-ANIMALS Pet Adoption on the Lawn at Mars Petcare US, 1720 Pineview Drive, Columbia, South Carolina 29209, will be held Saturday, September 12, 10 am- 2 pm. The event features discounted adoption fees, free admission and parking, and free food and beverage.

-ART Columbia Museum of Art will host an installation of work by Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg through October 14 at 1515 Main Street. 799-2810.

-BOOKS Zhaxi Zhuoma Rinpoche will speak on

the book H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III

 

 

Thursday, October 1, noon- 1:30 pm, Boardroom, Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main Street, Columbia. 559-875- 3515, www.zhaxizhuoma.net

-CHURCH/CHARITY First Presbyterian Church will hold its weekly lunch and speaker series Wednesdays, 11:30 am- 12:50 pm, 1324 Marion St. Soup and salad $5; hot meal, $6. Free parking available. 799- 9062.

St. David Episcopal Church will sell barbecue meals to benefit missionary work in Honduras, September 4- 5 at the church, 605 Polo Road. Meals include pork barbecue, hash and rice, baked beans, cole slaw, and bread. Adults and teens $8, children 12 and under, $4. 736-0866.

-DANCE The Filipino- American Association of Greater Columbia (FAAGC) will celebrate its 19th Annual Gala and 13th Induction Ball with a formal dinner- dance, Saturday, August 29, 6 pm to midnight at the Marriott Hotel on 1200 Hampton Street. www.FilAmSC.org, 787-5255, 233-9622, or 960-8785.

-FILMS

All For Liberty, the award winning feature film about the Revolutionary War in South Carolina, will premiere in Columbia, September 26 at the South Carolina State Museum with proceeds from to benefit the Sandlapper Society. There will be two screenings at 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm. Tickets are available at 359-9954.

-FOOD The Sandhill Farmers Market is open every Tuesday through November 24, 2:30 pm, 900 Clemson Rd. 788-5700. -FUNDRAISER Hands of Hospice Foundation will host the

Fundraising Gala Bright Lights, Bright Nights

 

 

 

 

 

September 5, 6:30 pm, at Columbia Capital City Club. 798-1102.

Lions Clubs of Blythewood, Northeast, Greater Columbia, and St. Andrews will sponsor

their second Night for Sight and Hearing

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 23, 4 pm- 7 pm, Columbia Armory on Bluff Rd. 788-5285.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Columbia will host the Eighth Annual RIDN 4 RNLD Charity Ride Saturday, August 22, Jack's Custom Cycle, 1500 W. Main St, Lexington, beginning at 10:30 am with the last bike departing at noon. www.ronaldhousecolumbia.org or 254-0118.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Columbia will host its Third Annual McDonald's of Camden Sporting Clays Tournament presented by McDonald's of Camden and Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina, Saturday, August 29, at Hermitage Farm Shooting Sports in Camden. Registration begins at 9 am. 254-0118 or email anrmhc@bellsouth.net

Kickin' Cancer Nite Owl Ride, a 12- hour cycling event at night over the Gervais Street Bridge between Columbia and West Columbia, will be held on Friday, September 11, 8 pm through Saturday, September 12, 8 am, to benefit Children's Chance and the Lance Armstrong Foundation. www.niteowlride.org or 254-5996.

Benefit Dinner for Donna "Mom" Kitchen will be held Friday, September 11, at the home of Tim and Lou Jackson, 81 Catawba Timber Road, Camden, S.C. Dinner will consist of steak, potato, salad, and drink. Tickets are $10 per person purchased in advance. A Poker Run will be held Saturday, September 12, 10 am- noon; entry fee is $20 per rider, $10 per passenger. Meal tickets will be $6. Additional poker hands can be purchased for $5. There will be a pay out for best hand and worst hand. Raffle tickets are on sale for a gas/charcoal grill, as well as other prizes. 461-5578, stepside_runner@yahoo.com, or tonyk40@hotmail.com

Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association (CPAAA) will hold its Fourth Annual Golf Scholarship Tournament Tuesday, September 15, Woodcreek Farms Country Club, 301 Club Ridge Road, Elgin, S.C. 29045; registration begins at 10:30 am, shotgun start at noon. Cost is $70 per person or $280 for a team. 733-8572 or 781-6094.

