Community Calendar of Events

THS soccer fundraiser Saturday
 The Timberland High School soccer teams are hosting a Flapjack Fundraiser on Saturday, March 9 at Applebee’s in Moncks Corner, starting at 8 a.m. Tickets are $7 and can be purchased by contacting Coach Scott at (843) 567-8110.
Breakfast includes a short stack of pancakes, sausage, milk, juice and coffee.


Air Force Association meeting Friday
 The Air Force Association Charleston Chapter quarterly general membership meeting will be held Friday, March 8 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (lunch at 11 a.m.) at The Charleston Club, Joint Base Charleston. 2012 AFA South Carolina Teacher of the Year Amy Baldwin is the guest speaker.
Meeting is open to AFA members and non-members with base access privileges.
 
Alzheimer’s support groups continue
The local Alzheimer’s Association has three caregiver support groups in the area held at different locations on the second Monday of each month.
Locations are the Goose Creek library (5:30-6:30 p.m.) on Old Moncks Corner Road, Moncks Corner Medical Center (11 a.m – noon) on N. Live Oak Drive, and the Otranto Road library (1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.) in North Charleston.
For more information, please contact Cawana Wilson at (843) 571-2641.
 
First Steps to hold meeting, election
The Berkeley County First Steps Partnership Board encourages the public to attend its annual meeting at 6 p.m. on March 14 in the Berkeley County School District boardroom at 229 East Main St. Moncks Corner. 
Berkeley County residents who attend can learn more about the results of the First Steps to School Readiness program in the county as well as future plans.  In addition the board will elect new members. 
The Berkeley County First Steps Partnership Board encourages the public to submit nominations to the Berkeley County First Steps Board of Trustees.  Nominees should reside or be employed in Berkeley County. 
Nominations should be submitted to Berkeley County First Steps Office 901 Island Park Drive Suite 201, Charleston, SC 29492. For a list of seats available, nomination forms and more information contact Stephanie Olazabal at berkeleyfirststeps@hotmail.com, www.berkeleyfirststeps.org, or by calling 416-8277.
 
Relay for Life pageant March 9
The Lower Berkeley Miss and Master Relay for Life Pageant is set for March 9 at Cane Bay High School. The pageant starts at 10 a.m. Admission is $5 at the door.
All proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society. For more information call Brenda McDowell at (843) 572-8092.
 
Tax aid sessions announced
AARP Tax Aid sessions have been scheduled at the Berkeley County Library Goose Creek and Farmers and Merchant Bank in Moncks Corner (221 East Main Street), on Monday and Thursday from 9:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the library, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. by appointment at Farmer’s and Merchant. Call (843) 761-0390 or (843) 270-7881 for an appointment.
 
Free wellness classes continue
Roper St. Francis Families for a Healthy Heart program teaches easy ways to be healthy and active. The program is offering a series of free wellness classes to be held at Howe Hall AIMS school in Goose Creek through April.
“Fats: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” a focus on cholesterol and heart disease, will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 9. Other classes are March 21, April 11 and April 27.
 
Republican Party precinct reorganization Saturday
The Berkeley County Republican Party will reorganize all voter precincts on Saturday March 9, beginning at 1 p.m.  
The precinct reorganization meeting is the opportunity for each precinct to choose their officers and Berkeley County Executive Committee Member.
A make-up meeting for all precincts is scheduled for March 18, and will be held at Berkeley Electric Co-op Meeting Room, 2 Springhall Road in Goose Creek, at 7 p.m. If you have any questions about precinct location please call Nancy Corbin at 688-4975.
The precincts and their scheduled meeting locations are as follows:
 
• Cross
Cane Bay Elementary School 1247 Cane Bay Blvd., Summerville
Hilton Crossroads
Lebanon 
Wassamassaw 1 and 2
Carnes Crossroads 1 and 2
Devon Forrest 1 and 2
Sangaree 1, 2, and 3
Stratford 1, 2, 3 and 4
Westview 1, 2 and 3
 
• Hanahan
Hanahan Middle School 5815 Murray Drive, Hanahan
Daniel Island 1 and 2
Cainhoy 
Goose Creek 1 and 2
Hanahan 1, 2, 3 and 4
Foster Creek
Howe Hall 1 and 2
 
• Moncks Corner
Berkeley Middle School 320 North Live Oak Drive, Moncks Corner
Moncks Corner 1, 2, 3 and 4
Pinopolis
Liberty Hall
Beverly Hills
Medway
Whitesville 1 and 2
Pimlico
Boulder Bluff 1 and 2
Mcbeth
Cordesville
 
• St. Stephen
Stephen Elementary School, 1053 Russellville Road, St. Stephen
Eadytown
Russelville 
St. Stephen 1 and 2 
Bonneau
Bonneau Beach
Macedonia
Alvin
Bethera
Huger
Jamestown
Shulerville
 
Cypress Gardens debuts music competition
Cypress Gardens will debut its own music competition to showcase local talent on Sunday, March 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This anticipated event will unite the Lowcountry’s best amateur musicians together with an excited audience ready to crown their favorite acts. The top performers in each class (17 and under; 18 and over) will receive a $100 cash prize and be crowned “Swamp Celebrities,” a title they will carry for one year.
Jim Ravoira, a supporter of Cypress Gardens and member of the local ukulele band, “Charleston Hot Shots,” came up with the competition in hopes of offering a platform for local musicians to showcase their talents. The “Friends of Cypress Gardens” group is donating cash prizes for the winners. 
Performers must be amateurs to enter.  Each act will perform one acoustic song up to five minutes long.  Single acts, duos, trios and groups are welcome and must register by March 9. 
For more information and a full list of performance rules, visit swampcelebrity.blogspot.com.
The event’s activities are free with regular paid admission into Cypress Gardens. 
 
Youth gardening contest accepting applications
SC 4-H Youth Development Programs have announced a new project for youth who are interested in gardening.
The Small Garden Project will allow youth ages 5 to 19 to learn how to prepare, plant, maintain and harvest a small garden. A contest record book will also be submitted for judging.  
Seeds will be provided for one vegetable. Participants will choose at least two other vegetable crops to grow. An area of at least 100 square feet will be needed for the garden. Raised beds can be used if desired.
The registration fee of $15 for current 4-H members and $25 for non-members covers the cost of a soil sample, record book, score criterion and seed packet.  Registrations will be accepted until March 8.
Soil samples must be submitted to the local County Extension office by March 15 in order to meet the April 5 planting deadline. The contest record book will be due on June 21. 
Contact County Extension Agent Gayle Williford at (843) 719-4140 ext. 116 or gwillif@clemson.edu to register or for more information.