Activities and entertainment events scheduled for this week include:

WEDNESDAY

HERITAGE LECTURE: The Heritage Month Lecture will be held at 6:30 tonight at the Friedman Branch Library, 1447 Jackson Road. George C' de Baca's lecture is titled "Contemporary Hispanic Social and Cultural Influences." For more information, call 738-7097.

THURSDAY

UT ALUMNI CHAPTER MEETING: The University of Tennessee alumni chapter meeting will be at 6 p.m. at Bobby's Barbecue Buffet, 1897 Jefferson Davis Highway, Warrenville. Thomas Galligan will be the guest speaker. The cost is $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 12 and younger. For more information call 394-9330 or 651-1882.

Today in regional history:

SEPT. 28, 2002

AIKEN - More than 500 Savannah River Site employees have left the nuclear facility as a result of its work force restructuring, a spokesman for the site's top contractor said Friday.

Employees who left accepted early retirement that included severance pay and other "voluntary separation" benefits, said Will Callicott, the spokesman for Westinghouse Savannah River Co.

About 1,380 employees were eligible for the buyout, which began in March. Since January, when it first announced its restructuring plans, the company has said many jobs would change.

Earlier this week, Westinghouse Savannah River Co. President Bob Pedde sent an e-mail to employees and partners saying the restructuring could continue into 2003. Mr. Callicott said Mr. Pedde's e-mail was all the information that would be released until more details are worked out.

TEENS BENEFIT FROM FAMILY TIME

Families are busy, but it pays to take time to have dinner. The more often children eat dinner with their families, the less likely they are to smoke, drink and use drugs. Children and teens who have frequent family dinners:

- Are at half the risk for substance abuse compared with teens who dine with their families infrequently

- Are less likely to have friends or classmates who use illicit drugs or abuse prescription drugs

- Have lower levels of tension and stress at home

- Are more likely to say that their parents are proud of them

- Are likelier to say they can confide in their parents

- Are likelier to get better grades in school

- Are more likely to be emotionally content and have positive peer relationships

- Have healthier eating habits

- Are at lower risk for thoughts of suicide

- Are less likely to try marijuana or have friends who use marijuana

Source: National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University

GASOLINE PRICES

GEORGIA

City / Most Recent / Highest

Albany / $2.66 / $3.19

Athens / $2.71 / $3.18

Atlanta / $2.64 / $3.12

Augusta / $2.54 / $3.17

Columbus / $2.69 / $3.07

Macon / $2.62 / $3.08

Savannah / $2.67 / $3.14

Valdosta / $2.63 / $3.07

SOUTH CAROLINA

City / Most Recent / Highest

Charleston / $2.78 / $3.18

Columbia / $2.74 / $3.23

Greenville / $2.73 / $3.14

Myrtle Beach / $2.78 / $3.17

Source: AAA