Current events

Fire department meeting

The annual subscribers meeting of the Martinez Volunteer Fire Department will take place at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 8 at the department headquarters on Washington Road. The accounting firm Cleaveland and Anderson will submit the 2001 audit for approval of members. The operating budget for 2002 will then be discussed and two members to the board of trustees will be elected.

Fantasy of lights display

The Fantasy of Light drive-through display is being offered to the public through Dec. 24 at Pendleton King Park on Troupe Street. It is open from 6-9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 6-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The event includes more than 50,000 miniature lights and 110 light displays. All proceeds from the event go to the local Easter Seals.

Christmas Eve service

First Baptist Church in Evans will offer a Christmas Eve service at 5 p.m. Dec. 24 at the church, located at the corner of Washington and Belair roads. For more information, call 863-1228.

Nature park tour

A tour through Phinizy Swamp Nature Park will be offered by the Southeastern Natural Sciences Academy at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 5. The walk will cover 2 1/2 miles through wetlands and swamps. Those attending are asked to wear weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes. Cameras and binoculars are welcome. The cost is free, but donations will be accepted. For more information, call 828-2109.

Playground fund raiser

The backers of a riverfront playground for disabled children have organized a wild game tasting soiree to raise money for the 4,000-square-foot project, known as the Universal Playground.

The event, "A Taste of Something Wild," will be at The Meeting Place on Walden Pond in Appling from 6-9 p.m., Jan. 12. It will feature stews, chilis and appetizers prepared with turkey, quail, goose, wild pig, venison, dove, elk and fish donated by area sportsmen.

The Universal Playground is a project of the non-profit Rachel Longstreet Foundation Inc., which is named after the youngest child buried in the original Fort Augusta cemetery at St. Paul's Church.

The playground design will allow disabled children to use 70 percent of the equipment without leaving their support devices.

The $30 tickets are available through the Rotary Club of West Augusta. For information call Dallas Simon at (706) 733-5529 or Wallace Zealy at (706) 823-4118.

Holiday hours

Columbia County's libraries will be closed on Monday and Tuesday. Also, the libraries will close at 5 p.m. on Dec. 31 and will remain closed on New Year's Day. The book drop boxes will be closed to prevent over-filling and fines will be waived for the holidays.

Food drive

The Columbia County Farm Bureau will be accepting donations of food for the needy throughout December as part of a statewide event called Food Check-Out Day. For every donation made, the donor's name will be written on a card and displayed during the donation period.