-AUCTION The Animal Protection League's Annual Benefit Auction will take place on October 25, 6 pm-10 pm at The Columbia Marriott, 1200 Hampton St. 603-5443.

Historic Columbia Foundation's Palladium Society presents its 5th Annual Silent Auction on October 23, 7 pm- 0 pm, at the new 701 Whaley. 252-7742 ext. 27.

-BOOKS Friends of the Richland County Public Library will host a book discussion and signing with author and radio personality Dr. Walter Edgar on October 20, 5:30 pm, in the Bostick Auditorium of the Main Library. 929-3475.

-CHURCH/CHARITY

First Presbyterian Church continues with their Wednesdays and Thursdays @ First lunch services in Jackson Hall, 1324 Marion Street. Lunch available 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.

Asbury United Methodist Church will host a Chicken Bar-B-Que October 25, 12 pm- 6 pm, at Asbury Church on Leesburg Rd. $7 for adults $3 for children. 776-7237.

Sanctity Inc. will host A Night of Gospel Lifting Voices, Helping Families Affected by Domestic Violence October 17, 6:30 pm, at Friendship Baptist Church 1237 House Street. 446-2374.

-DANCE The Greater Columbia Chapter of the U.S. Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association (USADance) will hold their regular twice-monthly dances on October 11 and October 25, at the Hugh Dimmery Memorial Center (The Barn), 680 Cherokee Lane, West Columbia, from 7:30 to 10:30 pm. www.USADance.us

-ENTERTAINMENT Essex Homes will host its 6th Annual Fall Wine Festival on October 19, 2:30 pm -5:30 pm, at Lake Carolina's Village Green. events@lakecarolina.com.

The Sons of Italy in America Lodge 2808- Columbia will host "One- Day Passport to Italy" October 25, 10 am-9pm, at Riverfront Park. sonsofitaly2808@bellsouth.net

The Lake Murray Association Appreciation BBQ for everyone interested in the preservation and protection of Lake Murray will be held October 26, 1-4 pm, at Lighthouse Marina, Rusty Anchor, on Johnson Marina Road in White Rock. www.lakemurrayassociation.com

-HALLOWEEN Historic Columbia Foundation will host Family Day: Fun in the Fall on October 25, 10 am-2 pm, at 1616 Blanding Street. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children. 252-7742.

Historic Columbia Foundation will host Historic Hauntings: Bus and Elmwood Cemetery Tours October 29-30, 7:30 pm, 8 pm, and 8:30, at 1616 Blanding Street. To register for these events, call 252-7742, ext. 29.

EdVenture's family-friendly Halloween festival, HalloWonka, will be held October 29- 31, from 5:30 pm- 8 pm. Advance tickets are on sale now at www.edventure.org.

Richland County Recreation Commission will host Family Halloween Carnival on October 23, 5:30 pm- 7:30 pm, at North Springs Park. This is a "non- scary" event. 736-6070.

Richland County Recreation Commission will host Terror In the Park Haunted House on October 29- 31, 7 pm-11 pm, at North Springs Park. Tickets will be $8 per person. 736-6070.

Richland County Recreation

Commission will host Halloween Carnival on October 29, 6:15 pm- 7:30 pm, at Polo Road Park. This is a free event for ages 3-11. 783-9374.

Trenholm Road UMC Youth Group's Pumpkin Patch will be open through October 31. Proceeds will benefit the youth program's community service and mission trips. 254-6695.

The 5th Annual Gore and Folklore Halloween tours at the SC Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum will be held on October 29 and 30. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2.50 for children 12 and under. For reservations, call 737-8095. This event is not recommended for young children.

South Carolina State Museum

presents its first "Spooky Sleepover," October 24 at 6:30 pm. Recommended for children ages 5- 12 accompanied by adults. For more information or to register, call 898-4999.

-HEALTH Multiple Sclerosis Yoga Class: A free Yoga Class for people with MS is held each Wednesday from 11:30-12:30 at St. David's Episcopal Church on Polo Rd. in Northeast Columbia. 787-8157.

Yoga for Seniors: A free seated yoga class is held each Monday afternoon at 4 pm at The Waterford, 9370 Windsor Lake Blvd in Northeast Columbia. 787-8157.

Family Connection of South Carolina will host 9th Annual Buddy Walk on October 26, 2:30 pm, at Saluda Shoals Park. www.familyconnectionSC.org

-MEETINGS The Columbia Parkinson's Support Group will meet on the third Sunday of every month, 3 pm-4 pm, Lexington Medical Park Auditorium. 604-0061 or www.columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org

The Palmetto Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals meets the fourth Tuesday of every month at 5:45 pm at the Columbia Museum of Art. 608-0425.

Divorce Recovery Group will be held on Wednesdays between October 22-November 12, 6:30 pm, at 1529 Assembly St. 776-4218.

The membership of the Newcomers' Club of Greater Columbia will hold their luncheon on October 23 at the Woodcreek Farms Country Club. 750-6695.

-MUSIC South Carolina Philharmonic presents Ghostbusters on October 25, 7:30 pm, at the Koger Center. Tickets available online at www.capitoltickets.com or 251-2222.

The Newberry Opera House presents country legend Patty Loveless October 25 with two performances at 3 pm and 8 pm. Tickets available at 276-6264 or www.newberryoperahouse.com

-SPORTS The women of Scorch will host their second annual Haunted Hat Tournament on October 25, 9 am- 5 pm, at the Strom fields on the corner of Assembly and Blossom streets. www.columbiaultimate.org

Richland Sertoma Club will sponsor The Annual Sertoma Charity Golf Tournament October 31 at Fort Jackson Golf Club. This tournament is Four Person Captain's Choice. Contact Jack Sterne at 419-8558 for registration.

-THEATER Trustus Theatre presents Martin McDonagh's The Lieutenant of Inishmore. The show opens October 17, 8 pm. www.trustus.org

-TRAINING/EDUCATION The National Alliance on Mental Illness - South Carolina will hold its Annual State Fall Conference in Columbia on October 25, at the Embassy Suites. 1-800-788-5131.

Nickelodeon Theatre will host the Sixth Annual Home Movie Day on October 18, 10 am-1 pm. Home Movie day is a free event and open to the public, and offers expert evaluation of films brought in by participants, as well as an opportunity to see the films provided by the public in an open screening. Visit www.nickelodeon.org and www.homemovieday.com.

Suddeth Automotive is offering a FREE Women's Car Care Seminar on October 25, 9:30 am, at 1410 North Millwood Avenue in downtown Columbia. To register, contact Suddeth Automotive at 256-2110 or visit www.SuddethAuto.com.

Midlands Technical College is hosting Fall Open House on October 25, 10am-2pm, on the Airport Campus. 738-8324.

McKissick Museum and the African American Studies Program at the University of South Carolina will sponsor a talk and book signing by Leonard Todd for his new book, Carolina Clay: The Life and Legend of the Slave Potter Dave, October 23, 4:30pm-6:30pm, at the museum. 777-2876.

The Homeownership Resource Center will hold foreclosure prevention counseling workshops on October 8 and 23. To register, or for more information, residents should call 1-888-320-0350.

-VOLUNTEER/NON-PROFIT Grantsmanship Training Program is coming to Columbia on October 27- 31. Visit www.tgci.com or call 421-9512.

Palmetto Health's Chaplaincy/ Pastoral Education department is seeking community members to become Stephen Ministers. These volunteers work with chaplains to provide ministry to patients and their families. No formal religious training is needed, but 50 hours of volunteer training over 20 weeks is mandatory. Deadline to complete an application is October 31. 434-7555.