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- Activities and entertainment events scheduled for today include:

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TAILGATE PARTY: The University of South Carolina Aiken will hold a tailgate party catered by Outback Steakhouse from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Roberto Hernandez Stadium before the USC Aiken Pacers ' baseball game s against the Catawba College Indians. The menu includes grilled hamburgers, potato salad and beverages. Tickets cost $6 for adults and $4 for children. The price includes admission to the double-header. Proceeds benefit the CSRA Heart Walk and the university's men's and women's soccer teams. To buy tickets, call 641-3569.

HOSPICE WORKSHOP: The St. Joseph Center for Hospice and Palliative Care will hold hospice volunteer workshops from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and March 5 in the Summerville Professional Building, 2258 Wrightsboro Road. The free workshop includes topics such as end-of-life issues; goals of hospice; death, dying and bereavement; communication skills ; and holistic needs of patients and families. A snack lunch will be served. For information, call 729-6328.

BOOK FAIR: The third annual Family and Community Book Fair , featuring 40 authors from the Augusta area and the Southeast , will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Murphey Middle School, 2610 Milledgeville Road. The book fair is designed to expose people to local and national book authors and to improve literacy. The event is free and open to the public.

COFFEEHOUSE EVENT: The Aiken Community Playhouse will hold its Black Box Coffeehouse from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 126 Newberry St. The event features a readers theater with open mic ; refreshments; and music by Sweet Adelines , Cottonwood Blend and Drew Davis. Call 648-1438 for information.

Tax Help

AARP volunteers are helping with tax preparation at local libraries on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointment is required.

Bring a copy of your previous year's tax return and relevant information and forms, including identification and Social Security card. Electronic filing is available.

Where to get help:

Augusta

Columbia County

Back in time

Today in regional history:

Feb. 26, 1982

Augusta Mayor Edward M. Mclntyre requested the assistance of the Augusta Port Authority Thursday in his commitment to implement a comprehensive development program for land along the Savannah River.

"I will not commit to piecemeal development on Augusta's riverfront property," Mr. Mclntyre told authority members at a Thursday meeting, but he said he would like the city to "lie still" and wait until a complete development program can be compiled.

The mayor also commended the authority on their efforts to acquire the 14-acre tract of land, which was recently deeded back to the city.