Around Town: Wreaths Across America needs volunteers to help remove wreaths at Sumter Cemetery on Saturday

Wreaths Across America needs 30 minutes to an hour of your time on Saturday, Jan. 27, to remove the more than 800 wreaths from the cemetery that were placed after the Dec. 16 ceremony. Volunteers are asked to be at the Sumter Cemetery at noon for instructions. If you or someone you know laid a wreath on your loved one's grave and you do not want it removed, please contact the cemetery or Denise Owen at (912) 656-3966 with the name of your loved one's gravestone. E-mail Denise Owen at owenmom@aol.com for more information. Inclement weather may reschedule this event.

The Gala of Purple Chapeau's and Gloves Luncheon will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27, at Shoney's of Manning. Join with 500 ladies in hats and gloves, accompanied by 500 Black authors from Clarendon and Sumter counties, for this event and find out how you can change the trajectories of the lives of young people in your community. There will be a silent art raffle and books available for purchase. Please RSVP to Christopher Davis at (980) 210-9448 or email curatingbooksandart@gmail.com.

The United States Air Force Heritage Brass Band, a six-member ensemble that presents a diverse repertoire featuring orchestral transcriptions, patriotic favorites, jazz standards and some new compositions, will perform at 7:30 pm. on Saturday, Jan. 27, at the Sumter Opera House, 21 N. Main St. Visit www.sumteroperahouse.com or call (803) 436-2616 for more information or tickets to this free concert.

The Sumter County Sheriff's Office Citizen's Relations Advisory Board will meet at 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 29, at DeLaine Community Center, 5400 Cane Savannah Road, Wedgefield, SC 29168. The public is invited.

The Sumter County Museum will hold a free talk and book signing reception with Author Dr. Walter B. Curry Jr. from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3, in McKenzie Hall of the Sumter County Museum, 122 N. Washington St. The topic will be South Carolina African American Confederate Pensioners. A reception will follow with light refreshments and the opportunity to purchase books to be signed.

A Motown Revue and Black history month art exhibit will be held at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24, at Patriot Hall, 135 Haynsworth St. Visit www.patriothallsc.org or call (803) 436-2260 for information.

The Annual Barbecue Cook-Off benefiting Boy Scouts of America will be held Friday-Saturday, March 22-23, at the Sumter American Legion Fairgrounds, Sumter County Civic Center, 700 W. Liberty St. Wing ding will be held from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday with barbecue tasting and competition being held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. For information or tickets, visit sumterbbq.com.