Oh, Christmas tree, Oh, Christmas tree

Photos by Jane Winstead

Scouts from Boy Scout Troop 219 are offering North Carolina Fraser Fir Christmas trees for sale in front of the church. The trees stored under tents to protect them from the sun. Scouts are tending to them to keep them well hydrated so they don't dry out. Scouts will custom cut the trunks so they'll fit into the stands easily. And those Boy Scout knots are coming in handy as they secure trees in the customers' vehicles.

New Web site features school music program

Old Northeast - Downtown St. Pete Patch

St. Raphael Catholic School’s music program is featured on a new Web site that highlights local news for downtown St. Petersburg and Old Northeast, including Snell Isle. There is also video of a rehearsal included with the article. The video in embedded above.

Writer Taylor Tepper of the Old Northeast – Downtown St. Pete Patch interviewed the school’s music teacher, Joy auf dem Kampe, about the program that she and her husband Volker started nearly 25 years ago when they moved here from Germany.’

Principal Valerie Wostbrock is quoted giving high praise to the couple. "The auf dem Kampes bring the best out of the students by setting high expectations," she said. "They have become intertwined in the fabric of St. Raphael."

The article also mentions the auf dem Kampes’ daughter, Becky Wahlberg, who directs the Children’s Choir and plays in the Praise Band.

St. Raphael Catholic School Christmas Concert is Thursday, December 16 at 7 p.m. in the Parish Center.

For CCW, a Christmas Breakfast –– and more

The Christmas season is always so busy and this one is no exception ––especially for the St. Raphael chapter of the Council of Catholic Women. The annual catered December CCW Christmas Breakfast is on Saturday, December 11 but there’s more than eating on the agenda.

It’s about giving. The CCW is collecting gifts for the Shore Acres Nursing Home residents.

Nursing home residents need shirts, sweaters, robes, slippers, lotion and other clothing and toiletry items. Participants should bring a wrapped gift with a tag marked with the item and its size.

The goal is to have enough gifts so that each of the more than 100 residents receives at least one present.

There also will be a member gift exchange at the breakfast. Participation is optional but if you want to be included bring a $10 gift to be exchanged.

All women in the parish are welcome at the CCW event. Make reservations for the event as soon as possible. Parishioner and CCW member Celeste Brown is cooking so you know the meal will be delicious.

Send your check for $7 per person (payable to CCW) to Louise Barrrett, 820 24th Avenue N, St. Petersburg FL 33704 or drop it in an envelope marked “CCW Christmas Breakfast” and put it into the collection this Sunday, December 5.

See St. Raphael students in The Nutcracker

Students from St. Raphael Catholic School are performing in this year's presentation of The Nutcracker, the traditional Christmas ballet. All parishioners are invited to attend the show.

The students include Abby Fahey, Selma Henricksson, Skyler Krampitz, Mariana Monforte, Stella Monforte and Mia Newsom. They have spent many hours rehearsing for their performances.

The Nutcracker will be presented Dec. 9-11 by the St. Petersburg Ballet Company and the Academy of Ballet Arts at the Historic Palladium Theater in downtown St. Petersburg.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Proceeds benefit the Academy of Ballet Arts. Tickets can be purchased online at the Academy of Ballet Arts or at the door.

The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet originally staged in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1892. It features the music of composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky (left), whose well known works are favorites of classical concertgoers everywhere.

The Nutcracker tells the story of a little girl’s dream on the night before Christmas.

In it, gingerbread soldiers battle mice led by the Mouse King. Toy soldiers and dolls come alive to enter the fray, the Nutcracker is transformed into a Handsome Prince, the Sugar Plum Fairy dances and sweets from around the world delight the senses.

Though it was not very popular when it was first performed, The Nutcracker gained considerable attention and following after the renowned choreographer George Balanchine staged it in New York in 1954. (Balanchine also was from St. Petersburg, Russia.)

Music from The Nutcracker has been used in television commercials from Cadbury, IHOP, GMC Sierra, Garmin GPS, and Planters Mr. Peanut. Movies such as Home Alone and The Santa Clause, and TV programs like The Simpsons and numerous other animated shows have featured music from The Nutcracker, too.

Alastair Macauley, dance critic for The New York Times, called The Nutcracker “an American institution.”

It's beginning to look a lot like Santa Breakfast time

Make plans now to attend the 11th annual Santa Breakfast right after 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, December 12 in the Parish Center.

Cub Scout Pack 219 will prepare and serve pancakes, sausage, eggs, juice and coffee for the festive occasion.

Tickets are $6 for adults and children 12 and older and $3 for children under 12. Toddlers 2 years and younger are free.

A $25 donation will cover larger families with children. However, larger donations will be gratefully accepted if you feel generous. Proceeds will benefit local charitable organizations.

Breakfast will be served until noon.

There will be activities for children, including face painting and crafts. And, of course, there will be a visit from You Know Who, so bring your camera.

For tickets and reservations, e-mail taranewsom@hotmail.com or call (601) 918-7276.