“The Nutcracker”
A local production of “The Nutcracker, – the timeless classic and symbol of the holiday season – will be staged

Dec. 4 at 3 and 6 p.m. the Oak Harbor High School Performing Arts Center.

The cast and crew of nearly 100 and are comprised of instructors and students of Class ‘A’ Studio of Performing Arts as well as community members from Oak Harbor, Port Clinton, Fremont, Genoa, Woodville and Elmore.  

The production is guided by Paula Fox-Ferguson and features Claire Rothert as Clara, Evan McBride as the Nutcracker Prince and dancing the role of Sugar Plum Fairy is guest artist Amelia Purk.

All seats are reserved. Tickets are $9 and available by calling 419-680-5554.

The Wonder of Christmas
The Choraliers will present “The Wonder of Christmas” Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. at Hope Community Church of the Nazarene, 5650 Starr Ave., Oregon and Dec. 11 at 3 p.m. at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 20 S. Yondota Rd., Curtice.

Admission is free, however, a freewill offering will be accepted at each performance.

Exploring Civil War POWs
Archaeologist David Bush, Ph.D., who has spent years excavating a Civil War site in Ottawa County, will discuss “Coping with Imprisonment: The Life of the POWs at the Johnson’s Island Civil War Prison” during a free lecture Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. at the Hayes Presidential Center, Fremont.

The presentation complements the Hayes Center’s current exhibit “Civil War: Battlefield & Homefront,” which is sponsored by Diversified Insurance in partnership with Auto-Owners Insurance.

Bush, director of the Center for Historic and Military Archaeology at Heidelberg University, will use historical and archaeological evidence from the Johnson’s Island military prison to examine the choices POWs had during the American Civil War. The lecture will also highlight some of the fascinating discoveries Bush has documented in his newly released book, “I Fear I Shall Never Leave This Island: Life in a Civil War Prison.”

The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center is located at the corner of Hayes and Buckland avenues. For more information, visit www.rbhayes.org.

Meet Viktor & Talya
It’s a boy! It’s a girl! Even better – it’s one of each and both Amur tiger cubs, born Sept. 26 at the Toledo Zoo, are doing grrrrrrrreat.

At their latest check-up, the male cub, named Viktor, weighed 9.68 kilograms (about 21 pounds), while the female, named Talya, weighed slightly less at 8.2 kilograms (about 18 pounds). This weight difference between male and female is common.

The cubs’ names come from the Russian language, recognizing the Amur tiger’s primary habitat in eastern Russia. Viktor’s name means “conqueror” and Talya’s name means “birthday.” Both Viktor and Talya will remain with their mother, 8-year-old Marta, for at least two years.

Dr. Randi Meyerson, curator of mammals, emphasized Marta’s continuing excellent maternal behavior as a key factor in the cubs’ health. “Both cubs continue to make gains in weight and mobility, which is a reflection of Marta’s outstanding care so far,” she said. “We are cautiously optimistic about their future progress.”

The cubs are scheduled to go on exhibit some time in January 2012.

Amur tigers, formerly known as Siberian tigers, are the largest tiger subspecies, and about 143 Amur tigers live in about 53 AZA-accredited zoos.

The Toledo Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Through Dec. 31, the zoo is open extended hours for Lights Before Christmas (details at www.toledozoo.org/lights).

Most requested 
The weather outside might not be frightful – yet – but winter is on its way for sure.

If you’re planning to spend the chilly days curled up with a good book, why not try one of the titles from the

Toledo-Lucas County Public Library’s Most Requested List:

“Explosive Eighteen: A Stephanie Plum Novel,” by Janet Evanovich;

“V is for Vengeance,” by Sue Grafton;

“Kill Alex Cross,” by James Patterson;

“The Litigators,” by John Grisham;

“The Help,” by Kathryn Stockett;

“Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever,” by Bill O’Reilly;

“Steve Jobs,” by Walter Isaacson;

“The Drop,” by Michael Connelly;

“The Heroes of Olympus, Book Two: The Son of Neptune,” by Rick Riordan;

“Bonnie,” by Iris Johansen.

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