<b>Library to ring in </b><b>new year for kids</b>

The Bluffton Branch Library will hold a Noon Year’s Eve Party at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31. The library will celebrate with a party, craft and a countdown until the clock strikes noon.

The library is at 120 Palmetto Way in Bluffton. For more information, email kbaxter@bcgov.net.

<b>New Year’s services offered </b><b>at Beaufort church</b>

The Beaufort Church of Christ in Beaufort will hold its annual New Year’s Services from 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, to 12:01 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 1.

“We are ‘Ringing Out the Old and Bringing In the New,’ ” according to a release. “Our theme Is “GOD Wants To Do A New Thing In You!”

This event is free and open to the public. There will also be a New Year’s Day Sunday Morning Bible Study at 10 a.m. and Sunday Morning Worship Service at 11:15 a.m.

The minister is Dr. Jonas Gadson. The Beaufort Church of Christ is at 170 Robert Smalls Parkway in Beaufort. For more information, email jg@jonasbonus.com, call 843-524-4281 or visit www. BeaufortCoC.com.

<b>Trio treat to feature </b><b>trumpet, trombone, piano</b>

The Brass-hoppers are coming to Fripp Island. This trio of gifted musicians includes trumpeter Mary Bowden, trombonist Alexis Smith, and pianist Milana Strezeva.

These three women create an exquisite brass sound with a lush keyboard, hopping from classical music to jazz-inspired arrangements of popular tunes.

The three musicians have performed as soloists and principals with major chamber orchestras and symphony orchestras all over the world.

The trio will be hosted by the Fripp Friends of Music at 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 15, in the Community Center at 205 Tarpon Blvd. Tickets at the door are $25 for adults; students get in free. Guests will get a free pass at the Fripp gate and are invited to a catered reception after the performance.

Visit www.frippfriendsofmusic.com or call 843-263-5916.

<b>Heyward House to hold docent recruitment</b>

The Heyward House in Bluffton is hosting a docent recruitment meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, for prospective docents to learn more about the house and meet staff.

Anyone looking for more information on becoming a docent or on the recruitment meeting can call 843-757-6293.

The Heyward House Historic Center is at 70 Boundary St.

<b>Library offers variety of children’s programs</b>

Following are some upcoming children’s programs at the Beaufort Branch Library at 311 Scott St.

• Let’s Get Crazy with Legos!: Let’s get those Legos moving! Participants will have fun playing with motors, gears, and battery power packs. This program is for all ages. It will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3.

• Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?: Join the library for a couple of stories, a snowman craft and light snack. This is for ages 2-plus with an adult caregiver. Registration is required. The event will be at 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20.

• Second Annual Chocolate Olympics: The Chocolate Olympics is making a comeback from last year. Join the games all involving chocolate. Eat, eat, and eat … and compete. This is for grades 6-12. The event will be held at 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23.

• Do It Yourself Creation Station: Create and pick out items at creation stations. This is for ages 2-plus with an adult caregiver. The event will be held at 4 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 30.

<b>Hurricanes, Social Security programs on tap</b>

Following are some upcoming programs geared toward adults at the Beaufort Branch Library at 311 Scott St.

• Social Security and Retirement Income Planning: Learn how to take full advantage of your Social Security benefits and prepare for retirement. This event will be held from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25.

• “Hurricanes of Beaufort’s Past”: Hurricane Matthew is but the most recent hurricane to strike this area. Learn a bit about some of the other 100 or so hurricanes and tropical storms that have caused death and destruction in Beaufort County from colonial times through Hurricane Gracie in 1959. See photographs, scrapbooks and materials from the Beaufort District Collection seldom seen that will be on display. This free presentation for ages 12 and over is co-sponsored by the Beaufort History Museum. It will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11. The event is free, but registration is required. Register through the Beaufort History Museum website “Events” page at www.beauforthistorymuseum.com.

<b>Hurricane of 1893 to be topic at library event</b>

Following is an upcoming program geared toward ages 12 and over at the Bluffton Branch Library at 120 Palmetto Way.

• “Tide of Death: The Great Sea Island Hurricane of 1893”: On a single terrifying night in August 1893 a devastating hurricane ripped through the islands and lowlands of South Carolina and Georgia, drowning thousands and leaving tens of thousands more destitute. Grace Cordial, manager of the Beaufort District Collection, will share photographs, diary accounts and other materials relating to the Great Sea Island Hurricane from the library’s special collections and archives unit. This event will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25.

<b>New production to </b><b>open at The Shed</b>

Coastal Stage Productions is currently in rehearsals for “Sylvia,” which opens Friday, Feb 10, at The Shed in Port Royal. The production cast and crew is comprised entirely of Beaufort and Jasper county volunteers. Coastal Stage Productions is a locally owned, traveling theatre company based in Ridgeland. Tickets are available here: www.sylviaportroyal.bpt.me

<b>Beaufort History Museum </b><b>invites public to meeting</b>

Museum members and the public are invited to attend the annual meeting of the Beaufort History Museum, at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, in the museum’s main hall on the second floor of The Arsenal, located at 713 Craven St.

At the meeting, milestones of the past year will be celebrated, including the opening in June of a special exhibit about the Reconstruction Era in Beaufort.

Plans for 2017 also will be revealed, including details of a project to completely renovate the museum’s main exhibit hall in the coming year. Current museum members will also vote on a slate of new board of directors nominees.