Cooling centers

The following cooling centers are open free of charge:

- 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, H. Odell Weeks Activity Center, 1700 Whiskey Road, Aiken. Call (803) 642-7631.

- 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Smith-Hazel Recreation Center, Kershaw Street, Aiken. Call (803) 642-7634.

- 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and various times when open for other events on Saturdays and Sundays, Citizens Park II, 651 Old Airport Road. Call (803) 642-7761.

A dog walk and microchip clinic will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday to benefit homeless pets at the CSRA Humane Society Pet Center, 425 Wood St., Augusta. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.

Dogs must be at least 4 months old and current on vaccines.

Walkers can have their walk sponsored with donations to the shelter. The first 25 walkers who raise $50 in donations will get a T-shirt.

The microchip clinic will be held by appointment only, beginning at 9 a.m. The cost is $25. To schedule an appointment, call the shelter at (706) 261-7387.

There will be free showings of The Spiderwick Chronicles at 6:30 p.m. Thursday and 1 p.m. Saturday at the Aiken County Public Library, 314 Chesterfield St. S.W., Aiken.

Call (803) 642-7586.

Aiken County Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department and Hope Health will offer free HIV testing from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Roy Warner Memorial Park, South Carolina Highway 39, Wagener.

There will be free food and music at the event, and prizes will be given to everyone who is tested.

Call (803) 564-6149.

Aiken has hired the firm of Hass and Hilderbrand to conduct a survey in Crosland Park in preparation for improvements to that area's sewer system.

The surveyors, who will be carrying identification, will need access to backyards on the following streets: Vincent, George and Alfred and parts of Crosland Drive and Croft, Schroder, Hahn and Aldrich streets.

The work, which has begun, is scheduled to take about four months. The surveyors will be in each yard for about 30 minutes. Residents do not need to be at home when the surveyors are working, but they are asked to unlock gates and put dogs inside.

For information, call Ted Jones, of the Department of Public Works, at (803) 642-7610.

Leadership Aiken County is accepting applications through July 15 for the 2008-09 class. Applications are available at North Augusta Chamber of Commerce, 406 West Ave., or by calling Pamela Amendola at (803) 643-2258. Tuition is $600 and is due at the time of acceptance to the program, no later than Sept. 15.

Leadership Aiken County meets each month to discuss issues, problems and opportunities facing Aiken County. The class teaches leadership skills through involvement in the community.

Edgefield Community Development Association is sponsoring a farmers market on Saturday mornings. Village Markets will be held around the square from 8 a.m. to noon on first and third Saturdays.

If you have something to sell, call Johanna Holmes at (803) 637-1981 or Sharon Nunamaker at (803) 637-3400.