<b>Conroy center to </b><b>welcome author</b>

The Pat Conroy Literary Center’s Visiting Writers Series will feature Mark Powell, author of “Small Treasons,” a new novel about the search for meaning in an increasingly violent and divided world.&nbsp;

The event will beheld from 3:30-5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6, at the Technical College of the Lowcountry, Building 12, 921 Ribaut Road.

Powell will appear in conversation with his fellow Citadel alumnus John Warley, author of&nbsp; “A Southern Girl,” “Bethesda’s Child” and “The Moralist.”&nbsp;

Sponsored in part by the Pulpwood Queens book club and presented in partnership with the Technical College of the Lowcountry, this event is free and open to the public. Books will be available for sale and autographing thanks to NeverMore Books.

<b>Beaufort Charities to&nbsp;</b><b>hold summer event</b>

The Beaufort Charities will hold an inaugural Summer Soak Down event for the children of Beaufort from noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6, at The Green at Beaufort Town Center.

There will be a Kids Zone for ages 2-12 with a water slide, “fair” food, water games and hot dogs. Ages 13 and up can enjoy a concert by Steel Rails Express. Ala cart food and beverages will be offered by Jason Dangerfield and Lee Distributors.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Visit www.beaufortcharities.org.

<b>Red Piano Too&nbsp;</b><b>hosts summer show</b>

The Red Piano Too Art Gallery is hosting its 27th Annual Summer Show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12.&nbsp;

The theme for the show is “The South Carolina Lowcountry: An Artistic Inspiration.”

Artists are special people. They only need to look outside to find inspiration to fuel their creative juices. Gallery artists are inspired by the South Carolina Lowcountry landscape, seascape, people and culture. Many of the old Gullah traditions are kept alive and passed on through the visual arts.&nbsp;

“The art primarily portrays our landscape, our seascape, our Gullah lifestyle and culture,” said Mary Inabinett Mack, gallery owner.

The public is invited to meet and talk with some of the artists about their work at the 27th Annual Summer Show at Red Piano Too Art Gallery at 870 Sea Island Parkway on St. Helena.

Visit redpiantoo.com or call 843-838-2241.

<b>Yamasee War Battle&nbsp;</b><b>focus of event</b>

The Beaufort District Collection (BDC) will revisit the Yamasee War Battle of Sadkeche with Dr. Jon Marcoux in August.

Salve Regina University professor Marcoux returns to discuss his ongoing attempts to incorporate historical research, LiDAR mapping and archaeological field work to locate a Yamasee War (1715-1717) battle site.&nbsp;

This free event will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15, at the Beaufort Branch Library at 311 Scott St. in Beaufort

It will be first come-first seated, with 85 tickets available beginning at 1 p.m.

<b>Library will offer&nbsp;</b><b>solar eclipse event</b>

On Aug. 21, millions of people across the United States will see nature's most wondrous spectacle — a total eclipse of the sun.&nbsp;

In anticipation of the eclipse, an event will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16, at the Beaufort Branch Library featuring a dramatic reading of Pulitzer-prize-winning author Annie Dillard’s essay “Total Eclipse.” It will be performed by professional actress Maggie Worsdale of the Traveling Literacy Theater.

All program attendees will receive complimentary viewing glasses designed to protect your eyes while observing the eclipse.&nbsp;

Eclipse glasses will also be available while supplies last from Aug.17-21 during normal operating hours.

<b>History Museum to provide docent training</b>

The Beaufort History Museum is offering docent classes to train volunteers to lead museum tours and serve as community liaisons.

In the classes, directed by docent educator Lorrie Burleyknoles, participants learn how Beaufort shaped America from the early European settlements, its involvement in the Revolutionary War and dramatic role during the Civil War to the Reconstruction Era, the complex transition to the 20th century and its current-day prominence as a major tourist destination and site of military training and defense.

Classes will be held at the Beaufort Branch Library at 311 Scott St. and at the Arsenal at 713 Craven St.&nbsp;

Space in the class is limited and those interested in attending the five-week session are encouraged to register early.&nbsp;

Classes are scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to noon Thursday, Aug. 24; 9:30-11:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 31; 9:30 a.m. to noon Friday, Sept. 8; 9-11:30 a.m. Sept.15; and noon to 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22.

Contact lburleyknoles@beauforthistorymuseum.com or call 559-362-3237.

<b>Hopeful Horizons to </b><b>host volunteer training</b>

Hopeful Horizons will host its third and final volunteer training for 2017 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26; and from 5:30-9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27, Monday, Aug. 28, Tuesday, Aug. 29, and Wednesday, Aug. 30.

Volunteers who complete the training will learn basic crisis intervention skills, gain an understanding of the dynamics and forms of abuse and discover how they can use their talents to help end abuse and change lives in the Lowcountry.

Anyone who is interested in becoming a volunteer must fill out a volunteer application at www.hopefulhorizons.org by Tuesday, Aug. 15.

Potential volunteers will be interviewed by a volunteer coordinator and must pass background checks.

Hopeful Horizons volunteers will be trained to take crisis calls, accompany victims of sexual assault to the hospital, interact with adults and children affected by trauma and to otherwise assist staff to ensure Hopeful Horizons’ ability to meet the needs of the community.

Visit www.hopefulhorizons.org.

<b>Alzheimer’s fundraiser&nbsp;</b><b>coming to The Shed</b>

Dueling Pianos, Alzheimer’s Family Services of Greater Beaufort‘s 10th Annual Dinner Theatre, will be held on Friday, Oct. 8, at The Shed in Port Royal.&nbsp;

The evening will offer music, dinner stations provided by local chefs, a full open bar sponsored by Gilbert Law Firm, both a silent and live auction and a retro photo booth to record your memories of the night. &nbsp;

Doors open at 6 p.m. for cocktails and the silent auction.&nbsp;

Tickets are $65 in advance and $75 at the door.&nbsp;

For more information or to order tickets, visit www.afsgb.org or call 843-521-9190.

<b>Second Helpings </b><b>volunteers needed</b>

Second Helpings, a nonprofit that rescues food from area restaurants and grocery stores and delivers the food to local agencies to stop hunger, is in need of volunteers.

Shifts are available on Hilton Head, Bluffton and Beaufort.&nbsp;

Volunteers can sign up for one day a week or month.&nbsp;

Also needed are on-call, last-minute volunteers for a SWAT team to help on the truck for special runs. &nbsp;

For more information, contact Lili Coleman at execdirector@secondhelpingslc.org or call 843-689-3689. &nbsp;

Visit secondhelpingslc.org. &nbsp;

<b>Weekly historic tours&nbsp;</b><b>available at Fort Mitchel</b>

Join The Heritage Library for weekly tours at 10 a.m. Thursdays of the Civil War battery on Skull Creek built to protect Port Royal Sound and the Seabrook Coaling Station. The cost is $12 for adults and $7 for children.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit bit.ly/FtMitchelTours.

<b>Hospice in need&nbsp;</b><b>of volunteers</b>

Friends of Caroline Hospice Thrift Store is seeking a variety of volunteers to assist in the overall operation of the store. &nbsp;

Opportunities include assisting in sorting/pricing donations, organizing, social media monitoring and customer service. &nbsp;

Store hours are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday and Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday. &nbsp;

For more information, contact Sara, volunteer coordinator at 843-525-6257 or visit www.friendsofcarolinehospice.org for an online volunteer application.