Friends of Waccamaw Library Newsletter: Your bi-monthly newsletter is here!

What's happening on the Waccamaw Neck ~ compliments of the Friends of Waccamaw Library!

FOWL Community Connector

April 1, 2017

The Friends of Waccamaw Library's bi-monthly digital newsletter aims to let you know what's happening on the Waccamaw Neck and Georgetown (farther afield if it's library-related). This e-communication supplements the hard copy newsletter mailed quarterly and is sent to all Friends (whose e-dresses we have) and to all who ask to be added to the Constant Contact list.

In addition to the programming developed by the library system and the Friends (in red), we will cover other opportunities for quality experiences, education and entertainment. The information is organized by date, so scroll down to the date you are seeking. If you are part of a group or organization with news to share, we welcome your announcement. Keep it short; just the facts. We cannot reproduce an elaborate pdf with graphics and photos. The key information needed includes: Title of event, Where held, When (date and time), BRIEF description, Benefit for (if applicable), Cost (if any), Contact (phone and email), Website (for more information).

To be added to the e-mail list or to submit an announcement, please send your information directly to the e-newsletter editor Linda Ketron at: linda@classatpawleys.com.

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Kids & Families at Waccamaw Library - all programs free.

Manners Club is held the first Saturday each month, providing basic etiquette and manners training in a fun and exciting environment for children 4-10 years old. Contact Connie Graham (Ms. Manners) at PawleysIslandMannersClub@gmail.com.
Game on! We play a wide variety of family friendly board and card games at every branch, and always have a great time. Waccamaw Game Night, Tuesdays, 5:30-8:30 PM, free, ddennis@gtcounty.org.
Art with the Myrtle Beach Art Museum. Ages 7 and up, 1st Wednesday each month, 3-4 PM.
Canine Angels. Reading has gone to the dogs! Check out this link to see the benefits to children of reading to attentive pooches: www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/186708. All ages, 2nd & 4th Wednesday each month, 3-4 PM.
LEGO Free Build. All ages, Fridays after school.
Minecraft Club. Come share the worlds you've created! All ages, Fridays after school.

Adults at Waccamaw Library - most programs are free, although some require membership. Contact sbremner@gtcounty.org.

Tidelands Camera Club meets on the first Monday each month, 9-11 AM.
Technology Club meets on the second Monday each month at 9:30 AM to discuss advances.
Waccamaw Genealogy Club meets on the third Monday each month, 9-11:30 AM.
Knitting Group meets Mondays, 1-3 PM to knit and crochet with company and share patterns and techniques. Contact Carol Davison at caroldavisonk2tog@yahoo.com.
Mah Jongg Club meets Tuesdays, 1-3 PM, bring your set and current card.
iPad Club meets on the first Friday each month, 9-10 AM.
Mac Club meet on the first Friday each month, 10-11 AM.

April Artist at the Waccamaw Library: Nancy Bracken.

All of Nancy Bracken's tranquil watercolor paintings of "Beaches and Trees" on exhibit through April are for sale through the Friends Center. Each is $200, and Nancy is donating all of the proceeds to FOWL (Friends of Waccamaw Library). Moving to the beautiful Lowcountry of South Carolina over twenty years ago gave Bracken the opportunity to develop her skills and passion as an artist. She began her studies with Bruce Chandler, learning watercolor and collage techniques for depicting the beauty of the ocean, marsh and nature. Her training included many workshops and classes locally and abroad. She is a member of the South Carolina Watercolor Society, Waccamaw Arts and Crafts Guild, and Georgetown Watercolor Society. She enjoys painting with other artists, friends and groups. Her artwork is available at Art Works, Gray Man Gallery and Waterfront Books in Georgetown. Her paintings have been featured in exhibits at the Rice Museum in Georgetown, as well as in other galleries and shows. Bracken's artwork is often purchased by those who wish to take a memento of the Lowcountry home with them. She enjoys knowing that her beach inspired artwork serves as a reminder of good times and beautiful vistas.

April Photographer at the Waccamaw Library: David Fattaleh

Hailing from a family-owned photofinishing business, David Fattaleh has been in photography most of his life. He started his photographic career as a wedding, portrait, and school photographer. His career expanded when he was hired as the Photography Manager for the West Virginia Division of Tourism. There he had the privilege of photographing beautiful landscapes, wildlife, natural wonders, state parks, and historical areas of West Virginia. David's photographic career, in West Virginia, also included being part of the photographic team for the Governor's Office. As a freelance photographer, his clientele included hospitals, local businesses, national and local magazine publishers, industrial and commercial photography. David's work has been shown in many publications, such as: Time-Life Books, Newsweek, National Geographic Adventure, Louisville Magazine, Huntington Quarterly Magazine, Marshall Magazine, Wonderful West Virginia Magazine, and others throughout the US and abroad. He has taught photography classes and workshops at West Virginia state parks and at the Huntington Museum of Art. He has conducted presentations at local high schools, photography clubs, city and state conventions, and business luncheons. He retired from his WV career in 2009, and now resides in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. A member of the Carolina Nature Photographers Association (CNPA) and the Tidelands Photography Club, David also teaches an Advanced Photography class for Coastal Carolina University at the OLLI-Litchfield campus. To view more works by David check out his website at www.davidfattaleh.com. For more information about the photography displayed at the Waccamaw Library, email sbremner@gtcounty.org.

