It's happening right here in your community
Send your events to mimim@sc.rr.com a week before the Friday you wish them to be published.

-ANIMALS

The Animal Protection League will hold a garage sale at 1727 Laurel Street (across from the Fire Station) July 12 and 19, 7 am- 3 pm. 206-5779 or 351-3536. Donations accepted.

Carolina Wildlife Care will host its fourth annual purple martin fundraising cruise aboard the Southern Patriot tour boat on Lake Murray July 30 from 7 pm- 9:30 pm. Reserve your place at 772-3994 or www.carolinawildlife.org

-ART

Palmetto Painters will hold its July meeting July 12, 10 am at Green Hill Baptist Church, 1734 Augusta Road, West Columbia. Bring seven handmade Christmas ornaments for ornament exchange. 781-2340 or www.palmettopainters.com

Columbia Museum of Art will hold its 10th Anniversary Celebration July 27, 1 pm- 5 pm. Free admission on Saturday July 26. 799-2810

McKissick Museum will host Helen Hill:Documenting the Florestine Collection now through Aug. 23. 777-7251 or www.cas.sc.edu/MCKS

McKissick Museum will host Barbecue Joints & The Good Folks Who Own Them through July 19. 777-7251 or www.cas.sc.edu/MCKS

Columbia Museum of Art will host While I Breathe I Hope: Columbia's Homeless Share Their Stories Through Words and Images on display through August 3. www.columbiamuseum.org

-BOOKS

The Richland County Public Library is hosting a challenge for teens to find 15 hidden letterboxes in all 11 library locations through August 20. 988-0890 or www.myRCPL.com/teen

The Richland County Public Library is hosting author Nicole Seitz July 15, 12:30 pm, room 1431, the home of Film and Sound at the Main Library. www.myRCPL.com

-CHURCH/CHARITY

AT&T's Cell Phones for Soldiers program is looking for donations in a number of areas. Bring unused cell phones and/or chargers to AT&T retail stores or purchase a phone card. More information: www.usa.att.com/military/in dex.jsp or www.cellphonesforsoldiers. com/locate_southcarolina. html

St. David Episcopal Church in Northeast Columbia will sponsor A Taste of Columbia fundraiser July 29, 5 pm in Parish Hall for recent college graduate Jennie Motto, who will leave soon to volunteer for two- and- a- half years at a Honduran orphanage. 736- 0866

Congressman James E. Clyburn will give the keynote address for the Bishop's Empowerment Dinner at the 137th Annual Conference of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Carolina Region. July 27, 7 pm, Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. 799-1100 or 553-1732

Living Springs Lutheran Church will host Turning 13 to support St. Jude Josh Jacobs is Hospital, Josh Jacobs, and SC Children's Chance, sponsored by the John Cusatis Band and Carolina Dawgs. July 12, 6 pm- 9 pm. 261-7233

St. Timothy's Episcopal Church will sponsor A Little Summer Music concert series July 15, July 22, and August 12, 12 pm, church sanctuary. 414- 7803 or 333-4686

St. Timothy's Episcopal Church invites all children up to grade six to experience the Rainforest Adventure Vacation Bible School July 20- July 24, 6 pm- 8:30 pm. Light supper at 5:15 pm. Older children may participate as helpers. 765-1519

St. David's Episcopal Church will host the Power Lab Vacation Bible School event July 14- 18, 9 am- noon. 736-0866 or www.stdavidscolumbia.org

Good Shepherd Baptist Church will hold free workshops for ages three and older July 25, 6 pm- 9:30; July 26, 9 am - 2 pm; and July 27, 5 pm. Call Brother Fitzgerald Ryans for details, 706-733-0341 or Carmen Butler, 706-394-8421.

First Presbyterian Church continues with its Wednesdays at First lunch service in Jackson Hall. Lunch 11:30 am- 12:20 pm followed by a speaker and ending at 12:50 pm. Hot meal $6. Soup and salad bar $5. Free parking.

