Moscow Ballet to present ‘Great Russian Nutcracker’ at SFA

Every Christmas audiences around the world watch ballet troupes bring to life a young girl's Christmas Eve dream in which a nutcracker defeats the Rat King, turns into a handsome prince, and takes her to a far-off land where dancers from Spain, China, France, Russia and Arabia entertain them.

"And this year, East Texans can experience this beloved holiday tradition as the Moscow Ballet presents ‘Great Russian Nutcracker’ at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, and Friday, Dec. 18, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University," said Sylvia Bierschenk, director of Arts Information at SFA.

The ballet is an Encore Event to the SFA College of Fine Arts' University Series.

"We are excited once again to have the renowned Moscow Ballet troupe in Nacogdoches to share the beautiful story and dance set to Pytor Tchaikovsky's music," said John W. Goodall, associate dean of the college.

Acclaimed for exquisite dancing and spectacular sets and costumes, critics rave that "Great Russian Nutcracker" is "flawless," "breathtaking" and "dazzling," Goodall continued. "It will be delightful experience for the entire family."

The world-renowned troupe of dancers features top graduates of Perm, Vaganova, Moscow State Academic Choreographic and Kiev schools and is directed by ballet master Anatoli Emelianov. Please visit www.nutcracker.com for more information on the troupe.

"When Moscow Ballet was last here in 2005, we sold out both performances," said Diane Flynn, Box Office manager. "We anticipate the same situation this year, and so I encourage patrons to purchase their tickets as soon as possible."

Prior to the Thursday night performance, Gene H. Moon, director of orchestral activities at SFA, will give an informative talk about the music at 7 p.m. in Griffith Gallery, across the hall from Turner Auditorium.

"Great Russian Nutcracker" is sponsored in part by Lehman Eye Center.

W.M. Turner Auditorium is located in the Griffith Fine Arts Building, 2222 Alumni Dr. on the SFA campus. Tickets to the concert range from $35 to $17.50, with discounts available for seniors, students and youth. For tickets or more information, visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.

4th Annual East Texas Geospatial Conference

The Columbia Regional Geospatial Service Center, Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, SFA and the East Texas GIS & GPS Users Group (ETUG) and South Central Arc GIS Users Group (SCAUG) are pleased to announce the 4th Annual East Texas Geospatial Conferencein Nacogdoches, Texas.

This conference is designed to bring together GIS professionals, addressing coordinators, 9-1-1 and emergency response specialists, Forestry and Natural Resource professionals, and any other GIS specific parties for networking, learning, and training opportunities.

Charles Ashton
Geospatial Trainer I
Education and Training
Columbia Regional Geospatial Service Center
936.468.6114
cashton@crgsc.org

Christmas Tour of Homes

The Tour of Homes will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec.12.

Tickets are $10 and available in advance at the Visitor Center, 200 E. Main St., as well as at each home the day of the tour.

The Tour of Homes is sponsored by Citizens 1st Bank and proceeds from the tour benefit Friends of Historic Nacogdoches projects.

"We have a wide variety of sites on tour this year—homes ranging from early Texas to the newest of style and architecture. This year we are excited to announce that we are featuring a special Christmas collection that everyone will enjoy,” said Lois Fitch, chair of the Tour of Homes committee. "We are looking forward to a large turnout to see these lovely decorations and anticipate that this tour will add to the festive spirit of the approaching holidays."

The featured homes are:
1. The Old Nacogdoches University Building, 515 N. Mound

2. The Sterne Hoya House Museum and Library, 211 S. Lanana (pictured)


3. Johnny and Barbara Sloane, 1323 North Fredonia

4. Linda Sisk, 333 Deerfield Drive

5. Mike and Wendy Buchanan, 4207 Mystic Lane

6. The Christmas Collection of Dorothy Warren: New Zion Hill Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 1122 North East Stallings.

For more information about the Christmas Tour of Homes or other Nine Flags Festival events, contact the Nacogdoches Convention & Visitors Bureau at 936-564-7351 or visit www.nineflagsfestival.com

Grand ribbon cuttings this week

The Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce held two ribbon cuttings during the first week of December.

Chamber Ambassadors and Directors celebrated with new business Hospice of East Texas and at the new branch location for Doches Credit Union.

Click to view more Chamber Ribbon Cutting photos.

Hospice of East Texas
(936) 560-9277, www.hospiceofeasttexas.org.
Contact - Director, Community Relations Deep East Texas Jessica Henderson.


Doches Credit Union
920 N.W. Stallings Dr.
Nacogdoches Texas 75964
(936) 569-7700, www.dochescu.com.
President James Muse

Barker wins cash at chamber luncheon

Above - SFA associate professor Chris Barker, left, wins the $50 cash drawing during the Nacogdoches County Chamber Fourth Friday Luncheon, Dec. 4 at Hotel Fredonia. Corey Ashley presents the prize sponsored by First Bank & Trust East Texas.


Click to view more photos from the luncheon.



Bruce Partain, Paul Smith, Angela Wiederhold, Dennis Cooley and Michael Lee.






Dennis Cooley, Michael Lee and Morgan Prince.









Barbara Holl, Paul Smith and Bruce Partain.

Wells Fargo Stagecoach coming to Nacogdoches December 5

Step back into frontier days as the Wells Fargo Stagecoach comes rolling into town during the Nine Flags Festival on Saturday, December 5. This living piece of history will not only make the crowd reminisce of times past, but the red Concord Coach will be on display and available for families to take pictures with during the parade festivities.

Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC of Nacogdoches will provide a photographer to capture free snapshots of visitors posed by the stagecoach to take home with them for their holiday cards. Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC will also raffle off a ceramic Wells Fargo stagecoach cookie jar to collect donations for the Nine Flags Festival.

“We are so excited to have the legendary Wells Fargo Stagecoach come to Nacogdoches during the Nine Flags Festival,” said Anderson Dolton, meeting and event coordinator of the Nacogdoches Convention and Visitors Bureau. “By having this symbol of the American West here during our festival where we are honoring the Texas flag puts the icing on the cake. A special thanks goes to the Wells Fargo Advisors for getting the Stagecoach to Nacogdoches for our festival.”

Public invited to luncheon honoring Sen. Robert Nichols

Texans for Lawsuit Reform will host a luncheon in Lufkin honoring Senator Robert Nichols, recipient of the TLR Civil Justice Leadership Award.

The event is noon, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009
Crown Colony Country Club
900 Crown Colony Drive, Lufkin, TX 75901

TLR is offering a complimentary lunch.
To RSVP, call 512-478-0200
or email: rsvp@tortreform.com