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­Activities and entertainment events scheduled for this week include:

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TODAY

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: Christmas in Hopelands will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. nightly through Monday at Hopeland Gardens, off Whiskey Road and Dupree Place in Aiken. There will be walking tours of holiday lights and decorations, tours of the Doll House and Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame, and a variety of holiday concerts. The event is free. For information, call (803) 642-7631.

FRIDAY

CONCERTS WITH A CAUSE: December's Concerts With a Cause will be held at 10:30 p.m. at St. John United Methodist Church, 736 Greene St. The Christmas Eve concert will feature Lessons and Carols with St. John's choirs and orchestra. Proceeds from the concert will benefit Heritage Academy. The concert is free, but a love offering will be accepted. For more information, call 724-9641.

SUNDAY

KWANZAA PROGRAM: The Augusta Museum of History, 560 Reynolds St., will hold a free program presenting Kwanzaa from 4 to 6 p.m. Learn about the family values, culture and African heritage celebrated through Kwanzaa. For more information, call 722-8454.

Today in regional history:

DEC. 23, 1959

Gov. Ernest Vandiver came here Tuesday afternoon and found himself "on the fence." Actually two of them.

In Augusta to break ground for the new half-million-dollar George P. Butler High School now under construction on Lumpkin Road, the governor had to climb two fences to get to the site.

When officials arrived at the ground-breaking site, they found it fenced and the gate locked. No one had a key, so the governor and about 50 others climbed into the enclosure for the ceremonies.

Smoking hazards

- Nicotine narrows blood vessels and adds strain on the heart.

- Smoking affects your lungs, reducing the amount of oxygen the muscles need.

- Smokers suffer shortness of breath three times more often than nonsmokers.

- Tobacco stains teeth and causes bad breath.

- Smoking increases the risk of lung cancer and stroke.

Living with arthritis

Appropriate exercises are an important part of any treatment plan for arthritis. It's also advisable for people with arthritis to:

- Keep moving beyond regular exercises. Plant a garden, for example. The movements involved may make your sore hands feel better.

- Have a good laugh. Laughter not only improves your mood; it also might relax muscles and relieve pain.

- Have a massage by a certified therapist.

- Lose weight, if needed.

TO SUGGEST an event listing for Around Town, send an e-mail to announcements@augustachronicle.com or send a fax to 722-7403. Briefly describe the event and include the day, place and time, plus a contact name and number for more information. To suggest a photo, call 823-3230 or send e-mail to rob.carr@augustachronicle.com.

TO SUGGEST an idea for News You Can Use, contact Metro Editor Bill Kirby at 823-3344 or bill.kirbyaugustachronicle.com.