Dear FCCF (FOWL Community Connector Folks),

I'm sending this newsletter one day early because there's so much good stuff happening TODAY!

All the best,

Linda Ketron, Editor

Friday & Saturday, March 31-April 1

9:30 AM-5 PM - 69th Annual Plantation & Townhouse Tours, sponsored by Episcopal Church Women of Prince George Winyah Parish. Tours of historic plantation homes and townhouses, midday musical moments at the church, afternoon tea at the Winyah Indigo Society Hall, home-baked goods, original framed art by local artists, books from Georgetown Historical Society. Limited number of tickets for each day. $40 per day or $70 for both, 843.545.8291 or PrinceGeorgePlantationTours.com.

Friday, March 31

Opens today! "Then and Now: The Transformation of the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. The Horry County Museum opens this new exhibit, dedicated to the rich history and special memories of the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, today. The Base served The United States and the Horry County Community for more than 50 years. This exhibit explores the development of the MBAFB, its unexpected closing, and redevelopment into one of the Grand Strand's top destinations, the Market Common. Also showcased is the impressive history of the 354th Fighter Wing. This exhibit is sponsored by The Order of the Daedalians Flight 77 and Carolina Trust Federal Credit Union. Free and open to the public. For further information, 843.915.5320 or HorryCountyMuseum.org.

2:30 PM and 7 PM - Strand Cinema (710 Front St., Georgetown) presents a Special Event Screening of "Sophie and the Rising Sun." Set in the autumn of 1941 in Salty Creek, a fishing village in South Carolina (filmed in McClellanville), , the film tells the dramatic story of interracial lovers swept up in the tides of history. As World War II rages in Europe, a wounded Asian stranger, Mr. Ohta, appears in the town under mysterious circumstances. Sophie, a native of Salty Creek, quickly becomes transfixed by Mr. Ohta and a friendship born of their mutual love of art blossoms into a delicate and forbidden courtship. As their secret relationship evolves the war escalates tragically. When Pearl Harbor is bombed, a surge of misguided patriotism, bigotry and violence sweeps through the town, threatening Mr. Ohta's life. A trio of women, each with her own secrets, rejects law and propriety, risking their lives with their actions. Based on the novel by Augusta Trobaugh. Also offered Sat., April 1, 2:30 PM and 7 PM. 843.527.2924, 3#

Saturday, April 1

9 AM-noon - Georgetown County bi-annual Household Hazardous Waste and Paper Shredding event at Midway Fire and Rescue

(67 St. Paul Place, next door to the Waccamaw Library). As usual, residents are invited to bring for disposal their unwanted hazardous household items including paint, oil, car batteries, antifreeze, household cleansers, non-commercial pesticides and fertilizers. The event will also include a paper shredding truck. For more information, 843.545.3524 or tdavis@gtcounty.org.

1 PM - Exploring Religious Cultures, a new 6-month seies sponsored by FOWL and the Waccamaw Library, presents Francis Jordan, Ed.D. on "Bahai'a - Its Journey and Culture" at the Waccamaw Library. Born in Germany, Dr. Jordan was naturalized at the age of 16. He is a retired Social Studies teacher, having spent his teaching career in rural South Carolina schools. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Hawk missile technician. In 1967 he was chosen to represent the Hawk program at the War College in Quantico, Virginia. He has done post-doctoral studies in Russian and Chinese history and authored a book, Child of the Half-Light: Stories from the Life of a Baha'i, based on his 47 years as a Baha'i. This new series will run from April through September, featuring scholars and lecturers presenting the diversities of cultures and spiritualities, including Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, Socrates and Religion. Following each presentation, a question and answer session will be encouraged. Look to the bi-monthly connector and website for further dates and times of these lectures, the scholars and title. For more information, sbremner@gtcounty.org.