-EDUCATION

The Activity Center at Maxcy Gregg Park will host i n Islam, a l ecture by Zara Women Rabnawaz, native of Pakistan. 779-1971

Richland One's Evening High School is recruiting students ages 16- 20 for the 2008- 09 school year who have dropped out of school and who are interested in getting back on track to earning their high school diplomas. Contact the offices at 231-6749, between 8 am- 4:30 pm, weekdays

-ENTERTAINMENT

Riverbanks Zoo will hold at the Zoo August 2, 7 pm- 9 Brew pm. Guests 21 and older are invited to walk through the zoo tasting domestic, import, and microbrews. www.riverbanks.org

Kensington Mansion will host No Finer Company:Historic Textiles through July 26, tours every Friday and Saturday. 353-0456 or www.kensingtonmansion.org

The Columbia Action Council will host a free Summer Concert Series each Saturday through August 30, 7 pm- 10 pm, Finley Park. columbiaactioncouncil.net

-FAMILY/KIDS

EdVenture Children's Museumwill host BubbleLoosa! through Sept 30. www.edventure.org

The South Carolina State Museum is hosting Woodrow Wilson exhibit Wilson 150:The Exhibition now through Sept. 28. 898-4921 or southcarolinastatemuseum.org

-HEALTH

Capital Rotary and First Citizens will sponsor a blood drive July 17, 9 am- 3 pm, First Citizens Center (Lady and Main Streets). 733-2709

Palmetto Healthy Start will sponsor free Family Discover workshops July 18 and 25 and Aug. 1, 2:30 pm- 4 pm, Columbia Marionette Theatre. 296- 2273

Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands is offering community support groups to survivors of sexual abuse/assault in Richland, Lexington, and Newberry counties. 790-8208

The Senior Exercise Program at Eastminster Presbyterian Church will be held M- W- F, 9 am- 10 am

-MEETINGS

The Professional Women's Network will meet for breakfast at Lizard's Thicket on Forest Drive the first and third Thursday of each month at 8 am. 477-6551

The Business Association of Columbia meets at the Summit Club Wednesdays at 7:30 am for breakfast and conversation. Contact Summers Duffie at SCANA Communications, 217-7092 or www.columbiabusiness.org

Newcomers' of Greater Columbia will hold a Luncheon at Dianne's on Devine July 24. 750-6695 or www.newcomersofgreatercolumbia. com

Lexington Entrepreneurs Club meets at 6 pm on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at Dog House Food and Spirits in Lexington. Jennifer Hensley at 582-9688 or jennifer@i4design.us

-MUSIC

South Carolina's semi- professional chorus, Sandlapper Singers: American music, American sound, will hold auditions for one of the five openings. Contact Dr. Lillian Quackenbush at Columbia College, 786-3702

-PETS

The Humane Society/HSPCA will offer KittySnip , a free kitten spay/neuter service, through July 18. Kittens ages 3- 5 months only. 783-1267

Project Pet is now registering for the 3rd Annual Precious Pet Calendar Contest. $15 to enter, $1 to vote. www.projectpet. com

-PLANTS

The Sandhill Farmers Market will be open through November 25, Tuesdays 3:30 pm- 7pm, Red Barn at Clemson Sandhill Research and Education Center. 788-5700 x3

-REUNIONS

The 1972- 1974 classes of Lower Richland will have a reunion July 26, 7 pm- 11 pm. Contact Robin Hook Bennett, 234-4345.

The Dreher High School Classes of 1978-1982 will host a reunion August 29, 30 and 31. Contact Elaine Norwood at 673-6082 or dreherhighschool. com.

The Dorman High School class of '88 is searching for classmates for its 20- year reunion September 19- 20. dorman1988@charter.net or call 864-578-6761

The Airport High School class of 1988 will hold a 20th reunion in August. Contact Brandy Aull, Ahseagulls1988@ yahoo.com

-THEATER

Trustus Theatre will present Reefer Madness:The Musical through July 26. Tickets/times: 254-9732 or www.trustus.org

-TRAINING/EDUCATION

Midlands Technical College - Harbison Campus will hold a Certified Pool Operator course July 29, 9 am- 4 pm. Register at www.mtctraining.com or 732- 0432.

Palmetto Health Baptist will hold Safe Sitters babysitting classes July 22- 23, 9 am- 3:30 pm, Palmetto Health Baptist Auditorium. Registration 296- 2273

The Homeownership Resource Center will hold mortgage foreclosure counseling workshops July 12, 24, and 26. Free. Call 1-888-320-0350

The SC Barbeque Association will hold a training seminar for BBQ judges at Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church July 12 from 10 am- 4 pm. 782-9595