ART

The Columbia Museum of Art will present Perfect Likeness: European and American Portrait Miniatures from the Cincinnati Art Museum, August 18-October 22. Related programs and events will also take place during this time. 799 2810.

The SC State Fair will be accepting entry registrations from Aug. 1-31 with no entry fee for the 2006 Fine Art Exhibition to be held during the Fair, Oct. 11-22. The late registration period will be Aug. 31-Sept. 7, with a $25 late fee. Each exhibitor is limited to two pieces of artwork. 799-3387 ext. 10.

AUDITIONS

The Trustus Theatre will hold auditions for its production of Jonathan (Rent) Larson's musical tick..tick..BOOM! at City Art, 1224 Lincoln St. Sun., Aug. 27 at 7 pm. Roles are available for two men and one woman, ages 25-40. All ethnicities are welcome. Prepare a short Pop/Rock, Contemporary or Broadway-style song. An accompanist will be provided. Bring your own sheet music, tape, or CD. Run dates are March 23-April 14, 2007. 254-9732.

The SC Poetry Initiative at USC will accept entries for the state's second annual chapbook contest. Chapbook entries must be postmarked no later than Sept. 17, and winners will be announced at a ceremony on Oct. 7 at the Columbia Museum of Art. Submissions must be accompanied by a $15 non-refundable entry fee. Contact Charlene Spearen, 777-2230.

The Trustus Theatre, 520 Lady St., will hold auditions for Nunsense A-Men!, Sun., Aug. 6 at 7 pm. Roles are available for men 18 and up. Nunsense will run April 27 - May 26. 254-9732.

BOOKS

Richland County Public Library, 1431 Assembly St., will display Images of the Congaree National Park from Aug. 1 - Sept. 12 in the Wachovia Gallery, which is open from 9 am-9 pm, Monday-Thursday; 9 am-6 pm, Friday and Saturday; and 2 pm-6 pm on Sunday.

CHURCH/charity

Shady Grove United Methodist Church will hold a Back-to-School Bash on

Sat., Aug. 12, from 6-8:30 pm. The event will include a hotdog supper, bake sale, Build-your-own-Sundae, clowns, games, tattoos, etc. The community is invited. 781-4832.

First Baptist Church, 1306 Hampton St. will offer a free six-week seminar for couples considering marriage, Sundays beginning September 10 at 9:15 am. 343-8585 or www.FirstBaptistColumbia.com.

DANCE

Pavlovich Dance School is registering now for classes. Lessons are taught in classical ballet, point, jazz and tap for beginners through adult. Call between 3:30 pm and 7 pm. 782-8847.

The Greater Columbia Chapter of the U.S. Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association (USADance) will hold dances on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, from 7:30-10:30 pm at the Hugh Dimmery Memorial Center, 680 Cherokee Lane, West Columbia. This month's dates are Sat., Aug. 12, and Sat., Aug. 26. Admission is $5 for USADance members and $8 for non-members. 781-5248 or www.USADance.us.

HEALTH

The First Ladies' Walk for Life, Steps Against Breast Cancer will be Sat., October 7, 2006 at Finlay Park. Individual, team and school team registration is underway. Team registration deadline is Fri., August 18, and the deadline for school teams is Sept. 15. 434-7275.

MEETINGS

The Business Association of Columbia, sales leads club, meetsevery Wednesday at the Summit Club for breakfast to share sales leads.

Contact Ken Connor, 256-2354.

The Kiwanis Club of Richland meets the 1st & 3rd Mondays of each month at the Lizards Thicket on Beltline. Call Ken Connor, 256-2354.

MUSIC/Entertainment

The Columbia Philatelic Society will hold the second of its semiannual annual stamp and picture postcard shows Aug. 12-13, in the Spring Valley High School cafeteria, 120 Sparkleberry Lane. Show hours are Sat., 10-5 pm and Sun., 10-4 pm. Contact Bill Mitchell, 254-3727 or billmitchell@sc.rr.com.