2:30 PM and 7 PM - Strand Cinema presents a Special Event Screening of "Sophie and the Rising Sun." See March 31 entry for details. 843.527.2924, 3#

4-9 PM - Hobnob at Hobcaw invites you to a River Celebration! This annual benefit for the Waccamaw RIVERKEEPER® program is held at Kimbel Lodge/Pond Shelter at Hobcaw Barony. Live music by Sawgrass, oysters (and Southern fare) beer, wine! Fantastic silent auction and door prizes. Also this year there will be a special tour of Hobcaw Barony for Hobnob guests before the event at 2 PM ($20 per person). Advance registration required, please call 843.904.9014. Hobnob tickets $30/member; $35/non-member, children under 14 free, 843.349.4007 or WinyahRivers.org.

Tuesday, April 4

4-6 PM - Naturalist Mark Catesby by Dr. Patrick McMillan. Naturalist, author, educator and Emmy®-winning Dr. Patrick McMillan, Clemson University professor and host of PBS television's, Expeditions with Patrick McMillan is guest speaker discussing 18th century English naturalist Mark Catesby. Between 1729 and 1747 Catesby published his Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands, the first published account of the flora and fauna of North America - a century before John James Audubon's works! Program will be held at the Clemson Lab. $25 per person. Reservations required. 843.546.4623 or HobcawBarony.org.

4:30-7:30 PM - Annual Kiwanis Pancake Supper/Silent Auction at Eggs Up Grill (Willbrook Boulevard, Pawleys Island). Proceeds will benefit the Joy School and Literacy Project. Tickets ($7) are available from Kiwanis Members, at Eggs Up Grill a few days before the event and the night of the supper at the door. Call for ticket delivery, 843.325.1755.

Wednesday, April 5

Noon-1:30 PM - Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce presents Dr. James H. Johnson of UNC-Chapel Hill at Pawleys Plantation speaking on "Six Disruptive Demographics that will Change America Forever." Dr. Johnson, Director, Urban Investment Strategies Center, Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, was selected by Fast Company magazine as one of the "17... brightest thinkers and doers in the new world of work." His current research and consulting activities focus on the workforce and workplace implications of post-1990 demographic changes in the United States and on how to create highly competitive and sustainable business enterprises and communities in the current era of economic uncertainty and global insecurity. His research on these and related topics has been widely cited in a number of national media outlets. At the intersection of two disruptive demographic trends - the "browning" and "greying" of America - over half of our nation's youth are isolated in neighborhoods and communities characterized by hyper-racial segregation, extreme poverty, life-threatening deteriorating physical infrastructure and inadequate political and/or financial support to correct these problems. This presentation will illustrate the nature and magnitude of these problems in the 11 Southeastern states that comprise the SECF footprint and outline strategies that must be pursued to ameliorate the situation. Call the Chamber at 843.546.8436 or events@visitgeorge.com. Registration fee is $30 per person and includes lunch.

1 PM - Brookgreen Gardens Gullah Program in the Wall Lowcountry Center Auditorium. Ron Daise, Vice-president for Creative Education and Gullah descendant, will present an entertaining and informative program about the culture, food, language, and history of the Gullah Geechee people. Also offered April 12, 19 & 26. Free with garden admission, 843.235.6000 or Brookgreen.org.

Thursday, April 6

10 AM-Noon - First Thursday Speakers Series at Waccamaw Library.

This FOWL-hosted event features Ron Roth presenting Bound for Canaan: The Underground Railroad, sponsored by South Carolina Humanities. A seasoned national historian, Roth describes efforts to hide and guide runaway slaves in their journeys to freedom including a look at the work of railroad "conductors" like Harriet Tubman and the influence of SC's Stono rebellion on the railroad's development. First Thursday programs also offered May 4 and June 1. Free and open to the public, stpetepic@aol.com, theFOWL.org.

1:30-4:30 PM - Behind the Scenes Tour. Expanded tour of the property offers opportunities to see and experience more than Introductory Tour. Includes stops at the North Inlet salt marsh, the grounds of Bellefield Plantation, Friendfield Village, and the main floor of Hobcaw House. $30 per person. 843.546.4623 or HobcawBarony.org.

3-4 PM - 2017 Litchfield Tea & Poetry at the Waccamaw Neck Library.

Join Susan Laughter Meyers and Libby Bernardin, series facilitators, for the finale of the 11th year featuring talented poets of the region. The featured poet is nationally known poet Kate Daniels, professor and Director of Creative Writing at Vanderbilt University, and the author of several poetry collections - the latest, A Walk in Victoria's Secret. Among her many honors are a Guggenheim Fellowship and Pushcart Prize. She will offer a reading of her poems, including her work in the new anthology Hard Lines: Rough South Poetry (University of South Carolina Press, 2016). Introducing her will be co-editor Daniel Cross Turner, who will also talk about the anthology's focus. Book signing after the reading; tea and homemade confections by Deloris Roberts. Free and open to the public, theFOWL.org, bardowl2@aol.com, libbypoet@gmail.com.

