Around rEd BAnK

Merry Christmas to all who are celebrating the holiday this week. Our local houses of worship have many special services planned for Sunday and Monday, here are a few I’m aware of:

Red Bank United Methodist Church’s choir will present a Christmas cantata, “Hark The Herald Angels Sing,” at the 11 am service on Sunday, and the church will have two Christmas Eve services on Monday. The first one is a family- and child-oriented service at 2 pm. The second is the regular Christmas Eve service at 5 pm with lots of carols and music.

St. James Lutheran will hold its Christmas Eve service on Monday at 7 pm.

Red Bank Baptist Church will hold a candlelight Christmas Eve service on Monday at 6 pm.

Congratulations to Carolina Springs Middle orchestra teacher Bonnie Pruitt and the seven students who earned their spots in the Region Orchestra. The 8th-graders were Alyssa R. Gunter, Kayla E. Mathis, Lynda W. Ramirez, Sara G. Rupon, Eli J. Skinner, Ekemini B. Umanah and Victoria R. Vanlue. They may also audition for all-state orchestra in January.

The 2019 Tri-District Arts Consortium Summer Program nomination period opened this week for middle school students. They can audition in creative writing, dance, music (strings, vocal and wind/percussion), theater or visual art. Teachers, administrators or parents may nominate students using forms available at www.tridac.org . Tri-DAC accepts nominations until January 15.

I will close out this holiday season with a Christmas wish that many in our area have echoed—won’t a major chain or local entrepreneur open a full-service restaurant in Red Bank soon? Despite the rapid residential growth here, our dining options are still limited. Anyone looking for a place to expand would do well to check out the Platt Springs and South Lake Drive areas.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good meal.