SCC celebrates International Education Week

St. Charles Community College will celebrate International Education Week with presentations, student panels and films about education, history and international affairs. Events will take place through Nov. 17 in the auditorium of the Social Sciences Building, 4601 Mid Rivers Mall Drive in Cottleville, unless otherwise noted.

Culture Shock: Adjusting to Life in America, a panel made up of English as a Second Language students, will take place at 10 a.m. Nov. 16. Vi Rajagopalan, SCC associate professor of psychology, will share her experience coming to America as a young, married Indian woman at noon Nov. 16. The film "Metropolis" will be shown at 7 p.m. Nov. 16.

The film "Lion of the Desert" will be shown at 7 p.m. Nov. 17.

For more information, contact Kelley Pfeiffer at kpfeiffer@stchas.edu or call 636-922-8544.

Tree lighting ceremony in O'Fallon

A tree lighting ceremony will take place from 6-8 p.m. Nov. 16 at City Hall, 100 N. Main St.

Participants can join the mayor in counting down to the illumination of a decorated tree in the City Hall Rotunda. Live choral music, a visit from Santa, holiday games and crafts will also be available for children.

A food donation for a local pantry is being requested. A limited number of commemorative city of O'Fallon ornaments will be given to families that donate.

For more information, contact Marsha Seymour at mseymour@ofallon.mo.us or call 636-379-5502.

Tree lighting ceremony in St. Peters

The annual tree lighting ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. Nov. 18 at St. Peters City Hall, 1 St. Peters Centre Blvd.

Event is free and open to the public. There will be holiday entertainment from local groups including the Lindenwood Voices Only, a capella group; St. Peters Choral Society; and Fort Zumwalt East High School Orchestra.

Mayor Len Pagano and the Board of Aldermen will lead the countdown to the lighting of the tree. A visit from Santa and a holiday movie will also be available.

On display

The Foundry Art Centre will offer an exhibition of works by student artists working in a variety of media, as well as the work of the faculty who teach them. The exhibit will run Nov. 18 through Jan. 6, 2012 at the Foundry, 520 N. Main Center in St. Charles.

My Shadow & Me will showcase art from participating schools — St. Louis Community College, St. Charles Community College, Lindenwood University, Maryville University, University of Missouri-St. Louis and Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.

An opening reception will take place from 6-8 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Foundry. Food and drinks will be provided.

For more information, go to www.foundryartcentre.org or call 636-255-0270.

SCC fall art exhibit

The St. Charles Community College Fall Student Art Exhibition will be on display Nov. 21 through Dec. 11 at the college, 4601 Mid Rivers Mall Drive in Cottleville, in the gallery of the Donald D. Shook Fine Arts Building.

The gallery will include student artwork from the SCC Visual Arts Program. Students enrolled in the program can enter up to two pieces of art from each class.

Gallery hours are 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Fridays; and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Christine Holtz at choltz@stchas.edu.

It's a tradition

The St. Charles Christmas Traditions will have an opening day ceremony at 11 a.m. Nov. 25 at the Gazebo in the 400 block of South Main Street. Santa will arrive by a horse-drawn carriage. There will be a tree lighting ceremony at 5 p.m. Nov. 25 located at Berthold Square, South Main Street and First Capitol.

The festivities will continue throughout the holiday season from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturdays; noon-5 p.m. Sundays; 6:30-9 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays; and from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 24. There will be lights, carolers and Christmas legends, who will be filling the streets with cries of "Merry Christmas," "Good Yule" and "Humbug." Over 25 characters will be out, wearing handcrafted clothing representing their heritage. They will also be handing out trading cards featuring a photo and story.

Photos with Santa will take place from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and noon-5 p.m. Sundays at the Tourism Center, 230 S. Main St. There will be a Santa Parade at 1:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, which will start at Boone's Lick and Main Street and will end at the 200 block of South Main in Berthold Square.

Breakfast with Santa will take place at 9 a.m. Nov. 26, Dec. 3, 10 and 17 at the Mother-In-Law House, 500 S. Main St. Cost is $15. Reservations are required and seating is limited. For more information or to purchase breakfast with Santa tickets, contact Karen Godfrey at 636-255-6155.

A marshmallow roast will take place at 7 p.m. Fridays at the Chestnut Roasters' Fire Pit, located at the 900 block of South Main St.

There will be complimentary carriage rides from noon-5 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays; 1-6 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 24, starting Nov. 25 and ending Jan. 1. The complimentary carriage will not operate Nov. 29, Dec. 6-8, 25 and 31.

For more information on Christmas Traditions, go to www.stcharleschristmas.com. Continue to check in the entertainment briefs and calendar for upcoming Christmas Tradition events.

SCC celebrates Native American Heritage Month

St. Charles Community College will celebrate Native American Heritage Month in November with a series of events and activities. Events are free and open to the public.

"Native Lands and America's Energy and Mineral Policies," a lecture by Hal Berry, professor of history and theater, will take place from 10-11:20 a.m. Nov. 29 in the auditorium of the Social Sciences Building.

Michael Murphy, a Nebraska native folk singer, will perform at 7 p.m. Nov. 30 in the auditorium of the Social Sciences Building.

For more information, contact Kelley Pfeiffer at kpfeiffer@stchas.edu or 636-922-8544 or Hal Berry at hberry@stchas.edu or call 636-922-8261.

Birthday party for Jesus

Our Lady's Inn Maternity Home will have a birthday party luncheon for Jesus from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 3 at YMCA, 3451 Pheasant Meadows Drive in O'Fallon.

The Christmas Story will be read by Missouri State Senator Scott Rupp.

Cost is $5 and includes lunch, beverage, dessert, activities and family pictures in the manger scene. There will be a raffle for a toy-themed Christmas wreaths.

Reservations must be made in advance. For more information or to make a reservation, go to www.ourladysinn.org or call 314-351-4590.

"Holiday Tea" planned at Heald Home

Reservations are being taken for the "Holiday Tea" event which will take place from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Dec. 3 at the historic Heald Home, 1000 Jessup Drive in O'Fallon.

There will be a variety of tea and desserts. Entertainment will also be provided.

Cost is $15 for residents and $18 for non-residents.

The deadline to register is Nov. 18. For more information or to register, email mseymour@ofallon.mo.us or 636-3795502.

St. Peters plans trip

A narrated holiday tour through historic Alton, Ill., will take place Dec. 14. The motor coach will depart at 12:30 p.m. from the west parking lot at St. Peters City Hall, 1 St. Peters Centre Blvd., and return around 8 p.m.

The first stop will be White's Greenhouses where poinsettias in holiday colors will be available for purchase. There will be a Historic House Tour in Alton and dinner will be at My Just Desserts. The last stop will be through a holiday light display at Rock Spring Park.

Cost of the trip is $85 and includes admissions, lunch, guide, motor coach and gratuities.

For more information or to make a reservation, go to www.stpetersmo.net/rec-connect or call 636-939-2386, ext. 1400.

Youth hunter program accepting applications

The Youth Hunter Education Challenge Program at the August A. Busch Conservation Area is accepting applications from young outdoor enthusiasts for the 2012 season.

Participants will learn fundamentals of shotgun, rifle, archery and muzzleloader shooting. Additionally, they will learn wildlife identification, map and compass orienteering and more. YHEC participants get hands-on training in eight outdoor skill areas.

There are two age groups, 11-14 and 15-18. There are no fees to join; however, participants are asked to make the commitment to develop their skills in all eight areas of challenge.

For more information, contact Frank Scott at fsyhec@yahoo.com or call 636-673-1283.