5-8 PM - Pawcake Dinner at Applewood House of Pancakes (Ocean Highway) to benefit All4Paws Rescue Shelter. Tickets ($15) may be purchased at the door or All4PawsSC.org.

Friday, April 7

11 AM - Winyah Chapter of the DAR hosts the third annual scholarship luncheon at DeBordieu Colony Ballroom. "The Winyah Stage Door Canteen," featuring Charleston duo Gracie & Lacy, is a USO-style show of songs and dances from the 40's, complete with costume changes, delightful anecdotes and toe tapping music! Lunch menu selected from the favorites of President FDR when he was visiting Hobcaw Barony in the 1940's. $85 ($50 tax deductible), 843.325.1800 or sndavis05@gmail.com.

11 AM-1 PM - Moveable Feast: Michel Stone (Border Child) at Carefree Catering. For Héctor and Lilia, pursuit of the American Dream became every parent's worst fear when their infant daughter vanished as they crossed from Mexico to the United States - now they must try to get her back. With great empathy and a keen awareness of current events, Michel Stone, the award-winning author of The Iguana Tree, delivers a novel of surpassing sensitivity and heart. $30, 843.235.9600 or ClassAtPawleys.com.

6:30 PM - Friday Night Classic Movies Series at the Waccamaw Library presents "Tootsie" (1982). Sydney Pollack directed this gender-bending premise of a brilliant but troublesome New York actor, who lands a job on a popular soap opera by disguising himself as a woman. He (as she) becomes a widely-known "actress" with romantic complications with his/her co-star and her widowed father. Starring Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lane, Charles Duning, Dabney Coleman, Teri Garr, Geena Davis, and Bill Murray. Free and open to the public, sbremner@gtcounty.org.

Saturday, April 8

8:30-10:30 AM - Migratory Bird Walks in Awendaw. Lying along the Atlantic Flyway, the Avian Conservation Center campus is a perfect location to catch a glimpse of peak avian migration. Join the Center's experienced birding guides for an introduction to the Painted Bunting and other colorful migrants that frequent the Center's campus each spring. After the walk, guests are invited to join the regular morning bird of prey tour and flight demonstrations at no additional cost. Also offered April 15, May 20 & May 27. $15 (members), $20 (non-members), 843.971.7474 or TheCenterforBirdsofPrey.org.

1 PM - The Horry County Museum and the Horry County Historical Society present Karen Stokes on "Ann Pamela Cunningham - The South Carolinian who Saved Mt. Vernon." The founder of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association, Ann Pamela Cunningham, created the organization responsible for saving and restoring the home of President George Washington, Mount Vernon. Upon seeing the state of Washington's home in 1853, Cunningham challenged the women of the south, and later the women of the entire country to save the historic property. After convincing John Augustine Washington III to sell the property, Cunningham and the organization she founded, raised $200,000 to purchase the mansion and two hundred acres. Through these actions, she established one of the earliest preservation and heritage organizations in the United States. Karen Stokes has been an archivist with the South Carolina Historical Society since 1994. She has a B.A. in English from the College of Charleston and an M.S. in library and information science from the University of South Carolina. Her main focus is the processing and cataloging of the manuscript collection, and her primary area of interest is South Carolina in the Confederacy. The program, which is free and open to the public, is held in McCown Auditorium (805 Main Street, Conway). For more information, call 843.915.5320 or email hcgmuseum@horrycounty.org.

Sunday, April 9-Saturday, April 22

1 PM - Community Cleanups Kick-off at Pitch Landing (Conway). Join or organize a cleanup in the communities affected by the flood. Perfect for church groups, schools and/or volunteer and service opportunities. Join with hundreds of local residents working together to help clean beaches, rivers, lakes, marshes, and swamps of trash and debris. The kick-off at Pitch Landing celebrates the dedication of a river bench given in honor of Loralee Badgett. See April 22 for the River Walk and Paddle. To learn more about these efforts or to register your group today, WinyahRivers.org.

Mondays, April 10 and May 8

10 AM - Workshop for Parents at the Waccamaw Library. Educational advocate Sheri Smith is coming to the Waccamaw Library to present a three-part series called "Let's Get Started: Navigating a Path for your Children's Success." The series will help parents navigate the educational system, create valuable relationships between school and home, and prepare for the ups and downs of a child's educational lifetime. Smith has been an educational advocate for 20 years. After earning her degree in early education, she became a preschool teacher. She also owned and operated her own preschool in California. She holds a degree in communication disorders and has worked as a speech therapist. After retiring, she started her own company called L.E.A.R.N LLC. In each of these workshops, Smith will provide the parents with a specific set of tools, vocabulary methods to empower them with confidence and enable them to easily handle any situation which might arise during their child's educational lifetime. Free and open to the public. To reserve a seat or for more information, email sbremner@gtcounty.org.

