Dawn Stover, SFA Mast Arboretum research associate, helps Sara Bowie create a festive holiday wreath from natural materials.

he Stephen F. Austin State University Mast Arboretum will host a garden seminar "Deck the Halls-Using Evergreens to Decorate for the Holidays" from 9 a.m. until noon Dec. 13 in Room 118 of the Agriculture Building.

The SFA School of Art and Friends of the Visual Arts will present a free one-night film screening of "Who Killed the Electric Car?" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

Chris Paine's 92-minute documentary chronicles the life and mysterious death of the GM EV1, the electric car General Motors developed in 1996 in response to California's Zero Emissions Mandate.

The 20th annual Gala to honor major donors to Stephen F. Austin State University is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Fredonia Hotel in Nacogdoches. Gala festivities will begin at 6 p.m. with a formal dance, followed by a candlelight dinner at 7 p.m. and presentations at 8 p.m.

"In addition to honoring our major donors and two outstanding faculty members, this year's Gala will commemorate the 85th anniversary of the university," said Jill Still, director of development and coordinator of the Gala.

SFA Choir

'Tis the season for SFA's annual tree-lighting ceremony, featuring live musical performances, refreshments, children's activities and a toy drive benefiting the Women's Shelter of East Texas.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Stephen F. Austin State University combined choirs, Symphony Orchestra and Nacogdoches Community Chorus will present George Frideric Handel's "Messiah" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, in W. M. Turner Auditorium.

Handel's three-part oratorio, or unstaged opera, about the life of the messiah, was first performed in 1742. One of the most performed and popular choral works, it is appreciated by audiences all over the globe, said Tim King, SFA professor of music and the concert's director.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and School of Music will present "Percussion in the Pines," a joint concert of the SFA Percussion Ensemble and Steel Band, at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, in Cole Concert Hall.

Elisabeth Bottesi-Fischer's "Edelweiss-Baum" is included in "Cutting Fine, Cutting Deep," an exhibition of cut paper works that the SFA School of Art will open at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, in Griffith Gallery.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts, School of Art and University Series will open "Cutting Fine, Cutting Deep: Cut Paper Works from Switzerland and North America" at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec.

SFA Friends of Theatre New Board Officers

The SFA Friends of Theatre board recently met to elect new officers. Rhonda Williams, center front, is the new president, and Melissa Hoffman, second row, is the new secretary-treasurer. Phillip Anderson, not pictured, is the new vice president.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and School of Music will present the Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band in a joint concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24, in W.M. Turner Auditorium.

Under the direction of Brett A. Richardson, SFA assistant director of bands, the Symphonic Band will open the concert with Percy Grainger's "Spoon River " and "Old Churches" by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Michael Colgrass.

Cherryholmes, the International Bluegrass Music Association's 2005 Entertainer of the Year and regular performers on the "Grand Ole Opry," will present a Christmas concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25, in W.M. Turner Auditorium as part of the SFA College of Fine Arts' University Series.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Cherryholmes, America's new first family of bluegrass, will present a Christmas concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25, in W.M.