Friends’ stocking stuffer sale is Dec. 5

ASHLAND, Ky. — Cross some holiday gifts off your list at the annual Stocking Stuffer Book Sale, sponsored by Boyd County Public Library Friends, on Saturday, Dec. 5, at the library’s Main Branch, 1740 Central Ave.

The sale runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and includes hundreds of new or gently used books — everything from non-fiction to the latest bestselling fiction to music and movies. There is also a large selection of children’s materials.

Staff in the library’s youth services department will hold holiday story times every hour, the first at 10 a.m. and the last at 3 p.m. So, parents can drop off their kids and go shopping for a while.

The Friends will also hold a bake sale in conjunction with the book sale.

If there are lots of materials remaining, a Second Look Sunday sale will be held on Sunday, Dec. 6, during library hours, 1 to 5 p.m.

This is the Friends’ main fundraiser for the year. The group uses the proceeds to support library programs and services.

BCPL Friends are always looking for new members. An individual membership costs only $10.

Membership applications are available at any of the three branches, Ashland, Catlettsburg or Summit, or online at www.thebookplace.org

To find out more, call Friends President Traci Nolen at (606) 326-2026.

Clark Planetarium presents free Christmas show

PORTSMOUTH — Who were the wise men? Were there just three? Did they come from Persia, Babylon or Ethiopia? Did they follow a visible star to Jerusalem? Was Jesus born 2009 years ago? Is December 25th his real birthday?

The Clark Planetarium in the Advanced Technology Center at Shawnee State University has scheduled several Christmas shows to answer these questions.

The “Star of Bethlehem” will be presented from 7 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11, Monday, Dec. 14 and Friday, Dec. 18. This will be the last show of the season until the new schedule is announced in January. The Dec. 7 show is cancelled.

“Star of Bethlehem” answers many questions as the search continues for a celestial object that could have led the wise men to the Christ child. A planet was called a “wandering star,” a meteor was a “shooting star” and a comet was a “hairy star” because its tail looked like a beard.

These are all candidates in the search. Discover what this event might have been and how it could have guided the wise men to Jerusalem and on to Bethlehem.

For planetarium schedule and visiting information, call the planetarium information line at (740) 351-3125, or visit the Web site at http://planetarium.shawnee.edu .

All shows at Clark Planetarium are free and open to the public. School groups and other non-profit groups wanting to organize a private showing also will be free.

“We hope this will attract more visitors and aid Clark Planetarium in teaching the public about astronomy,” said Dr. Timothy Hamilton, director of Clark Planetarium.

For information on scheduling a private planetarium show, please call the information line at (740) 351-3125 or the scheduler at (740) 351-3222.

SSU Choirs set to present ‘Christmas at St. Mary’s’

The Shawnee State University Choir and Chorale and SSU Community Choir will be joining to present the annual “Christmas at St. Mary’s” concert at 4 p.m. on Dec. 6 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Fifth and Market streets.

The SSU Choir and Chorale will be under the director of Stan Workman and the SSU Community Choir will be under the direction of Shirley Crothers-Marley.

The concert will also feature the SSU Children’s Choir. St. Mary’s Catholic Church has hosted the concert for many years offering their sanctuary as a venue and as a gift to the community free of charge as part of the Dickens’ Festival.

The concert will include songs of the season and several SSU student soloists will perform. Michael Barnhart, head of SSU’s Choral Department and his wife, Amy Barnhart, will be featured in an ensemble with a special performance.

St. Mary’s Catholic Church has hosted the concert for many years as part of the Dickens Festival. The concert is free and open to the public.