Tuesday, April 11

11 AM-1 PM - The Moveable Feast: Rose Senehi (Carolina Belle) at Ocean One. Belle McKenzie is obsessed with finding the best apple anyone ever bit into, and determined to rekindle the love this obsession has nearly destroyed. Rich in emotion and driven by suspense, this tale reveals the bold, resourceful character needed for a clan to survive for five generations in the precarious business of apple growing in the North Carolina Mountains. Woven throughout this story is the fascinating history of the American apple that started when countless settlers planted seeds all over a country that had no apple trees, kicking off one of the biggest evolutionary experiments this nation has ever seen. $30, 843.235.9600 or ClassAtPawleys.com.

Wednesday, April 12

1 PM - Brookgreen Gardens Gullah Program in the Wall Lowcountry Center Auditorium. See April 5 entry for details. Also offered April 19 & 26. Free with garden admission, 843.235.6000 or Brookgreen.org.

Thursday, April 13

4 PM - Is Capitalism Meeting the Needs of Most Americans? An economic exploration with Terry Munson at the Waccamaw Library.

Is a commitment to constant wealth expansion the key to happiness as we've been told over and over, or are there alternatives which lead to more meaningful lives while providing wider prosperity? These questions and others will be explored by retired systems engineer and linguist Terry Munson as he takes on big issues about America's financial future. "This one-hour, apolitical presentation is not about socialism or any other unworkable solution," Munson said. "It points out the major shortcomings of our current economic system and asks the question, 'Are we smart enough to devise an economic system that works for a greater percentage of our citizens?'" For more information and to reserve a seat, sbremner@gtcounty.org.

Friday, April 14

11 AM-1 PM - The Moveable Feast: Karen White (The Night the Lights Went Out) at 21 Main, North Beach Resort. From the New York Times bestselling author of Flight Patterns comes a stunning new women's fiction novel about a young single mother who discovers that there's no such thing as the perfect neighbor, and that finding out who your true friends are is the most important lesson of all. $30, 843.235.9600 or ClassAtPawleys.com.

1:30-4 PM - Learn to Throw A Cast Net. This is your chance to learn how to throw a cast net! After only a few practice casts, you'll learn a fool-proof way of opening the net with ease. You'll be welcomed on the bow of any boat once you have mastered the art of the throw. After practicing on land, participants will be taken to Clambank Creek to test their skills. Bring your own cast net. Open for all ages. $20 per person. Reservations required. 843.546.4623 or HobcawBarony.org.

Saturday, April 15

8 AM - 12th Annual Race for the Inlet. Lace up those sneakers for our Annual Race! This fun 5K Race/Walk and our 8K Race includes a scenic route amongst the live oaks and the scenic view of the Inlet and an Awards Breakfast following the race. Participants can run or walk through Murrells Inlet on the USATF certified courses. Race timing provided by Race Management Systems. A fun event suitable for all ages and skill levels. Last year we had over 600 entries from 19 states! Entry fees and details at Active.com or MurrellsInletSC.com, 843.357.2007.

8:30-10:30 AM - Migratory Bird Walks in Awendaw. See April 8 entry for details. Also offered May 20 & May 27. $15 (members), $20 (non-members), 843.971.7474 or TheCenterforBirdsofPrey.org.

Monday-Thursday, April 17-20

10 AM-3 PM - Brookgreen Spring Break Camp for Georgetown County. K-1st graders on April 17 &18; 2nd-3rd graders on April 19 & 20, 10 AM-3 PM. Sessions offer nature exploration, crafts, games, projects, and live animal encounters. Fees are $65 for Members and $80 for Non-Members. Register at 843.235.6049 or Brookgreen.org.

Tuesday, April 18

9-11 AM - Carolina Nature Photographers Association Open House at the Waccamaw Library (41 St. Paul Place, Pawleys Island). Meet the CNPA's new coordinators/advisors David Fattaleh, Anne Malarich, Bill Barber, Phil Duwel and Deb Duwel for a discussion on future outings and regional goals. Featured presenter David Fattaleh will address "Creative Lighting and Nature." This event is free and open to the interested public. Future meeting dates at the Waccamaw Library are June 20, Aug. 22, Oct. 24 and a December holiday dinner to be announced. For more information, contact CNPA.org or duwelphotography@earthlink.com.

1:30-4:30 PM - Friendfield Village Tour. Introductory Tours pass through this African American village, once home to 100 slaves and lived in by black employees until 1952. This extended tour of Friendfield carries participants by bus, but allows a stop to walk through cabins and the 19th century church. $20 per person. Reservations required. 843.546.4623 or HobcawBarony.org.

