Third Thursday
Third Thursday returns March 21 from 5 to 7 p.m. on the Circle in downtown Barnwell with entertainment from The Padgett Brothers. It's also the "March Madness Membership Drive" where anyone who joins the Barnwell Development Association in March (by 6:30 p.m. that night) has a chance to win a fantastic "pot of gold" which saves money locally. Family memberships are $25 and Business/Organization memberships are $50. Other creative activities will be available for the kids.

Passion Play
Hagood Avenue Baptist Church will hold their annual Passion Play March 22 through 24 at 6:30 p.m. each night. No tickets are required, though seating is on a first come basis.

Easter Egg Hunts
Laurel Baye Healthcare of Williston will have a community Easter Egg Hunt on March 23 from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. for children in the surrounding area. Eggs will be filled with candy and money prizes. The Golden Easter eggs will be for gift cards. There will also be live entertainment and refreshments.
The city of Barnwell's Easter Egg Hunt will be Saturday, March 23 at 1 p.m. at Lemon Park. It's free to all children 2 to 10 years old.   
The Teenage Flashlight Egg Hunt will be held Saturday, March 23 at 8 p.m. at Lemon Park. It's free to teens ages 11 to 17. Bring your own flashlight. 
The town of Williston will hold their annual Easter egg hunt Saturday, March 30 at 1 p.m. at the Williston Town Park. Age groups will be 0-3, 4-6, and 7-10.
For more information, contact Shannon Mundy at (803) 300-1912.
The town of Blackville will hold their annual Easter egg hunt Saturday, March 30 at 3 p.m. at Tabernacle Baptist Church (3076 Dexter St., Blackville). It is sponsored by The Together Sisters.
For details, call (803) 284-3238 or (803) 671-2013.

Miss BHS Pageant
The Miss BHS Pageant will be held Saturday, March 23 at 6 p.m. in the Barnwell Primary School auditorium. The cost is $8 for adults and $5 for students.

Precinct Reorganization
The Barnwell County Republican Party will have a makeup biennial precinct reorganization meeting on Monday, March 25, at 7 p.m. at the Barnwell County Library (40 Burr St., Barnwell).
If you would like to become involved in the BCRP, you are invited to attend these precinct reorganization meetings. To participate all you need is your ‘voter registration card,' to establish your voting precinct.
For additional information, contact Ben Kinlaw at (803) 671-0202.

Kidney Smart
Kidney Smart classes will be held March 25, April 22 and May 27. Each will start at 2 p.m. at 775 Medical Park Dr., Aiken.
Classes will teach how kidneys function, causes of chronic kidney disease, how medications, diet and nutrition work together, and how to continue educating yourself and what treatment choices are available.
Sign up at KidneySmart.org/Class or by calling (803) 641-4222.
Candidate Forum
Williston School District 29's teacher forum will host a public forum for candidates running for their school board on Tuesday, March 26, at 7 p.m. in the district auditorium. They will be asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to answer.

Resource Fair
Williston-Elko High School will hold a resource fair March 28 from 3 to 6 p.m.
There will be local and state agencies (such as Local Motion, Baby Net, Cumbee Center and Adult Ed) in attendance and valuable information and handouts for parents and students. There will be a $25 Walmart gift card drawing.

Blood Drive
Shepeard Community Blood Center will host a blood drive Friday, March 29 from 1 to 6 p.m. in the parking lot of The People-Sentinel (9988 Dunbarton Blvd., Barnwell).
Donors will be entered for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card.
For more information, visit www.shepeardblood.org.

Hotdog & Talk
The next Hotdog & Talk will be March 30 at the Barnwell Library from 2:30 to 4 p.m. This Hotdog & Talk will be dedicated to the young men Barnwell have lost within the past month and this week and will cover the topic of "Youth Wake Up! Life is so Precious!" Food for the youth will be provided.
To donate, call Anthony B. Williams at (706) 550-5006.

Rabies Clinics
The 2013 Barnwell County Rabies Clinics will be held Saturday, March 30 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Barnwell Vet Clinic. There will also be clinics Saturday, April 13 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Williston Fire Department and Dogwood Animal Hospital, plus from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Elko Fire Department.
The cost for all clinics will not exceed $10 per pet. Dogs must be on a leash and cats in a box or carrier.

