Events 

NAACP annual Freedom Fund dinner
The Barnwell-Blackville Branch of the NAACP will host its local annual Freedom Fund dinner at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11 at the Blackville Community Center located at 19464 Solomon Blatt Avenue, Blackville. The speaker for the occasion will be the Rev. Brendolyn Jenkins, President of the Aiken County Branch of the NAACP.  For more information you may contact the Rev. Harris T. Barker at (803)259-5135 or any member of the branch.

Williston health and wellness programs
Laurel Baye Healthcare of Williston invites you to attend the first of a series of health and wellness programs designed for every member of the community. This month’s program will be a presentation on insomnia and its effects.  We are opening these programs to everyone in the community as a resource and to be your partner in good health.  Light refreshments will be served so please come and join us for an informative and interesting hour of information on September 16th at 2 p.m. A recent survey by the National Sleep Foundation found that over 60% of Americans suffer from poor sleep quality (insomnia) resulting in everything from falling asleep on the job to marital problems and car accidents.  Insomnia is a growing concern in the American work force and greatly impacts both one’s health and productivity.  This informational session will introduce the stages of sleep, the effects of insomnia, and provide tips to improve your quality of sleep.

Small Business tax workshop
The Aiken Small Business Development Center is offering a FREE tax workshop for prospective and new small business owners. The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 8 in the Palmetto Room of the Student Activity Center Building at USC Aiken. The Small Business Tax Workshop contains general information about different types of business organizations, record keeping requirements and business tax returns.  A packet of very helpful publications is given to each participant. Registration is necessary by Monday, Sept. 6. To register for the workshop or for more information, please contact the SBDC via e-mail: SBDC@usca.edu or by telephone: 803-641-3646.

State Farmers Market begins transition to site
Vendors are now in the process of moving to the new South Carolina State Farmers Market and Agribusiness center site on Highway 321 in Lexington County. The Bluff road site will continue to operate until Oct. 29. The transition to the new facility will continue for the next two months. On the weekend of Oct. 8, 9 and 20, there will be a fall plant and flower festival at the new site.

Driven by the Spirit Motorcycle Ministry
Driven by the Spirit Motorcycle Ministry will hold its sixth annual biker Saturday, Sept. 11 and Sunday, Sept. 12. On Saturday, Sept. 11, at 5 p.m., Eddie B. Concert at Midland Valley 1st Church of the Nazarene, 3526 Jefferson Davis Highway, Clearwater. ON Sunday, Sept. 12th, registration starts at 8 a.m. at Aiken Technical College, Aiken/Augusta Highway. Service begins at 10:30 a.m. Morning refreshments, free lunch/escorted ride and door prizes. All bikers are invited. For information visit www.drivenbythespirit.org.

Barnwell Community
Blood Drive
There will be a Barnwell community blood drive from 1 to 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 24 at The People-Sentinel, 9988 Dunbarton Blvd., Barnwell.

Circle Theater auditions for fall production
Circle Theater will hold auditions for its fall’s upcoming production of “all in the Timing”, a collection of six short one-act comedy plays. Up to 11 males and seven females will be needed for this production. These roles are highly flexible and we are looking for interested actors and actresses from all segments of our community; young (high school) or old, with acting experience or without. Auditions will be held at 7 p.m., Monday, Sept. 7 and Tuesday, Sept. 7 at the Circle Theater located at 325 Academy Street, Barnwell. Follow us on Twitter: Twitter.com/CircleTheater or email us at CircleTheater@gmail.com.

Fundraiser
Car Wash
The Barnwell High School C/O 1999 Alumni will sponsor a fundraiser car wash for Jordan Jackson at 8 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 11 at B and B Ford.

AARP Driver Safety Program
Generations Unlimited will host the AARP Driver Safety Program from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Lunch 11-12) on Friday, Sept. 10 at the Gail Reyes Senior Center (Generations Unlimited). Register by calling (803) 259-4599 or go online and register at 
http://www.aarp.org/applications/VMISLocator/dspLocations.action. (go to bottom of page, Programs-Driver Safety) Fee: $12 for AARP members (with membership card); $14 for non-members. You may pay online with a credit card or at the beginning of class. Note: persons 60 years old or older may call (803) 259-4599 a day ahead to receive lunch.

Last Poet Standing Contest
A $1,000 grand prize is being offered to the last poet standing in a contest sponsored by Rainbow Fine Arts. Poems of 21 lines or fewer on any subject and is any style will be judged by the contest director Dr. Jack Carroll. The contest is free to enter and open to poets of any age. Entries must be received by Sept. 15 and may be submitted by mail to Free Poetry Contest, 7408 Heritage Dr., Mt. Vernon, IN 47620 or at www.rainbowpoets.com.

Bluegrass and Country Music Jamboree
Lone Star Barbecue and Mercantile presents its 8th annual Bluegrass and Country Music Jamboree Labor Day weekend Thursday, Sept. 2 through Sunday, Sept. 5. Four days of music is very family-oriented. No alcoholic beverages allowed. Lone Star Barbecue and Mecrantile is located at 2212 Santee State Park Road, Santee. Telephone (803) 854-2000.

SCDOT Real-Time Interstate Highway Travel Information
The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) now offers a link to real-time interstate highway travel information from its website,www.scdot.org. The site also provides travel time information, including estimated trip times based on current traffic conditions. From SCDOT’s home page, users can reach the link by clicking on “Getting Around in South Carolina” and under “Travel Advisories” will find “I-95 Corridor Travel Time Information” The site uses data streams from millions of GPS devices owned by long distance commercial vehicle operators, shipping companies, intercity transit providers and other sources.