Wednesday, April 19

10:30 AM-1 PM - Cane Pole Fishing at Hobcaw Barony. Fish the old fashioned way! Catch and release fish at the ponds of Hobcaw Barony. Cane pole and bait provided for each participant. Please remember to bring sunscreen, water and snacks. $20 per person. Reservations are required, 843.546.4623 or HobcawBarony.org.

1 PM - Brookgreen Gardens Gullah Program in the Wall Lowcountry Center Auditorium. See April 5 entry for details. Also offered April 26. Free with garden admission, 843.235.6000 or Brookgreen.org.

Thursday, April 20

6:30 PM - Exploring Religious Cultures, a 6-month series sponsored by FOWL and the Waccamaw Library, presents K. C. Patel on "Hinduism: History of Culture, Beginnings and Spirituality" at the Waccamaw Library. This series will run through September, featuring scholars and lecturers presenting the diversities of cultures and spiritualities. Following each presentation, a question and answer session will be encouraged. Look to the bi-monthly connector and website for further dates and times of these lectures, the scholars and title. For more information, sbremner@gtcounty.org.

Friday, April 21

11 AM-1 PM - The Moveable Feast: Julie James (The Thing About Love) at Inlet Affairs. The New York Times bestselling author of Suddenly One Summer blows the covers of two FBI agents who can't hide who they are from each other. FBI agents Jessica Harlow and John Shepherd have a past. The former lawyer and cocky Army Ranger clashed during their training at Quantico and gladly went their separate ways after graduating from the Academy. Six years later, the last thing either of them expects is to be assigned to work as partners in a high-profile undercover sting. $30, 843.235.9600 or ClassAtPawleys.com.

1:30-4 PM - Earth Day Open House co-sponsored by Baruch Foundation and the North Inlet-Winyah Bay Reserve & Foundation at the Hobcaw Barony Discovery Center. This event will feature various research and education activities at Hobcaw Barony. Visit NorthInlet.sc.edu and HobcawBarony.org and our Facebook pages for more details to come! Free, 843.904.9016.

Saturday, April 22

10 AM-Noon - Earth Day Bike to the Boardwalk hosted by North Inlet-Winyah Bay Reserve. Bike through Hobcaw's forest to the Reserve's beautiful salt marsh boardwalk on North Inlet estuary. Travel 5 miles (roundtrip) on gravel roads through Hobcaw Barony's pristine property. Upland forest habitats, wildlife, research and salt marsh ecology will be discussed during the trip. Bring your own bike (all terrain tires recommended), helmet, water, snack, camera/binoculars (if desired). Free, 843.904.9016.

10 AM-Noon - River Walk and Paddle for the Waccamaw River. Come celebrate the important work being done on the Waccamaw River to protect our rivers and waterways and learn about your watershed. A fun family event for all ages! This Earth Day show your appreciation for the countless number of researchers and professionals, local residents, and river enthusiasts who have dedicated their time to our river by walking with us along the River walk or paddling alongside it on the Waccamaw River. Free paddle boats. First come, first served. Public Parking at 110 Main Street & Laurel Street (across from the Warehouse). Starts on the Conway River Walk and ends at the Conway Marina, 4 Elm Street. Info at WinyahRivers.org.

Noon - Exploring Religious Cultures, a 6-month series sponsored by FOWL and the Waccamaw Library, presents Dr. Nils Rauhut from the Jackson Family Institute at Coastal Carolina University on "Socrates & Religion" at the Waccamaw Library. This series will run through September, featuring scholars and lecturers presenting the diversities of cultures and spiritualities. Following each presentation, a question and answer session will be encouraged. Look to the bi-monthly connector and website for further dates and times of these lectures, the scholars and title. For more information, sbremner@gtcounty.org.

Sunday, April 23

9:45 AM-3 PM - 26th Annual Spring Tide - A Day for the Inlet. Twenty-five years and going strong, Spring Tide is South Carolina's biggest and longest-running one-day community clean-up. Join in to clean up the creek and streets of Murrells Inlet. The day begins with an invocation at 9:45 AM at Morse Park Landing (next to the Hot Fish Club). Volunteers check in at the Hot Fish Club to receive street assignments for clean-up. Workers head out at 10 AM to start picking up the trash. Everyone is invited back to the Hot Fish Club at 1 PM for the "Best Damn Chowder Cook-off," light-hearted festivities and live music to celebrate our hard work. More than 15 restaurant chowders will be available and the chowder is free to all our workers. Bring your boats, boots, bug spray, glove and your love of the Inlet. Free, 843.357.2007 or MurrellsInletSC.com.

Monday, April 24

8:30 AM-6 PM - Road Trip to ArtFields hosted by the Burroughs & Chapin Art Museum. ArtFields is a unique 10-day (April 21-29) Southern art fest in the historic community of Lake City, SC. More than 400 masterpieces will be displayed in locally-owned venues, from renovated warehouses from the 1920s to Smithsonian-qualified art galleries to upscale restaurants and start-up boutiques, in a mutual celebration of art and community. Reservations by April 19, $60 members, $65 non-members, 843.238.2510.

