April showers bring May flowers, and May is buzzing with activities in Columbus County. There are plenty of good causes, good eats, and good Mother’s Day shopping opportunities in the area, so don’t let any of these events pass you by.
The East Columbus High School Band will host a meet and greet for rising seventh graders interested in joining the organization. Students interested will get to meet the instructor, try out instruments, and see what band is all about. The gathering will take place on May 8 from 5-7 p.m. in Room 131 at ECHS.
Columbus Regional Healthcare System is celebrating their ninetieth anniversary this week. The hospital began in 1935 in a modest 15-room home in Whiteville and has grown exponentially since then. Stephanie Miller and her team also took to the streets for Melanoma Monday to pass out hats, visors, sunscreen, and ChapStick with SPF to bring awareness to the disease. Congratulations Columbus Regional.
The Columbus County Beekeepers Association will be holding its monthly meeting on May 8 at 7 p.m. Shane Hardee will be the guest speaker for the gathering, and everyone is welcome to attend. The association can be found at 45 Government Complex Drive in Whiteville. To find out about this and future events, visit www.ccbeeclub.com.
The Greater Tabor City Chamber of Commerce will be holding their twenty first annual bass fishing tournament on Saturday, May 10, at Lake Tabor located at Lynwood Road. Registration will begin at 5 a.m., fishing will begin at 6 a.m., and the weigh-in will be held at 2 p.m. First place will be awarded $250, the second-place prize will be $175, and third place will land a cool $100. For more information about the tournament, you can call the chamber office at 910.377.3012.
The Columbus County Farmer’s Market will be open every Saturday at 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. There will be vendors, bakers, artisans, and crafters set up for your shopping needs. The market is located at 132 Government Complex Drive in Whiteville. 
Speaking of the Farmer’s Market, if your mom has a green thumb, then the Columbus County Extension Master Gardener Mother’s Day plant sale may be the perfect place to pick up those last-minute gifts. The organization will be onsite at the market this Saturday, May 10, from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. There will be a variety of plants to choose from, and proceeds will go towards helping fund the Master Gardener and 4-H programs.
If you feel a like a little road trip is in store for the kiddos this weekend, the Elizabethtown Town Hall will be hosting the ‘Kids Day’ event on Saturday, May 10, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Admission is completely free, and youngsters can enjoy food, snacks, bouncy houses, games, music, and a raffle for a bicycle giveaway. Town Hall can be found at 805 West Broad Street.
Are you looking to start or expand your flock? Gurganus Farm Store will be having at flock swap this Saturday, May 10, from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. For more information, call 910.642.3064. Gurganus is located at 6 Whiteville Plaza behind McDonald’s.
The BBQ on the Bluff had a great turnout on April 26. Grill masters from all over came out to Fair Bluff to showcase their unique talents. Kevin Patterson came in first place, Dana Peterson took home second place, and Ziggy’s Piggy snagged a third-place victory. Helen Waddell won for best layered cake, Helen Dotson got first for the best decorated cake, and Mary Waddell had the best pound cake at the event. Awards were also handed out for showmanship, BBQ sauce, and backyard BBQ. 
Fair Bluff will also be having their annual Watermelon Festival on July 26. Spots are filled for food vendors, but the chamber still needs crafters, artisans, and some local organizations to set up and peddle their information and wares at the event. Those interested can download the sign-up form at https://watermelonfestival.fairbluff.com/vendors/.
The Lake Waccamaw Depot Museum will have Lunch on the Lawn on May 15 at 11:30 a.m. on the museum’s grounds. Tickets are now available and can be purchased at the depot for $25 each. A quilt exhibition and raffle will be held the day of the event. The facility can be found at 201 Flemington Drive.
Tickets for the Kaleidoscope of Hope Soiree to benefit Carolyn’s Kaleidoscope Child Advocacy Center are still for sale for those interested in attending. The cost is $75 per person, $100 for two tickets, or $500 for a table of eight. Silent auction sponsorships are also available. For more information about the event or how to purchase tickets, call 910.646.3083 or email johnna.harrelson@bghnc.org.
The East Columbus Education Foundation Swamp Keepers will be hosting a spring golf tournament on Saturday, May 17, at the Riegelwood Country Club. The 501c3 non-profit is a volunteer-based group that serves East Columbus Jr-Sr High School, and they are raising money to benefit the Adaptive Playground Project for special needs children at the school. The group still needs $100 hole sponsorships and donations of sporting goods, coolers, gift baskets, gift certificates, sports apparel and memorabilia, and golf course certificates. Anyone interested in donating can do so by reaching out to Meghan Brew at 910.617.3461.
Remember to check out our Good News tab throughout the week. We love to hear about all the great things happening around you. If you would like to share your church announcements, fundraisers, happy stories, birthdays, anniversaries, or even little ones doing helpful things in your community, send them our way. We will get it out there for you, and the best part is, it’s free.
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