It's happening right here in your community

-ANIMALS Friends of the Animals of APL Low County Cook- Out will be January 24, 6:30 pm- 10:30 pm, at the University House Parking Facility. 782- 5728.

-ART The Palmetto Center for the Arts Dance Program

will present Witness: An

Evening with Vincent

Thomas, an original modern dance performance 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.

-CHURCH/CHARITY First Presbyterian Church continues with their Wednesdays @ First lunch services in Jackson Hall, 1324 Marion Street. Lunch available 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. 799-9062.

Red, White & Black Tie Affair benefitting the American Red Cross of Central South Carolina will be March 13, 2009, 6 pm - VIP Reception, 7 pm - Gala, at the SC State Museum. Purchase tickets at www.Central- SCRedCross.org or call 540-1244.

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

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

Contra Dance, sponsored by Columbia Traditional Music and Dance, will be January 10, 7 pm- 10:30 pm, at the Arsenal Hill Park Building. Admission is $8. www.Contracola.org

The Greater Columbia Chapter of the U.S. Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association will hold their regular twicemonthly dances January 10 and January 24, 7:30 pm- 10:30 pm, at the Hugh Dimmery Memorial Center. www.USADance.us

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

-EXPO Palmetto Health's PrimeTimes will sponsor A Grand Affair, an exposition of products and services for older adults January 15, 8:30 am- 3:30 pm, at the Americraft- Cantey Building on the State Fairgrounds. 296-5978.

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

-MEETINGS Capital Senior's monthly lecture series Wine &

Unwind returns on January 21, 5:30 pm, with the topic, The Economy. debbie@capitalseniorcenter. com

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

Richland Democratic Women will meet January 12, 5:30 pm- 7 pm, at the Adult Activity Center. santria@aol.com

PalmettoMac - The Macintosh User Group in the Midlands will meet January 19,7 pm, at 7006 Two Notch Rd. 743-2501.

First Citizens Econ Book Club will meet January 13, 5:30 pm- 7 pm, at Tucker Conference Room, Alumnae Hall, Columbia College. A

Whole New Mind: Why

Right- Brainers Will Rule

the Future. Dinner free but must RSVP by noon January 12. 777-8676.

-MUSIC Pennyworths will be performing January 21, 6:30 pm, at Shandon Presbyterian corner of Woodrow and Devine Streets. 771-4408.

South Carolina DP hai nl hcia nr gm wo inthic tphr e Psehniltsat 7:30 pm on Saturday, January 10 at the Koger Center. Tickets available at www.capitoltickets.com

Lake Murray Symphony Orchestra will be holding auditions for violins, violas, cello, and string bass. Limited positions in brass and winds sections. 359-4929.

The Sandlapper Singers and two acts from the SC Musicians and Song Writers Guild, Lucas War Hero and Danielle Howle, will perform February 3, 7:30 pm, at the 701 Center for Contemporary Art. sandlappersingers.org

Richland County Public Library presents the traditional sounds of Ireland

with Corner House: Andi

Hearn and Davey Mathias

at Lunch & Listen January 22, 12:30 pm- 1:30 pm, 1431 Assembly St.

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 instru- ment. The cost, which covers materials for the 12- week semester, is $80 for students. Participants must provide instruments. 777-9568.

-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.

Richland County Recreation Commission will host the 28th annual Snowman Run 8K Road Race and Youth Fun Run, January 17 at Caughman Road Park, 2800 Trotter Road in Hopkins. The youth fun run starts at 12:30 pm, and the race starts at 1:30 pm. 783-0400 or www.richlandcountyrecreation. com

-TRAINING/EDUCATION The Shepherd's Center of Columbia is holding its winter session through 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.

Team Oana Investment

Advisors will host The

Year Ahead in the

Economy - How to

Manage the Market

Volatility on January 10, 10:09 am- 11:39 am, at the Laurel Crest Activity Center. 343-3343.

Get ready for the switch to Digital TV by attending The Big Switch: Going Digital with WIS January 22, 6:30 pm, in Bostick Auditorium of the Richland County Public Library. 929-3457.

South Carolina Archives and History Foundation

present the Ramblin' with

Rodger Tour Series

History, Mystery Tour of Columbia, on January 28, 9 am- 4:30 pm. 251-0115.

-HEALTH The National Kidney Foundation of South Carolina will bring a free community health screening Saturday, January 10, 9 am- 12 pm at First Christian Church, 2062 Beltline Blvd., Columbia. Participants will be tested for high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and a urinalysis for protein. Open to anyone in the community over 18 years of age. 1-800-488-2277.