It's happening right here in your community

-BOOKS

The South Carolina State Library's Center for the Book will host Speaker @ the Center, featuring authors with new releases from the USC Press. Sessions are Aug. 28, Sept. 9, Oct. 16, Nov. 6, and Dec. 11, 12 pm- 1 pm in room 309 of the administrative building of the South Carolina State Library on 1430 Senate Street. For list of authors or more information, visit www.sccenterforthebook. org

-CHURCH/CHARITY

Rolling Readers, a non-profit children's literacy organization, is seeking volunteers to read aloud or tutor children. The ongoing program will be held at local schools, after school programs, shelters, children's homes and churches. If interested, contact director Darlene Paradise or Myra Chacon at 765-2555 or rollingreaderssc@ bellsouth.net

The Children's Trust Fund of SC is recruiting volunteers to serve as reviewers on its Citizen Review Panel for the 2008- 2009 Community- Based Child Abuse Prevention Grants. The Review Panel will participate in the grant review process on September 9, 9 am- 4 pm. Apply at www.childrenstrustfundsc. org/Citizens-Review- Panel-Application. For more information call 744-4040.

First Presbyterian Church continues with its Wednesdays at First Lunch service in Jackson Hall. Lunch 11:30 am- 12:20 pm followed by a speaker and ending at 12:50 pm. Hot meal $6, soup and salad bar $5. Free parking.

North Point Community Church will be holding a Church-wide yard sale fundraiser September 6, 7 am- 2 pm. For information visit www.northpointonline. org

-DANCE/ENTERTAINMENT

Historic Columbia Foundation will host Swing Dancing set to Rock at the Big Apple beginning September 4, 6 pm- 7 pm. 252-7742 ext. 29.

Columbia City Ballet will hold auditions September 7,

Dfo rr a tchue l ap :eBrfaollr emt Wanitc he sa o Bf ite.

Auditions begin at 2 pm with a $10 fee. For information call 799-7605.

-FAMILY/KIDS

Family Day: Victorian Tea Party will be held September 6, 10 am- 1 pm. The event will be held at the Seibels House, 1601 Richland St. For information, visit www.HistoricColumbia.org.

-HEALTH

Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands would like volunteers age 18 and older to help answer the 24 hour Crisis Line and provide hospital accompaniment. Please apply for a position by September 19. Fall training will be October 4, 5, 11 and 12. For more information call 790-8208 or email lee.lafontant@stsm.org

The Senior Exercise Program at Eastminster Presbyterian Church is held M- W- F, 9 am- 10 am.

Benedict College and South Carolina State University will host the fourth annual "Benedict College vs. S.C. State University Blood Battle: You can make a difference," Sept. 4, 11 am- 5 pm on both campuses.

-MEETINGS

The Palmetto Paddlers, Inc. meets the last Tuesday of each month at 7 pm at the Luther Lee Building on Lincoln Street. For more information call 345-2002 or visit www.palmettopaddlers.org

Lexington Entrepreneurs Club meets at 6 pm on the second and fourth Thursday of the month. Meetings are held at Uno Chicago Grill on Sunset Boulevard in Lexington. 582-9688 or email jennifer@ i4design.us

The Professional Women's Network meets for breakfast at Lizard's Thicket on Forest Drive the first and third Thursday of each month at 8 am. 477-6551

The Business Association of Columbia meets at the Summit Club Wednesdays at 7:30 am for breakfast and conversation. Contact Summers Duffie at SCANA Communications, 217-7092 or www.columbiabusiness.org

The Columbia Parkinson's Support Group meets the third Sunday of every month, 3 pm- 4 pm, Lexington Medical Park Auditorium. For more information, call 604-0061 or visit www.columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup. org

-MUSIC

First Lady Jenny Sanford and the SC Philharmonic

will host Morihiko at the

Mansion, a gala to welcome new Philharmonic music director Morihiko Nakahara to South Carolina. Event will be held September 4, 6 pm at the Governor's Mansion. Catered dinner at 7 pm. For tickets, call the Philharmonic Box Office at 254-PHIL.

Dr. Einar Anderson, artistic director of the Lake Murray Symphony Orchestra, will be holding auditions for violins, violas, cello and string bass. Limited positions in brass/wind sections. For information or to make an appointment to audition, contact Sylvia Howell, 359- 4929 or www.lmso.org

-PLANTS

The Sandhill Farmers Market is open Tuesdays from 3:30 pm- 7pm through November 25 at the Red Barn at Clemson Sandhill Research and Education Center. Call 788-5700 x3, for more information,

-REUNIONS

A Navy reunion will be held for former crewmembers who served on the U.S.S. Sylvania (AKA- 44 and AFS- 2), September 19- 21 in Wilmington, NC. Contact John D. Pierce at (616) 897- 5178

Spring Valley High School will hold a weekend reunion for the class of 1988 October 3- 4. Visit http://sv1988.myevent.com/.

-SPORTS

Ridge View High School will host the 2008 Ridge View Athletic Department Golf Tournament September 29, 12:30 pm at Oak Hills Golf Club on Fairfield Road. Event will raise money for the RVHS Athletic Department. Contact Brian Rosefield at 983-4942 or Ridge View HS at 699-2999 x 234

-THEATER

Town Theatre opens its 90th Season with West Side Story, September 5- 27. For more information visit www.towntheatre.com

-TRAINING/EDUCATION

The Taoist Tai Chi Society will offer tai chi classes for beginners on Tuesdays from 7:30 pm- 9 pm and Thursdays from 5:30 pm- 7 pm, beginning September 4. Classes will be at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Church on 2701 Heyward Street. For more information, call 647-9283 or visit columbia.sc@taoist.org.

Midlands Audio Institute will be offering a variety of fall courses in the areas of music recording and music business. As part of Midlands Technical College Continuing Education's Audio Engineering Certificate Program, students can become certified in less than 12 months. Available courses are Intro to Audio, Music Business, and Studio Recording I. For dates and times, contact 732-0432 or www.mtctraining.com/sign up.htm