10 AM-1 PM - Yachting with The Baruchs. Imagine you are a guest of the Baruch Family as you cruise Winyah Bay aboard Captain Rod's Lady Franada. Staff and volunteers have examined the history of the '30s and '40s and provide interpretation. Learn about Baruch's construction of Hobcaw House in 1930, Winston Churchill's arrival by yacht in 1932, the effect of the Great Depression on Georgetown's port, lumber yards and agriculture. Celebrate President Roosevelt's month-long visit in April of 1944 and learn of his fishing, the presence of the US military in our area and the officers and cabinet members who arrived in secrecy during a tumultuous time in US history. Guests will drive their own cars from the front gate to Hobcaw House (4 miles on a dirt road). $50 per person, reservations required. 843.546.4623 or HobcawBarony.org.

Tuesday, April 25

1:30-3:30 PM - Bellefield Plantation Tour. This program feature the permanent home of Belle Baruch, daughter of Bernard and Anne Baruch. As the house stands empty and awaits restoration, these tours provide a peek inside the home, as well as a chance to walk the grounds, see the stables, kennels, garage and gardens of a once stately home. $20 per person, reservations required. 843.546.4623 or HobcawBarony.org.

6 PM - Literary Discussion at the Author's Table featuring Dr. John Charles Williamson leading an interactive discussion of Colson Whitehead's 2016 National Book Award winning novel, The Underground Railroad. The Oprah Book Club selection tells the story of two slaves from Georgia, Cora and Caesar, as they escape to freedom following the Underground Railroad. Their first stop is in South Carolina, in a city that initially seems like a haven. Mr. Ridgeway, the relentless slave catcher, is on their heels as they try to escape. The story continues as they follow the Underground Railroad state by state, seeking true freedom. Williamson received his Ph.D. in American literature from the University of Virginia and has published numerous scholarly articles on African American literature and culture, including the monograph Abandoning the Black Hero: Sympathy and Privacy in the Postwar African American White-Life Novel (Rutgers UP 2013). To reserve a seat or for more information, email sbremner@gtcounty.org.

Wednesday, April 26

1 PM - Brookgreen Gardens Gullah Program in the Wall Lowcountry Center Auditorium. See April 5 entry for details. Free with garden admission, 843.235.6000 or Brookgreen.org.

Thursday, April 27

1:30-4:30 PM - Behind the Scenes Tour. Expanded tour of the property offers opportunities to see and experience more than Introductory Tour. Includes stops at the North Inlet salt marsh, the grounds of Bellefield Plantation, Friendfield Village, and the main floor of Hobcaw House. $30 per person, 843.546.4623 or HobcawBarony.org.

4 PM - Exploring Religious Cultures, a 6-month series sponsored by FOWL and the Waccamaw Library, presents Samih Baalbaki from Coastal Carolina University's OLLI program on "Basic Principles of Islam" at the Waccamaw Library. This series will run through September, featuring scholars and lecturers presenting the diversities of cultures and spiritualities. Following each presentation, a question and answer session will be encouraged. Look to the bi-monthly connector and website for further dates and times of these lectures, the scholars and title. For more information, sbremner@gtcounty.org.

Friday, April 28

11 AM-1 PM - The Moveable Feast: Kristy Woodson Harvey (Slightly South of Simple) at Myrtle Beach Marriott, Grande Dunes. From the next "major voice in Southern fiction" (New York Times bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand) comes the first in an all-new series chronicling the journeys of three sisters and their mother - and a secret from their past that has the potential to tear them apart and reshape their very definition of what it means to be a family. $30, 843.235.9600 or ClassAtPawleys.com.

6:30 PM - Total Solar Eclipse Program at the Waccamaw Library

with Astronomer Kevin Manning explaining how solar eclipses are formed, the phenomenon behind them, and the total solar eclipse coming our way on August 21, 2017. A gifted astronomer, Manning has worked as a consultant with NASA, the Chandra X-Ray Observatory launched on the space shuttle with the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, and other ground-based observatories. Manning won national and international awards in his field, was both a Wright Fellow and an Einstein Fellow, and did work with Brookhaven National Laboratory. Besides the numerous workshops he's presented over the years at libraries, observatories, and science centers, he has also wowed audiences at Tufts University, State University of New York at Stony Brook, the National Science Teachers Association's National Convention, American Association for the Advancement of Science Breakfast with Scientists, and the National Parks Service. Free and open to the public. For more information or to reserve a seat, email sbremner@gtcounty.org.

