American Legion Auxiliary Unit 202 to hold fall dance

The American Red Cross is urging donors of all blood types to share their good health this holiday season by donating blood or platelets for patients in need. Schedule your donation appointment by using the free Blood Donor App, by visiting www.redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Help save a life by participating in one of the following American Red Cross blood donation opportunities: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27, 428 Shaw Drive, Building 806, Shaw Air Force Base; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28, Component Maintenance Squadron Shaw Air Force Base, 558 Killian Ave., 20 CMS Squadron Building; and 2-7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, Grace Baptist Church, 219 W. Calhoun St.

Clarendon School District One will conduct free vision, hearing, speech and developmental screenings as part of a child find effort to identify students ages 3-5, who may need special education services and are not enrolled in a public school. Screenings will be conducted from 9 a.m. to noon at the Summerton Early Childhood Center, 8 South St., Summerton, on the following Tuesdays: Nov. 13; Dec. 11; Jan. 8, 2019; Feb. 12, 2019; March 12, 2019; April 9, 2019; and May 14, 2019. Call Robert Collar at (803) 574-2117.

American Legion Auxiliary Unit 202 will present its fall dance 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, at 310 Palmetto St. Tickets: $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Casual attire but no sneakers and no jeans. DJ Smoove will provide music. There will be food and door prizes. Call Mattie at (803) 468-1299 or Janetta at (803) 406-8038.

The Sumter County Veterans Association's Veterans Day program will be held on Monday, Nov. 12, on the lawn of the old Sumter County Courthouse on North Main Street. The program will begin at 11 a.m. with Col. Derek O'Malley, 20th Fighter Wing commander, serving as keynote speaker. Prior to the program, there will be a Veterans Day parade at 10 a.m. on Main Street. The program will honor all veterans, living or deceased, for the service they have given and continue to give to keep our country free. Call Larry E. Huff, chairman of the Sumter County Veterans Association, at (803) 236-1203 or (803) 494-2894 for information.

The next Dream Team Event will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 13, at Sumter Resource Center. Call (803) 774-7776 for information.

Connect: Special Needs Support Group will meet from 6:15 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 13, in the fellowship hall of Bible Fellowship Church, 227 Broad St. Kristen Lauterbach Craig, with Top Tier Dog Training, will present a service dog demonstration. Kristen will have several service dogs with her and will explain their training as well as answering questions and informing attendees of their rights as a service dog handler. If you are interested in a service dog for you or your child, this event is for you. There will be refreshments and fellowship with other special needs families.

The Sumter Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina will meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 13, at Shiloh-Randolph Manor, 125 W. Bartlette St. Contact Debra Canty, chapter president, at (803) 775-5792 or debra.canty@frontier.com.

The Sumter County Museum's 21st Annual Carolina Backcountry Oyster Roast will be held 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 15, at 122 N. Washington St. Tickets: $40 for members; $50 for non-members; and $55 at the door (if available). Enjoy all-you-can-eat oysters, barbecue, chili, collards, beer, wine and soft drinks. Call (803) 775-0908 or visit www.sumtercountymuseum.org.

The Sumter Combat Veterans Group will meet at 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 16, at the headquarters building, 529 N. Wise Drive. All area veterans are invited.

The Daffodils & Silver Bells Arts and Craft Show will be held 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, and noon-4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18, at 30 S. Artillery Drive. Please bring a non-perishable food item to help support United Ministries. Event will also help support Kat's Special Kneads Small Animal Shelter. Santa will visit on Sunday noon-3 p.m. with photos with G&W Photo Art.

The Town of Pinewood will hold its annual tree lighting service at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 24, corner of Clark Street and East Avenue, Pinewood. There will be caroling and light refreshments will be served. Call (803) 452-5878 for information.

The ninth annual Town of Pinewood Christmas Parade will be held on Saturday, Dec. 1. Departing from Manchester Elementary School, 220 W. Clark St., Pinewood, at 10 a.m. sharp, the parade will feature bands, emergency response vehicles, specialty cars and trucks, motorcycles, community entries, church organizations, beauty queens, food vendors, craft sales and much more. The "fire red" antique fire truck will escort Santa and Mrs. Claus to the portrait and gift giving location at Town Hall so be sure to bring your camera.

The Evening Optimist Club's annual Sumter Christmas Parade will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2, on Main Street. This year's theme is "Joy to the World."

Connect: Special Needs Support Group will offer Christmas pictures with Santa and Christmas cookie decorating 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8, at Bible Fellowship Church, 227 Broad St. If visiting Santa is difficult for your special needs family, this is the perfect opportunity because our Santa is a special needs professional who will be patient and loving with your little one. Pictures are complimentary. Leave your email address or Facebook information and you will receive a free digital copy of your photo. Stick around after the photos and decorate a cookie to take home. If you would like to donate sugar cookies or cookie decorating materials, contact Autumn Parnell at (803) 316-4627 or adparnell@yahoo.com.