Columbia charities join together to present First Annual Grillin' at the Fountain August 29, noon- 3 pm, Five Points Fountain with food, fun, and fellowship at the first annual Columbia Cares, Evelyn Azar Charity Event. www.columbiacares.me or 513-3357.

GOWNarama Pageant and Prom Dress Swap will be held Sunday, August 23, noon- 4 pm, at the Radisson at I- 20 and Bush River. Sellers $10, buyers $5. Individual sellers only, no dress stores. www.GOWNarama.com

-LUNCHEONS Retired Senator John Drummond, Senators John Courson and Phil Leventis, Representatives Bill Herbkersman and James Smith will be honored with a green tie luncheon, Wednesday, September 16, 11:30 am- 1:30 pm, Grand Hall of Historic 701 Whaley. 701 Whaley Street, Columbia. 799-0716.

-MEETINGS Statewide Clover Meeting will be held for livestock producers Tuesday, August 25, 6- 9 pm at Tommy Shealy's T&S Farm, 3500 Pond Branch Road, Leesville. 864-445-8117, ext 416, or email prperry@clemson.edu

Newcomers' Club of Greater Columbia will hold a luncheon August 27 at the Columbia Museum of Art. 750-6695 or www.newcomersofgreatercolumbia.com

-MUSEUM South Carolina State Museum is offering free admission to anyone born in August on his or her birthday. Through August 31, those who present an I.D. demonstrating it is their birthday will be given free admission to the museum. 898-4921.

-MUSIC Columbia Barbershop Harmonizers, a male chorus/ensemble, all types of music in the Barbershop Quartet style, is seeking male singers. Meets Mondays, 7 pm at Shandon United Methodist Church, 3407 Devine St. 798-1538.

African Children's Choir will perform August 23, 10:30 am, at Grace Church of Columbia. www.africanchildrenschoir.com

Jazz at the Village Fall Concert Series will be held 2 pm- 4 pm Sundays, Village at Sandhill, Town Center Commons, with the following bands scheduled: September 6, Gene Dykes Band; September 13, Robert Gardiner Quintet; September 20, Ross Holmes Band; September 27, The Swing Set Band; October 4, Clear Vision; October 11, New Century Salon Orchestra; October 18, Dick Goodwin Quintet; October 25, U.S.C. Carolina Alive Vocal Jazz Ensemble U.S.C. Saxophone Quartet. 419-0235 or swhite@villageatsandhill.com

Sandlapper Singers of Columbia will perform in the 800- seat Dreher High School auditorium October 15, December 18, and February 18, 7:30 pm. sandlappersingers.org, 381-5481.

-OUTDOORS Guided nature tour with Dr. Rudy Mancke will be held at Cayce Riverwalk Park, Saturday, September 12, 10 am and 1 pm. Spaces are limited so reservations are necessary. 796-9020.

-RUNNING/WALKING 8th Annual Run Wild Cross Country Festival will be August 29, 8 am, Sesqui State Park . 556-6285.

City of Columbia will host 2009 Freedom Walk to memorialize the 9/11 victims and honor local first responders Friday, September 11. Walkers assemble at the State House at 11:30 am, Memorial Ceremony will be held at City Hall at noon. 545-3020 or pio@columbiasc.net

-TRAINING/EDUCATION USC Small Business Development Center will

host an Entrepreneur Information Session

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 26, 9 am- 11:30 am, 1705 College St. Room 856. www.uscbiz.net

Climate Protection Action Campaign will host

Green is Good for Business Conference

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 1, 8:30 am- 5 pm, Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. 545-CPAC.

Dianne's Call will host its 9th Annual Health &

Wellness Empowerment ConferenceAugust 22, 9 am- 3 pm, Brookland Baptist Church. 790- 8887.

Communicate Before You Medicate workshop will be held at the Capital Senior Center, Tuesday, August 25, 10:30 am. Free and open to the public, reservations are suggested by August 22 by calling 779-1971.

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Mid- Carolina will hold a 12- week course for family of adults with severe mental illnesses beginning Monday, September 14, 6 pm- 8:30 pm, Dorn VA Medical Center. Pre- registration is required. 776-4000, ext. 4116 or email NAMIVASC@sc.rr.com