M E E T I N G S COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

PARENTS OF PRE-TEENS: Help your children ages 10-13 fight back against drugs, sex, alcohol and gangs. (803) 771-2212

SOCIALLY INTELLIGENT SISTERS: Meet new people for social activities, travel and more. Marie, (803) 743-5866

RICHLAND COUNTY DEMOCRATIC WOMEN: 5:30 p.m. Monday at the Adult Activity Center, 7494 Parklane Road. Guest speakers will be S.C. Sen. Vincent Sheheen and Columbia attorney Dwight Drake.

CANDIDATES FORUM: 7 tonight at Eastminster Presbyterian Church. Brad Warthen will moderate Columbia mayoral candidates. Sponsored by the Forest Hills, Pinehurst, Heathwood, Heathwood West, Melrose and Tanglewood neighborhood associations. (803) 331-3182

GO FIGURE: Artists group meets 6-8:30 p.m. Mondays to draw or paint live models. $20 membership fee plus $5 model fee per session. Group meets at The Village Artist Gallery, Village at Sandhill. (803) 699-8886; www.thevillageartists.com

H O B B I E S / R E C R E A T I O N AGES 18 AND YOUNGER

PALMETTO ACTIVITY CENTER: Palmetto Step Team, 4-4:45 p.m. Wednesdays. Open to ages 10-14; $35 per month. Grasshoppers soccer for ages 2-3, 10-10:45 a.m. Tuesdays, ages 4-5 meet 4:30-5:15 p.m. $40 per month, equipment provided, bring a water bottle. Preregistration required. Classes meet at 105 Summit Centre Circle. (803) 865-6516

FOR ADULTS

PALMETTO GOLD CLUB: Seminars, classes, workshops, luncheons, game nights, book and coffee clubs, bingo and other activities for ages 55 and older at the Palmetto Activity Center, 105 Summit Centre Circle, across from Summit Middle School. (803) 865-6516

FOR ALL AGES

CONGAREE NATIONAL PARK: Visitor center open 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at 100 National Park Road, Hopkins. Owl Prowls, 7 p.m. Fridays. Great Backyard Bird Count: Birding Basics, 8:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday; Great Backyard Bird Count: Winter Birds at Congaree, 8:30-11:30 a.m. and noon-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13. Guided canoe trips, 12:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. River Trail Tromp, 10-mile wilderness hike to the Congaree River, 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 12; bring a lunch. Big Tree Hike, sixmile off-trail hike, 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20. Free; reservations must be made two weeks in advance. Call (803) 776-4396, ext. 0, or go to www.nps.gov/cong.

FREE FRIDAYS AT RIVERBANKS ZOO AND GARDEN: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays through Feb. 26, 500 Wildlife Parkway. Residents of Richland and Lexington counties will be admitted free; proof of residence (valid ID or property tax statement copy) required. (803) 779-8717

GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT: 8-11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at the diversion dam, Riverfront Park (off Sunset Drive). Bring binoculars and water and wear comfortable shoes. Sponsored by the Columbia Audubon Society. E-mail amaspirit@aol.com

CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, LECTURES AGES 18 AND YOUNGER CAROLINA CHILDREN’S GARDEN: Sessions meet at the Clemson Sandhill Research and Education Center, 900 Clemson Road. Recommended for ages 5-12, but all are welcome; registration required unless otherwise noted. Vermi-Valentines: Love Your Soil!, 3:30-5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12; $2. Great Backyard Bird Count: Clemson Sandhill Rally, 8:30-10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 15; free. Green in the Garden, St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, 3:30-5 p.m. Wednesday, March 17; free, drop-ins welcome. Vernal Equinox Observance, 1-2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 20; $2. Pollination Parade, 1-21:30 p.m. Saturday, March 27; $2. Egg Hunt, 3:30-5 p.m. Friday, April 2; free, drop-ins welcome. (803) 459-3212 or e-mail carolinachildrensgarden@gmail.com

PALMETTO ACTIVITY CENTER: Youth ballet classes, Tuesdays at 105 Summit Centre Circle. Ages 3-5 meet 5:30-6:15 p.m.; ages 6-9, 6:15-7 p.m.; ages 9-12, 7-7:45 p.m.; $40 per month. Beginning violin lessons for students in grades 1-5, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Bring your own violin, preregistration required, $60 for six-week session. Short Chefs cooking and nutrition class for ages 4-7, 5-6 p.m. Wednesdays. $50 for a four-week session, includes chef’s hat, apron and recipe book. (803) 865-6515

SATURDAY MUSIC ACADEMY: 9 a.m.-noon for ages 7-12, 2-5 p.m. for ages 13-18, twice monthly. Preregistration, $20; tuition is $100 per month plus $50 registration and $50 material fee (preregistration fee will be applied to tuition). Classes meet at GMG Music Center, 1053 Sparkleberry Lane Extension. (803) 206-8939; www.gmgmusiccenter.com

FOR ADULTS

S.C. ARCHIVES & HISTORY FOUNDATION: History of railroads lecture series, 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Feb. 24 at the Archives and History Center, 8301 Parklane Road. $30 per session; members, $25. (803) 251-0115; www.palmettohistory.org

