Better Choices, Better Health
Participants are being sought for a six-week series of workshops called Better Choices, Better Health, which will be held every Tuesday between March 5 and April 9 at 10 a.m. at the Blackville Community Center. Members of churches and organizations are especially being targeted. It was developed to help people manage chronic health conditions.
Register by calling Earnestine Gloster at (803) 284-2991 or Betty Thompson at (803) 300-4978.

Rep. Wilson Office Grand Opening
A ribbon cutting for U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson new Barnwell office (room 106 of the Barnwell County Courthouse) will be Monday, March 11 at 11 a.m. One of Wilson's representatives will be there every second and fourth Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to meet with constituents for a variety of issues, including Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, and passport/Visas.

Precinct Reorganization
The Barnwell County Republican Party will have their biennial precinct reorganization meeting on Monday, March 11, at 7 p.m. at the Barnwell County Library (40 Burr St., Barnwell). A makeup meeting will be held on Monday, March 25, at the same location and time for those precincts that are not organized on March 11.
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 more information, contact Ben Kinlaw at (803) 671-0202.

Job/Health Fair
Barnwell County Day will be held Saturday, March 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Barnwell High School. It includes a job and health fair, plus activities for kids. A variety of opportunities will be available, including resume preparation assistance, job search assistance, interviewing tips, on-site employer contacts, and computer access for on-line employment opportunities.
It is sponsored by the Original Six Foundation, under the direction of Gov. Haley.

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.

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. (location to be announced).
For details, call (803) 284-3238 or (803) 671-2013.

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.

Pet Easter Photos
The Animal Advocates will hold their annual Pet Portraits with the Easter Bunny Saturday, March 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Pick of the Litter Shoppe in downtown Barnwell. Rebecca Willis of Willis Photography will be the photographer.
The cost is a $10 sitting fee, which includes a free 5x7 or two 4x6's. Package options will be available.
Walk-ins will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis.

St. Patrick's Day
A St. Patrick's Day event will be held March 16 at 5:30 p.m. at the Blackville Community Center to raise funds for local non-profits, including fire department, crime watch, and downtown improvements. There will be food, cooking contest, arts production, local entertainment and The Real St. Patrick/Shamrock Legend.
For more information, call (803) 284-3117 or (803) 541-2004.

Warhorse Club Fundraisers
27th Annual Golf Tournament will be held Saturday, March 9 at 8 a.m. at Sweetwater Country Club.
For more information, call Sweetwater at (803) 259-5004.
Later that day, an oyster roast (advanced tickets only) will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. at Sweetwater. The cost is $30/person or $50/couple and includes admission to the club's 27th annual dance featuring Cody Webb, which will be from 8:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. Tickets for the oyster roast can be purchased from Lee's Treasures, Evelyn's Jewelry & Gifts in Barnwell or any club member. Admission just to the dance (not including the oyster roast) is $25/person or $40/couple and can be paid at the door.

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 several score enhancers: ladies tee option ($5 per man per hole), mulligans ($5 per man per hole), blind tee off ($5 per man per hole), and ball adjustment rope ($5 per man one hole).
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. Donations are also welcome.
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.

5K Walk/Run
The Blackville Community Development Corporation will host their Biannual Charity 5K Walk on Saturday, March 23 from 8:30 to 10 p.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.

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.

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.

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 near the airport.
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. 
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.    

Chamber Golf Tournament
The Barnwell County Chamber of Commerce Benefit Golf Tournament will be held Friday, April 26, at the Sweetwater Country Club in Barnwell. Registration begins at 9 a.m. with a Shotgun start at 10 a.m.
The format is 4-person Captain's Choice and costs $200 per team. Many prizes will be awarded, including Hole-in-One, Closest to the Pin, and Longest Drive.
Hole sponsorships are available for $100.
Call Sweetwater Country Club at (803) 259-5004 or the Chamber of Commerce at (803) 259-7446 to register or for more information.

Title 1 Meeting
Barnwell District 45's Title I planning meeting will be held at the Barnwell Primary School Library on Tuesday, March 12 at 5:30 p.m.
The purpose of a Title I School-wide program is to upgrade the entire educational program in school in order to improve academic achievement so that all students, particularly the lowest-achieving students, demonstrate proficiency of the state's academic standards.
Public input is encouraged and residents are invited to serve on the planning team.

Barnwell Library
Friday Flicks: Fridays at 3:45 p.m.
Family-friendly movies with free popcorn and a drink!
March 8 - Wreck It Ralph (PG)
A video game villain wants to be a hero and sets out to fulfill his dream, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives (IMDB.com).
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.

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

Barnwell Museum
Thursday, March 21: Open House at the Holman-Fuller House Museum from 6:30 to 8 p.m. for local artist of the month Donnie Spitzer, who does wood sculptures. Refreshments will be served. 
March: The annual traveling S.C. Water Media Exhibit will be held at the Effie Mae Fuller Center behind the Holman-Fuller House Museum all month.

Retired Educators
The Barnwell County Retired Educator Meeting will be Wednesday, March 20 at 10 a.m. at the Barnwell County Library (40 Burr St., Barnwell). All retired teachers and staff from Barnwell, Blackville and Williston schools are invited.
For more information, call Jerry Bell at (803) 300-1972 or email inquires to lgbell@mindspring.com.

Coaches School
Area baseball coaches can attend a Coaches School conducted by the nationally-recognized Doyle Baseball School in conjunction with the city of Barnwell Parks and Recreation on March 16 from 8 to 11 a.m. at Lemon Park.
Coaches at all levels can attend the school for $25, which teaches coaches how to instruct their players in hitting, throwing and fielding.
For more information and to register, call Michael Shumaker at (803) 259-3317. For more information on Doyle Baseball and its programs, call (865) 560-8765 for a free brochure.

Doyle Academy
The city of Barnwell Parks and Recreation will host the nationally-recognized Doyle Academy on March 16 and 17 for Americas #1 Camp, which will instruct baseball and softball players (ages of 6 and 15) in hitting, throwing and fielding. It will be held from noon to 5 p.m. each day at Lemon Park and costs $85.
To register, call Michael Shumaker at (803) 259-3317 or register at City Hall.

Hair Etheridge Family reunion
The Hair Etheridge Reunion will be Saturday, April 27 at the Barnwell State Park community building with lunch at 12:30 p.m. Please bring a covered dish and tea. Paper products will be furnished.
For more information, call Troy Purvis at (704) 621-2299 or Nadine Purvis at (843) 621-1869.