Columbia Harmonizers male chorus/ensemble meets Thursdays, 7:30 pm at Shandon United Methodist Church, 3407 Devine St. Call Joe Solito, 783-8475.

The All-Local Farmers' Market will be Sat., Aug. 12 from 8 am-noon at 620 Gervais St. in The Vista. Contact Amanda McClain, 901-581-0870.

Dr. Paul Farmer, physician and medical anthropologist, will give a free, public talk Mon., Aug. 21, at 6 pm in the USC School of Law auditorium. Contact Jennifer Latino, 777-8869.

The Nickelodeon Theatre, 937 Main St., will present the 4th annual International Home Movie Day, Sat., Aug. 12. The event from 1-4 pm is free and open to the public.

254-8234 or www.nickelodeon.org.

Thomas Cooper Library will host William Blake, Visionary and Illustrator, at USC's Mezzanine Gallery, through September 15. 777-8154.

Hair Cuttery's 8th Annual Share A Haircut campaign, a national program calling on kids to help other kids in need, including those living in Lexington County, will be Aug. 1-15. For every child's haircut (up to age 18) purchased at any Lexington County salon during the first two weeks of August, Hair Cuttery will donate a free haircut to a local child in need. www.haircuttery.com.

ReDo Remix! will be Aug. 18-20 at the State Fairgrounds, at both the Cantey and Ellison Buildings! Show hours are Fri., 11 am-9 pm; Sat., 9 am-8 pm; and Sun., 11 am-5 pm. Admission is $7 for adults and free for children 12 and under during show weekend. Discounted tickets can be purchased through August 17 at NBSC locations in Columbia and Lexington. 256-6238 or visit www.remcouncil.com.

SCHOOLS

Crayton Middle School will host a drop-in for its students and their parents at the new school Sun., August 6 from 3-5:30 pm.

TRAINING/Education

The Lt. Governor's Office on Aging will host the annual Summer School of Gerontology, the continuing education forum for SC's senior community, Sun., Aug. 20, through Fri., Aug. 25. 622-5412 or http://www.aging.sc.gov/docs/SummerSchool2006Brochure.pdf.

How to Start Your Own Business in SC, a comprehensive, monthly seminar that will provide the tools and knowledge of how to start your own business, will offer its next session Wed., August 9 from 9 am noon, at The C.R. Neal Dream Center, 2430 Atlas Rd. 461-8900.

USC Small Business Development Center will hold an Entrepreneur (Business Startup) Information Session, Wed., Aug. 9 from 9-11:15 am and again on Wed., Aug. 23 from 12:30- 2:45 pm in the Lumpkin Auditorium, 8th Floor of Moore School of Business. The cost is$25 in advance and $30 at the door. 777-5118 or www.uscbiz.net.

The Columbia Science Caf, a monthly series occurring the second Tuesday of the month, will present speaker Dr. Tom Vogt, director of USC NanoCenter, Tues., Aug. 8 at Zas Brick Oven Pizza, 2930 Devine St. at 6pm. Contact Rachel Card, 589-9037.

The Alliance for Women And The SC Commission on Women will host two fall conferences, The Transformative Power of Women's Philanthropy, Sept. 19-20 with a registration fee of $50 and Empowering Girls: Perceptions, Realities and Choices, Sept. 29 with a registration fee of $30.

VOLUNTEERS

A replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is coming to Columbia Oct. 27-29. Greenlawn Memorial Park & Funeral Home needs volunteers. Contact Tammy Chandler, 776-1092.

Youth for Understanding is currently seeking volunteer families to host international high school exchange students for the upcoming 2006-2007 school year. Students are between 15 to 18 years old and are from one of 50 countries around the world. Contact Aimee Herring at 800-872-0200, ext. 274or herring@yfu.org. www.yfu-usa.org.

Meals on Wheels needs volunteers to pack and deliver meals Monday-Friday during the midmorning hours. Schedules are available to deliver or pack meals weekly, twice a month, as a substitute or only one time on a day you have free. Contact Gail Byrum,

252-7734.