CALENDAR: Sign up to host a Lowcountry On the Table gathering

Staff reports  |  You’re encouraged to host a small-group discussion in your home, at your church, in a local restaurant or in a library anytime on Oct. 4 to take part in Lowcountry On The Table, a citizen-driven process to identify issues and suggest solutions.

Organizers of the tri-county event, the Library Foundation of the Lowcountry, are hoping to engage thousands of area residents in what could be considered a huge local focus group to provide input to local nonprofits and governments on what people believe really matters in the Lowcountry.

Open to the public, the day-long event invites thousands of residents and “table hosts” to break bread while discussing and recording ways to make the Lowcountry a better place. Top ideas and recommendations from Oct. 4 will be awarded Spark grants to enact change, made possible from the Library Foundation of the Lowcountry.

Determine a location for friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors to meet for a mealtime conversation on Thursday, Oct. 4. This could be at a restaurant, over a home-cooked meal, a potluck, cups of coffee or whatever works for a (recommended) group of 8-12 people.

Visit www.lowcountryonthetable.org/hosting to register as a host, subscribing for weekly updates on how to deliver a meaningful experience. Hosts will be encouraged to gently guide their table’s discussion to wherever their guests want to go, while providing materials to record key topics.

• For more information visit lowcountryonthetable.org, call (843) 608-1223 and follow updates on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. The official hashtag for the event is #OnTheTableSC.

Also on the Calendar:

ACLU SC celebrates 50.  6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Sept. 27, Republic Garden & Lounge on King Street, Charleston.  The South Carolina office of the ACLU will hold an anniversary celebration with a keynote speech from Faiz Shakir, national political director of the ACLU.  He is expected to provide updates on national community engagement efforts. More.

Huck Finn Fishing Festival: Starts 8:30 a.m. Sept. 29, Colonial Lake, Charleston.  The Charleston Parks Conservancy will host Moultrie Family Fun Day in conjunction with the City of Charleston’s Huck Finn Fishing Festival.  Fishing is open to all kids from 4 to 12 at $3 each.  Games will be held at the Moultrie playground through 1 p.m.  More.

Latin American Festival: Noon to 6 p.m., Oct. 14, Wannamaker County Park, North Charleston. Dive into the vibrant Latin American culture for a day this popular that will feature Latin American music, dance, art, food and children’s activities. Plena Libre will headline this festival followed by various musical performances and demonstrations by Latin America’s best artists.  More info.

PSC ratepayer public hearing:  6 p.m., Oct. 15, Lonnie Hamilton III Public Services Building, 4045 Bridgeview Drive, North Charleston.  The S.C. Public Service Commission hold a hearing for South Carolina Electric & Gas customers to air grievances over nuclear surcharge rates. More about the meeting.

Georgetown Wooden Boat Show:  11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Oct. 20; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Oct. 21, Georgetown, S.C.  Celebrate wooden boats and boating at this community-wide festival that features one of the Southeast’s best wooden boat exhibits with more than 140 classic wooden boats displayed on land and water, children’s model boatbuilding, knot tying, maritime art and crafts, food and music.  Free.  Learn more online.

C4WNEW: Nov. 15-16, Trident Technical College, North Charleston.  This event, the Center for Women’s annual conference, will feature author Elizabeth Gilbert as special guest.  To learn more or buy tickets, click here.

Early morning bird walks at Caw Caw:  8:30 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday, Caw Caw Interpretive Center, Ravenel.  You can learn about habitats and birds, butterflies and other organisms in this two-hour session.  Registration not required, but participants are to be 15 and up.  $10 per person or free to Gold Pass holders.  More:  http://www.CharlestonCountyParks.com.

AREA FARMERS MARKETS

SATURDAYS: The  Charleston Farmers Market, is back in action from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday through Nov. 24 at Marion Square.  A holiday market will be open Dec. 1, 2, 8. 9, 15 and 16.

SATURDAYS:  Johns Island Farmers Market operates each Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. year-round with more than 50 local farmers and vendors, food trucks, music and more.  The market is located on the campus of Charleston Collegiate School, 2024 Academy Road, Johns Island.

SATURDAYS: The Town Market on James Island are again open.  Open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday at the James Island Youth Soccer Club, 871 Fort Johnson Road, James Island.

TUESDAYS:  The Town of Mount Pleasant’s Farmers Market is every Tuesday from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. through the end of September in the market pavilion at Moultrie Middle School, 645 Coleman Blvd, in Mount Pleasant.

WEDNESDAYS.  The West Ashley Farmers Market, 55 Sycamore Ave.,  is open every Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.  in Ackerman Park.  More.

• If you have an event to list on our calendar, please send it to charlestoncurrents@gmail.com for consideration. The calendar is updated weekly on Mondays.