PALMETTO ACTIVITY CENTER: Tai chi, 7-8 p.m. Thursdays, bring a water bottle; $40 for a four-week session or $12 per week. Yoga for beginner to intermediate ages 18 and older, 9-10 a.m. Saturdays $40 per month, bring a mat and water bottle. Seniors 1-2-3, 9-9:45 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, fourweek course focusing on balance, joint mobility and flexibility for ages 55 and older; $40 per month. Ballroom dance classes, 7:30-8:45 p.m. Mondays, wear soft-soled shoes; $60 per couple for a four-week session. Line dance classes, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, bring a water bottle; $40 for a five-week session. Dancing Through the Ages for ages 55 and older, 1-2 p.m. Wednesdays; $35 per couple or $10 per week, wear comfortable clothing. No experience necessary for dance classes. All sessions meet at 105 Summit Centre Circle. (803) 865-6516

FOR ALL AGES

YOGA WITHOUT WALLS: 7:30-8:30 p.m. Mondays at the Kershaw Recreation Department, 1042 W. Dekalb St., Camden. Monthly fee, $36; (803) 425-6009. 6:55-7:55 p.m. Thursdays at the Camden Library, 1304 Broad St.; donations accepted; (803) 425-1508. 8:30-9:30 a.m. Saturdays at Grace Episcopal Church, 1315 Lyttleton St., Camden. www.yogawithoutwalls.net

VISUAL ARTS CLASSES: 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesdays or Thursdays, Crescent Lake, Blythewood. LaDonna Dixon, (803) 735-9982

P U B L I C L I B R A R I E S

Advance registration required

for most programs

RICHLAND COUNTY

SANDHILLS BRANCH: At Your Library: Catalog Training for homeschooled students ages 6-12, 10:30 a.m. today. Writing Assistance for all ages, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays; half-hour consultations available on a drop-in basis. Garden Like a Master: For the Love of Roses, 6:30 tonight; Midlands Master Gardeners will share tips on suitable cultivars and their care. Story Time for all ages, 11 a.m. Saturdays. Now I Am One!, stories and songs for you and your child age 12-23 months, 11 a.m. Mondays. Let’s Speak English for adults, 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays. 1 Summit Parkway, (803) 699-9230

NORTHEAST REGIONAL BRANCH: Now I Am One! stories and songs for you and your child age 12-23 months, 10:30 a.m. Thursdays. Story Time for all ages, 11 a.m. Saturdays. Hey! Listen to This!, stories and songs for all ages, 10:30 a.m. Mondays. Let’s Speak English for adults, 7 p.m. Mondays. Sew Divine, A Gathering of Crafters for adults, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Gaming Jewelry for ages 9-12, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday; make your own jewelry using Scrabble tiles and other game pieces. 7490 Parklane Road, (803) 736-6575 BLYTHEWOOD BRANCH: Hey! Listen to This!, stories and songs for all ages, 10:30 a.m. Fridays. Will You Be My Valentine?, story and craft session for all ages, 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. 218 Mc-Nulty Road, (803) 691-9806

KERSHAW COUNTY

CAMDEN BRANCH: Baby Story Time for you and your child age 2 and younger, 10:30 a.m. Thursdays . Enjoying the Computer for adults, 10:30 a.m.-noon Friday. XL1 for adults, 2:30-4 p.m. Monday. After School @ the Library: Valentine Roses for ages 8-12, 4 p.m. Tuesday. Get Set to Read for ages 3-4, 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays. Reader’s Story Time for homeschoolers ages 5-9, 11:15 a.m. Wednesdays. Lunch Bunch Stories, 1 p.m. Wednesdays; ideal for ages 4-5 who enjoy the library after preschool. Teen Advisory Group for ages 12-18, 4 p.m. Wednesday. 1304 Broad St., (803) 425-1508

ELGIN BRANCH: After School @ the Library: The Name Game; craft and puppet show for ages 6-10, 4 p.m. today. Get Set to Read for ages 3-4, 10:30 a.m. Mondays. Baby Story Time for you and your child ages 2 and younger, 10:30 a.m.Mondays. After School @ the Library: Valentine Roses for ages 8-12, 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11. After School @ the Library: Mask Masquerade for ages 6-12, 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18. 2652 Main St., (803) 438-7881

F A I T H

LITTLE ZION BAPTIST: Behind the Music youth forum, 6 p.m. Saturday at 8229 Winnsboro Road, Blythewood. Kenny Smith, Jae-O, Eternal Voices, Hakeem, Godchild, SGD Praise Dancers, Genesis Too plus a panel discussion with Jamal Bates, Tony G, Christopher Leevy Johnson, the Rev. Ricardo Palmer, Darryl Boyles, Vanzell Haire and Carlos Cartel. Free, e-mail behindthemusic1@gmail.com

VILLAGECHURCH: Women of Purpose Bible study group meets 9:30-11:30 a.m. the second and fourth Fridays monthly at 514 Rimer Pond Road, Blythewood. (803) 419-0989

C O M M U N I T Y E V E N T S MUSIC, ARTS, THEATER BREVARD MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION CONCERT: 4 p.m. Saturday at the Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County, 810 Lyttleton St. Free. (803) 425-7676, ext. 300

“THE WIZARD OF OZ” AUDITIONS: 6-7:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday in Wood Auditorium, FAC of Kershaw County, 810 Lyttleton St. Open to students in second grade and higher. Rehearsals begin in mid-February with performances March 11-14. (803) 425-7676 or go to www.fineartscenter.org