It's happening right here in your community

-ART The Palmetto Center for the Arts Dance

Program presents Witness: An Evening

with Vincent Thomas, an original modern dance performance on January 23, 8 pm, and Saturday January 24, 2 pm, in the Richland School District Two Auditorium. Tickets will be $5 for adults and $3 for students, the military, and senior citizens with proper ID and will be available in the box office before the performance. 699-2800, ext. 2832.

Patrick Parise, world reknowned printmaker and artist, will present a program on January 12, 7 pm, at the Richland County Recreation Commission's Forest Lakes Park recreation center. 865-1431.

Palmetto Painters, a SC Chapter of the Society of Decorative Painters, will hold its monthly meeting January 10, 10 am, at the Cayce- West Columbia Branch of the Lexington County Library. www.palmettopainters.com

-CHARITY The Salvation Army will conclude 2008 with a clean sweep event at area K- Marts. Residents will have three opportunities to finish the year with a tax- deductible donation by dropping off gently used furniture, appliances, electronics, household items, and clothing at the Big Red Box located at all Columbia and Lexington K- Mart parking lots beginning on Monday, December 29 and ending on Wednesday, December 31. Donations will be accepted from 12 pm to 6 pm on Monday, 10 am to 6 pm on Tuesday, and 10 am to 6 pm on Wednesday. An attendant will be on site at each location to assist with unloading and to provide a tax receipt. The Salvation Army Red Kettles will be available for monetary donations. Non- perishable food donations are also welcome. For more information, contact Seth Taylor, Public Relations and Volunteer Coordinator, at 667-4943 or at seth.taylor@uss.salvationarmy.org.

-DANCE Square Dance & Line Dance classes are held each Tuesday 7 pm- 8:30 pm at the Hugh Dimmery Memorial Center. 772- 3847.

South Carolina Philharmonic presents

Dancing with the Phil January 10, 7:30 pm, at the Koger Center. Tickets available at www.capitoltickets.com.

Arts at Shandon Annual Big Band Dance will be January 16, 7:30 pm, at Shandon Presbyterian Church. 771-4408.

-ENTERTAINMENT All About Beer Magazine and Green's Discount Beverages present the 2009 World Beer Festival January 24, at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. www.allaboutbeer.com/wbfcolumbia

-Family Family Night at EdVenture will be January 13, from 5 pm- 8 pm. Admission is $1 per person. www.edventure.org

-MEETINGS Capital Senior's monthly lecture series

Wine & Unwind returns on January 21,

5:30 pm, with a timely hot topic: The

Economy.

debbie@capitalseniorcenter.com

-SPORTS Pre- Season High School Tennis Camp will be January 12- 15, 4 pm- 6 pm. Cost for the camp is $120. Camp location will be at the tennis courts at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School. 790-4276.

-TRAINING/EDUCATION Palmetto Health Baptist will offer Safe Sitters Babysitting classes December 29- 30, 9 am- 3:30 pm, at Palmetto Health Baptist Auditorium, 1501 Sumter Street. Registration available at 296-2273.

Riverbanks' Winter Camp will be December 29- 31 for kids ages 6- 10. The cost is $110 for members and $140 for general public. www.riverbanks.org

Core Four Business Planning will be held January 6, 13, 20, and 27. Pre- registration deadline is December 30. www.scwbc.org

The Shepherd's Center of Columbia will begin its winter session January 7- March 12 at Trenholm Road United Methodist Church. Fee is $25 per semester. 779- 4449.

South Carolina State Housing will host a FREE Home Buyer seminar January 17, 4 pm, at 6903 St. Andrews Rd. 467-0772.

The University of South Carolina's String Project will hold spring registration beginning January 13 for third and fourth- grade students interested in learning to play a stringed instrument. The cost, which covers materials for the 12- week semester, is $80 for students. Participants must provide instruments. 777-9568.