The Darlington County School District (DCSD) presented Duke Energy with the 2015 Jimmy Newsom Signature Award on Friday during the district’s annual Education Forum held at Hartsville Country Club.

West Florence High School sophomore Kinsley Odom is one of 10 nominees for the prestigious National Youth Activist Awards sponsored by Omni Hotels and Resorts.

The Fifth Annual Holiday Homes Tour will be held on Sunday, Dec. 6, from 2 to 5 p.m. Advance tickets are $15 and tickets are sold at the door for $20.

The Darlington County Humane Society Shelter asks the public to include shelter animals in their holiday gift giving.

FLORENCE ELKS presented American flags and certificates of achievement to Dana Spivey of the Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina on Oct. 5 in recognition of three winners of the Girl Scout Gold Award.

The McLeod Health & Fitness Center will host a 2K Run/Walk for kids on Dec. 5. The run starts at 9:30 a.m., and is an opportunity to introduce children to local run/walk events.

Two tennis players with connections to Florence, will be recognized by the USTA South Carolina at its 2015 annual meeting held Dec. 5 on the Isle of Palms.

The Gould Business Incubator will host an incubator after-hours on Tuesday, Dec. 8, featuring 3D Printing demonstrations in the Makerspace incubator and a public relations workshop.

DARLINGTON – Boy Scout John Matthews of Darlington has added seating for the Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority’s DART bus route as his Eagle Scout project.

Save these dates for free training from USC Office on Aging, “Dementia Dialogues.”

The holiday season begins with dancing snowflakes and a magical Nutcracker who comes to life as the South Carolina Dance Theatre presents the “The Nutcracker Ballet.”

TIMMONSVILLE – The Annual Timmonsville Christmas Festival kicks off with the Timmonsville Christmas Festival Beauty Pageant on Dec. 3. The festival will continue Friday, Dec. 4, and Saturday, Dec. 5.

BEN NO MO, an adjustable collapsible stand that recently hit the market, is a result of the common expression, “Necessity is the mother of invention.”

A Christmas tradition started last year, will be bigger and run longer this holiday season.

The Manna House will be open on Thanksgiving Day, serving breakfast from 8:30 to 9 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to noon.