Saturday, April 29

6 PM - Bird Songs - Nashville Songwriters in the Round event to benefit the Avian Conservation Center/Center for Birds of Prey in Awendaw. The program will feature some of Nashville's most popular songwriters performing in the spirit of the famous Bluebird Café, sharing their songs and the stories behind them while celebrating good company with a fine Lowcountry meal and lively bar... all accented with beautiful birds of prey as your hosts. The artists this year have written songs with a variety of popular country artists, such as Lee Brice, Leann Rimes, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Florida Georgia Line, Darius Rucker, and Luke Bryan. In addition to the music performance, tickets for this event also include a premium bar and elegant dinner buffet. Please dress appropriately for an outdoor experience. $125 per person, 843.971.7474 or TheCenterforBirdsofPrey.org.

Looking Ahead!

May 2-23 - Steele Bremner offers Meditation at the Waccmaw Library on Tuesdays at 7 PM. Free and open to the public, sbremner@gtcounty.org for more information.

May 2-June 6 - Lisa Rosof opens the Mindfulness group to those interested in the five-week Section VI - Being In Difficult Life Situations: Stress & Suffering. No meeting May 30. Tuesdays, noon-1 PM, $100 (register with ClassAtPawleys.com or 843.235.9600). For information about Mindfulness, 843.504.1057 or lcrosof@gmail.com.

June 13 (way ahead!) - Georgia Comfort needs volunteers NOW to help her sell tickets for the Annual Waccamaw Indian Pauwau at Hog Heaven. We need to support our own native people who are doing their best to retain and share native American history and culture. Please contact Georgia at 843.240.3087 or georgiacomfort@yahoo.com.

Ongoing!

TheArtsGrandStrand.com - Check out this updated nonprofit website, created and maintained by Murrells Inlet resident John Morken, to keep you informed about all of the cultural events on the Grand Strand. Dedicated to making it easy to know about all the Fine Arts events, it strips away pop culture and tourist attractions found in other guides. The What's Happening page has artists, performers and sponsors personally telling you what they are presenting NOW, along with ads for events. The calendar displays as a month, week, day or agenda. Each event is categorized (e.g., music, art), and you can choose to view any or all of the categories by clicking on them in the dropboxes at the top of the calendar.

Though April 23 - Sculpture Exhibit at Brookgreen Gardens. Life in the American West is on display in the Rainey Sculpture Pavilion. Daily, 9:30 AM-5 PM, free with garden admission, 843.235.6000 or Brookgreen.org.

Though April 23 - The 2010 The Quilts of Gee's Bend exhibition, presented by the Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum, remains one of the Museum's most popular and talked-about exhibitions, according to Museum director Patricia Goodwin. A new exhibition, Gee's Bend: From Quilts to Prints, examines the work of four well-known Gee's Bend quiltmakers and their recent exploration into the art of printmaking. To complement the Art Museum's fabric-rich exhibitions - Gee's Bend: From Quilts to Prints and Stitchin' and Pullin': Painted Illustrations by Cozbi Cabrera - the Art Museum presents 12 works from its Permanent Collections, pieces that reference and explore fabric and other forms of fiber in a variety of ways. Included in The Fabric of Our Collection is Burgess, The Legacy, a photo-collage quilt by Carolynne Miller and three works by Jonathan Green. Gallery hours for Gee's Bend: From Quilts to Prints will be from 10 AM-4 PM Tuesday through Saturday and 1-4 PM Sundays.

April 1-30 - Brookgreen Gardens "Open Late Till 8" through April. After a day on the golf course or on the beach, see the beauty of Brookgreen's spring flowers when the gardens remain open. Gift shop and food service are available. Ride with an interpreter on a Graveyard Trekker Excursion and explore some of the cemeteries on the 9,000 acre property of Brookgreen. The excursions are available on Sun., Tues. and Thurs. at 5:30 PM and cost $15 per person in addition to garden admission. Daily, 9:30 AM-8 PM, free with garden admission, 843.235.6000 or Brookgreen.org.

April 1-Oct. 31 - Whispering Wings Butterfly Experience through October. This seasonal exhibit features a lush garden filled with tropical plants where hundreds of butterflies soar through the air. Monarch, Zebra Longwing, Polydamas Swallowtails, Pipevine Swallowtails, Spicebush Swallowtails, Julias, Buckeyes, Queens, Painted Lady, and American Lady are just a few of the species that call Whispering Wings home. Dozens of other species will be added throughout the summer and fall. Whispering Wings contains a pupae emergence room where visitors may observe the transformation from chrysalis to adult butterflies. Interpretive signs throughout the exhibit and benches provide a restful place to watch their delicate beauty in flight. Daily, 10:30 AM-4:30 PM, adults $3, children $2 for a 30-minute timed visit, in addition to garden admission, 843-235-6000 or Brookgreen.org.