West Africa

1824: J W Goodrich introduces rubber galoshes to public

1846: Mormons leave Nauvoo, Illinois, for settlement in the west

1847: 1st US telegraph company established in Maryland

1849: University of Wisconsin begins in 1 room with 20 students

1854: Alvan Bovay proposes name “Republican Party” in Ripon, Wisconsin

1855: Soldiers shoot Jewish families in Coro, Venezuela

1859: One of the oldest known copies of the Bible, “The Codex Sinaiticus” (Sinai Bible), is seen in Egypt by Constantin von Tischendorf who takes the manuscript home with him

1861: Confederate constitutional convention meets for 1st time; Jefferson Davis elected President of Confederacy (US Civil War)

1865: Robert E. Lee is named general-in-chief of Confederate forces

1866: Mary Baker Eddy reportedly cures her injuries by opening a bible

1887: Interstate Commerce Act authorizes federal regulation of railroads

1895: 1st rolling lift bridge opens in Chicago

1899: The Philippine–American War begins with fighting between American and Philippine revolutionary forces