Basic EMT Course
The Allendale County Rescue Squad is offering an Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT-Basic) course beginning April 1. It costs $850, which includes course material and end of course testing fees. Enrollment maximum is 15 students.
Course requirements: At least 18 years of age, High School Diploma or GED needed, $500 deposit prior to class beginning, $350 prior to class end date, and satisfactory score from the Health Occupations Basic Entrance Test (HOBET).
For more information or enrollment package, please call (803) 584-4900.

Taste of Blackville
Vendors are needed for The Taste of Blackville, which will be held Saturday, April 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
To be a vendor, call Sylvia Quattlebaum at (803) 284-2000. 

Farmers' Market
The Farmers' Market in Elko is gearing up for the 2013 growing season and invites new vendors to participate. Opening day is Saturday, May 11 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and every Saturday until mid-fall, at the corner of Hwys. 78 and 37.
To become a vendor, call (803) 266-2463 or (803) 300-1251.

Music & Arts Festival
The second annual Blackville Music and Arts Festival will be May 17-18, beginning at 4 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday. There will be live entertainment, arts and crafts, BBQ cook-off and a car/bike/truck show.
It is free to attend, but costs $30 to be a vendor or $60 to be in the cook-off. It costs $15 to enter a car or bike, and $20 to enter a truck.
For more information or to become a performer or vendor, call Terrance Washington at (803) 300-3486 or email blackvillemusicandartsfestival@gmail.com.

Golf Tournament
The Ronny Bruner golf fundraiser will be held March 22 at the Sweetwater Country Club. The shotgun start will be at 9 a.m. The style will be four man captain's choice and costs $200 per team.
There are also several score enhancers.
Dixon Golf will present the Dixon Challenge on one of the par 3's. Each golfer will receive over $300 in prizes just for participating, including a choice of a free wedge or hybrid golf club ($10 challenge).
All proceeds go to Quentin and Ronny Bruner and their family to help offset the cost of a brain aneurism.
For more information, contact Gibby or Amie Sanders at (803) 259-1167 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. or the Sweetwater Country Club.

CDC 5K Walk
The Blackville Community Development Corporation will host their Biannual Charity 5K Walk on Saturday, March 23 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at the Crystal Jenkins Memorial Track (behind Macedonia Elementary).
The entry fee is $10, while a T-shirt is an additional $10. Proceeds benefit the CDC Partners for Progress.
Preregister through March 22 by calling the CDC at (803) 284-0735 and leaving a message. Onsite registration will also take place the morning of the race at 8 a.m.

Unique Portraits
Barnwell County First Steps will kick-off their fundraiser Antiquities Unique Portraits fundraiser on Saturday, March 23 in the Media Center at Kelly Edwards Elementary School, Williston, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
If you're interested in having your children's, etc. photos taken, contact (803) 284-3160 for more information.

Fish Fry
A fish fry fundraiser will be held at the El Bab Shrine Club (571 Patterson Mill Rd.) Saturday, March 23 from 2 to 7 p.m. Eat in or take out for $7.
Contact C.B. Lenard at (803) 671-1103 or J.J. Cruz at (803) 383-4004.

Rodeo Pageant
The Barnwell County Career Center FFA Rodeo Pageant will be held Thursday, April 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Barnwell Primary School. Applications must be received by March 22.
Pageant participants will collect donations for Autism Awareness. There will be three age divisions broken down similar to the riders who will ride in the upcoming S.C. High School Rodeo Association event April 26-27 hosted by BCCC FFA and Edisto High School FFA chapters.
Applications can be picked up at the BCCC, from an FFA member, or by emailing msandifer@bccc.k12.sc.us to request an application.

Festival Pageant
The deadline to enter the Allendale County Miss/Master Springfest Beauty Pageant (in honor of the Allendale County "Cooter" Festival) is April 6. The pageant will be held April 20 at 465 James Brandt Blvd, Allendale.
Boys groups are: 0-2, 3-5, 6-9. Girls groups are: 0-11, 12-23, 2yr, 3-4, 5-6, 7-9, 10-12, 13-15, 16-19, 20&up (single/married).
The beauty pageant package is $60 (Beauty, Spring Wear, Photogenic, hair, eyes, and smile). 
Applications may be found at www.cooterfest.com or at Glam Up Hair Salon in Barnwell and Pace Setter Barber Shop in Barnwell.
For more information, contact Melissa Ruggiero at (803) 259-1317 or Jeanette Knight at (803) 671-3570.