South Carolina State Museum
 General Information:For information on group rates and tours, call 803-898-4999 or  803-898-4921. www.southcarolinastatemuseum.org. Location is 301 Gervais Street, Columbia, S.C. 29201. Hours are Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Open Mondays for the month of December and Memorial Day through Labor Day 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission: Adults  $7, Seniors 62 and up $5, Military $6, Children 3-12 $3, Children under 3 are admitted free. For more information, visit www.southcarolinastatemuseum.org or call 803-737-4159.

Oldies/Goldies Adult Party
The Brown’s Lounge and Together Sisters Club will sponsor a Oldies/Goldies adult party from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., Friday, Sept. 3 at the Brown’s Lounge in Blackville. Admission will be $5. Proceeds will help provide community activities.

Free self help classes
Take control with knowledge. Do you suffer from pain and stiffness due to arthritis? Are you less active than you’d like to be? The arthritis foundation offers free self help classes. All interested persons should contact Naomi Tyler, RN at (803) 793-4925 in Denmark or Rebecca Hammond, Orangeburg at (803) 536-4333. Classes are tentatively scheduled to start in September at Progressive Church, 282 Progressive Way, Denmark.

6th Annual Read and Romp Family Benefit Event
Reach Out and Read-South Carolina is excited to announce the 6th annual Read and Romp Family Benefit Event.  Read and Romp will take place on Sunday, Oct. 10 from 1-4 p.m. at the SC State Museum in Columbia and will be a day of fun best suited for children ages 2-8.  For more information or for tickets, call the ROR-SC State Office 803-434-2523 or toll free at 877-367-8839 or visit our website at www.reachoutandreadsc.org.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Take Control With Knowledge!!
Do you have pain; are you less active than you’d like to be; Do you suffer from stiffness due to arthritis; are you tired all of the time? Take control of your health and learn: The Arthritis Foundation is offering self-help classes through the Progressive Church at 282 Progressive Way, Denmark at no charge. For all interested persons, please contact Naomi R. Tyler, a registered nurse at (803) 793-4925 and or Rebecca Hammond at (803) 536-4333 for contacts and dates for classes.

Name That Park!
The City of Barnwell will hold a park naming contest for the new park located at the corner of Wellington and Jackson by the lake. Click on this link (lscox@cityofbarnwell.com) for a flyer for information or on this link for the entry form. All entries must be submitted to City Hall by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 3.

Barnwell’s Thursday’s 3rd Downtown
Join us each 3rd Thursday evening in Downtown Barnwell for music, activities, shopping and more. Com enjoy downtown again. Every month a flyer will be available online at www.cityofbarnwell.com and in downtown businesses to let you know what is happening. Sept. 16: Fall Jamboree – entertainment from the Barnwell School Bands, hot dog dinner fundraiser for the bands, hula hoop contest and great fall shopping opportunities from your local merchants; Oct. 21: Halloween Hoedown – entertainment from the resurrected band of doctors, lawyers and Indian chiefs, costume contest, mini-pumpkin painting, trick or treat with local merchants, Halloween hay rides and more.; Third Thursday brought to you by the Barnwell Development Association.

UCP of SC Benefit Event
The United Cerebral Palsy of South Carolina in conjunction with a benefit event will hold its annual 6th Cerebral Palsy benefit in loving memory of Richard A. Padgett and Kelby R. Stone 8 p.m. until on Sept. 10 at Lazy B’s in Ulmer. Proceeds will benefit the programs and services of UCP of South Carolina.

Help at Home
Help at Home is offering a program to help seniors with homemaking services that is funded by a grant from the State of South Carolina. It is of no cost to those who qualify. The recipient must be 60 years of age or older and be physically in need of housekeeping services. Please call (803) 649-0922 and ask about the HSC.
  
Upcoming Events for the Museum
Oct.1-30 –  Pennies for Preservation 24th Salkehatchie Stew story telling
Nov. 13– Native American Day

Reunions

Joseph W. and Donnie Gilliam Rosier Reunion
The annual Joseph W. and Donnie Gilliam Rosier reunion will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 25 at the Barnwell County Museum, Barnwell. Families are asked to bring a picnic basket/covered dish and drink. Utensils and paper goods will be furnished. All relatives and friends are invited.

Owens-Eargle-Poewr Hair Reunion
Descendants of Etheldred Owens, Daniel Eargle, Abram Powell and Mathias Hair are encouraged to attend its reunion at the New Ellenton Fire Department Training Center, 43 Chime Bell Church Rd, Aiken. Registration will be at 11 a.m. Lunch will be served at 1 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 3. Bring a picnic basket with all the trimmings, and tea.  Utensils, ice, paper goods furnished. Contact Esther Cope 803-652-3639 or Darlene Williams 803-593-5180

Williston-Elko Class of 1987
The Williston-Elko Class of 1987 will host their class reunion on Oct. 8-10.  Deadline dates are fast approaching.  For more information contact Denise Long at 803-671-2061.

Williston-Elko Class of 1971
The Williston-Elko Class of 1971 is planning a class reunion. Contact Betty S. Ray at (803) 266-3279 or Russell Ashley at (803) 300-4149.

Blackville-Hilda Class of 1989
Blackville-Hilda Class of 1989 is planning a class reunion. Please contact Fonda Ephriam Patrick at (803) 640-8710 for information.