Activities and entertainment events scheduled for this week include:
TODAY
Christmas concert: The Paine College Christmas Concert, featuring the college's concert choir, will be held at 6 p.m. at the Gilbert-Lambuth Memorial Chapel, Paine College. The concert is free. For more information, call 821-8323.
The Nutcracker: The Augusta Ballet will present The Nutcracker at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday at the Imperial Theatre, 745 Broad St. Tickets cost between $17 and $40. For more information, call 261-0555 or www.augustaballet.com.
Blood drive: Shepeard Community Blood Center will host its annual Gay's Christmas Tree Farm Blood Drive from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 1533 Wrightsboro Road, and from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at 112 Davis Road. Donors will receive cocoa, cookies, a "Whoville" T-shirt while supplies last, and a coupon for $3 off a Christmas tree from Gay's Tree Farm, off Tobacco Road. For more information, call 737-4551 or 854-1880.
Christmas luncheon: The Town and Country Club's Christmas luncheon will be held at 10 a.m. at Houndslake Country Club, 1900 Houndslake Drive, Aiken. Storyteller Priscilla Young, of Macon, Ga., will present a Christmas story, and Virginia Brown and Jeanette Isaacson will provide music. The luncheon costs $15. Reservations are required. Members are asked to bring a stuffed toy or new book to be donated to the Salvation Army. Call 648-5139.
Friday
Woodwind concert: The University of Georgia Woodwind Quartet and Friends will perform at 8 p.m. at the Grover C. Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre , Augusta State University, 2500 Walton Way. Admission costs $20 for adults, $5 for children and is free for Augusta State faculty, staff and students. For more information, call 736-9098.
Dinner show: The Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre will present Passing the Buck , with dinner at 7 p.m. and the show at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets cost $33 for civilians; $31 for seniors, retirees, Army civilians and active duty E-8 and above; $21 for active duty E-7 and below; and $16 for show only. For tickets, call 793-8552 or www.fortgordon.com/theatre.
Tour of homes: North Augusta's Christmas Tour of Homes will be held from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in downtown North Augusta. Tour six homes decorated for the holidays and visit North Augusta High School's newly renovated auditorium. There also will be a brunch and fashion show at 10 a.m. Saturday at the North Augusta Country Club. Tickets for the tour cost $15 in advance and $18 on the day of the tour. Tickets cost $10 for the fashion show. For more information, call 279-5074.
Heating safety tips
December, January and February are the leading months for U.S. home fires and home-fire deaths, according to the National Fire Protection Association. On average, more than one-third of home fire deaths in the United States occur during the winter months.
Major causes of U.S. home heating fires are:
- Lack of regular cleanings of fireplace and woodstove chimneys
- Placing flammable objects too close to space and portable heaters
- Flaws in design, installation or use of portable heaters
- Fueling errors involving liquid- or gas-fueled heaters
- Leaving portable or space heaters unattended
FIRE PREVENTION TIPS
- When purchasing heating equipment, make sure it has an independent testing laboratory label.
- Install and maintain heating equipment correctly, and be sure that it complies with local fire and building codes.
- All types of portable heaters must be kept at least 36 inches from anything that can burn, including furniture, bedding, clothing, pets and people.
- Do not operate space heaters when you are not in the room.
- Children and pets should be supervised at all times when space heaters are in use.
- Check electric space heaters each season for fraying or splitting wires or overheating.
- If you have a liquid-fueled space heater, use only the fuel recommended by the manufacturer. Never use gasoline or any other substitute fuel. The wrong fuel could burn hotter than the equipment's design limits and cause a serious fire.
- When refueling a liquid-fueled space heater, always turn off the heater and let it cool completely before adding fuel. Wipe up any spills promptly.
- Have your fireplace chimney inspected by a professional before the start of every heating season and cleaned if necessary.
- Use a sturdy fireplace screen when burning a fire.
- Burn only wood in a fireplace. Never burn paper or pine boughs, which can float out the chimney while lit and land on your roof or near your home.
- If you decorate your fireplace with Christmas stockings or other seasonal decorations, don't burn fires in it.
- If you have a wood stove, make sure it has an independent testing laboratory label.
- Burn only wood in a wood stove, and be sure that the wood stove is placed on an approved stove board to protect the floor from heat and hot coals.
Source: National Fire Protection Association
Today in regional history:
Dec. 2, 1947
For the first time since "before the war," dusk settling over the Augusta area was rudely jostled aside last night and put to flight when a switch was thrown sending the glow from about 2,000 Christmas lights on Broad Street to the heavens.
"Ahhh," exclaimed late shoppers crowding the street at 5:15 p.m. as they lifted tired eyes to the overhead lights. They are expected to burn until New Years.
Today in regional history:
Dec. 2, 1947
For the first time since "before the war," dusk settling over the Augusta area was rudely jostled aside last night and put to flight when a switch was thrown sending the glow from about 2,000 Christmas lights on Broad Street to the heavens.
"Ahhh," exclaimed late shoppers crowding the street at 5:15 p.m. as they lifted tired eyes to the overhead lights. They are expected to burn until New Years.
Around town
Search for more about local history from the pages of The Augusta Chronicle's online archives. Subscribe to www.augustaarchives.com.
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