Evening of Jazz
An evening of jazz will be held at the Blackville-Hilda High School auditorium April 12 at 7 p.m. with jazz guitarist Terence Young, contemporary violinist Daniel D. and saxophonist James "Bo" Gardner. This helps support the Big 7 Association in raising funds to support the annual scholarships they award to seniors in Barnwell County's three school districts. 
Order tickets at www.ilovejazz.eventbrite.com or make a donation at www.big7association.org.

Breakfast
Legacy Makers, the Lions Club and Cumbee Center will hold a fundraiser breakfast Saturday, April 13 at 7:30 a.m. at Second Baptist Church (181 Church St., Barnwell). They will also accept unwanted eyeglasses and cell phones with chargers, which will help those who can't afford them.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children (ages 8-16).
For more information or tickets, contact Katha Williams at (803) 259-2127.

Rosier 5K Race
The 7th Annual Susie Rosier Character of Fitness 5K Run/Walk, benefiting the Barnwell County Animal Shelter Foundation, will be April 13. The race starts at 8 a.m. at Barnwell Veteran's Park on Hwy. 278.
Pre-registration is $20 until April 1, which includes an event T-shirt. The late fee is $25 and can be done until 7:30 a.m. the morning of the race. Children under 6 are free; however a T-shirt is $10.  
The money raised goes to provide spay or neuter for low-income Barnwell resident's pets at no cost or low cost. In 2012, the money raised provided over 250 spays and neuters.  
Print a registration form from www.dogwoodanimal.net or pick one up at The Property Shoppe or Dogwood Animal Hospital.  
For more information, call (803) 259-5606.    

Barnwell Library
Friday Flicks: Fridays at 3:45 p.m.
March 22 - The Fantastic Mr. Fox (PG)
An urbane fox cannot resist returning to his farm raiding ways and then must help his community survive the farmers' retaliation (IMDB.com)
Reading to Rover: Tuesdays from 3:40-5 p.m.
Students who love to read in grades K-5 can sign up for a weekly 20-minute session to read to Tess, a trained therapy dog who loves to listen to stories. To sign up, stop by the library or call 259-3612.
Call (803) 259-3612 for more information.

Blackville Library
Preschool Storytime: Every other Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.
Call Ruthie Hewitt at (803) 284-2295 for more information.

Williston Library
Preschool Storytime: 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 11:30 a.m.
Call Jo Crider at (803) 266-3027 for more information.

Barnwell Museum
With plenty of activities during the month of March, the Museum will hold its open house Thursday, March 21 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Holman-Fuller House.
During the open house, residents can take in Donnie Spitzer's wood sculptures as well as the annual traveling S.C. Water Media Exhibit which is held at the Effie Mae Fuller Center behind the Holman-Fuller House. The exhibit runs through the end of March.
Spitzer is the museum's March local artist of the month.

KE Class of 1969
The Kelly Edward Class of 1969 will have an important class meeting March 24 at 3 p.m. at Shelly's House of Barbershop in Williston. All class members are asked to attend.
For more information, call Glenloy M. Abner at (803) 266-7730 or Mattie Odom at (803) 671-2713.

Hartzog Book
The Hartzog family is updating the book, The Hartzog Line, which was published in 1966. It includes history of the early Hartzogs and detailed family lineage of Tobias Hartzog who came to Barnwell County in the early 1800s. Updates from many Hartzog descendants, especially with different surnames like Still, Richardson, Sanders, Collins, Creech, Hutto, Blume, Laird, Neely, Elkins, Hair, Kearse and many others, are needed.
Contact Billy Delk by April 1 at wrdelk@bellsouth.net or (404) 213-3008.

Hiers Family
The annual Hiers Family Reunion will be April 14 at Mt. Pleasant Lutheran Church (Mt. Pleasant Rd. off Hwy. 64 west of Ehrhardt) at 1 p.m. Bring a picnic lunch and drink. Paper goods and ice will be furnished.
For more information, call (803) 960-3666.