There's Still Time to See Santa Before Christmas

This weekend, you can breakfast with Santa, have your picture taken with Santa, pet Santa's reindeer and then see him off on his journey back to the North Pole!

Santa will soon be packing his sleigh for the trip back to the North Pole, but you can still catch Santa around the St. Charles area this weekend—in case you want to add a few things to your list. Here's where: St. Charles Christmas Traditions The Mother-in-Law House is having a Breakfast with Santa on Sat., Dec. 22 at 9 a.m. Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for children. Photos with Santa are offered at Santa's Cottage, 222 N. Main on Sat., Dec. 22 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sun., Dec. 23 from noon to 5 p.m. And finally, on Christmas Eve at 1:30 p.m., you can see Santa off on his way back to the North Pole. The send-off parade starts at 1000 S. Main and ends at Berthold Square at the corner of First Capitol and S. Main. Jehling …

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Brian Spear

5:22 pm on Saturday, December 22, 2012

3 More days until Christmas is here!   more ›

NORAD Website Tracks Santa Throughout Tonight's Journey

Kids and adults can follow St. Nick's every move.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is charged with keeping the United States and Canada safe from dangers originating from the sky or space. Tonight, however, the Colorado-based government agency adds one more important task to its daily list of duties. The agency will again provide its Official Santa Tracker (http://www.noradsanta.org/) that marks The Big Man's every move as he makes his way throughout both hemispheres. Included on the site is a countdown and activity page (http://www.noradsanta.org/en/index.html) and a flight tracking system (http://www.noradsanta.org/en/track3d.html) Kids and adults can enjoy this very entertaining site that will have sugar plums dancing through everyone's head before retiring.

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Faith Matters

Burlap and Butcher Paper Lead to the Babe of Bethlehem

Faith United Methodist Church becomes Bethlehem's Marketplace with a magical transformation. Best part? The baby waits in the manger.

The children's Christmas program.  It's a customary production in churches this time of year. By now there have been rehearsals and costume fittings. Parents know what time to have the children at the church. Invitations have been sent out, and the social committee has arranged for a punch and cake reception afterward.  What if the church leaders decided not to have the children's Christmas program? Would there be mutiny among the faithful? Or sighs of relief with one less stress-maker on the calendar? What if church leaders decided to have a hands-on, interactive learning and faith experience for the children instead of a program where the children performed, acted and sang for others?      A Night in Bethlehem is that decision come to …

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Adopt Me

St. Charles Animal Control Will Host Holiday Adoption Event

Meramec, Zeus, Lucy and Chris are looking for homes.

Santa will be stationed at St. Charles Animal Control from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday for the annual holiday adoption event.  Last year, 13 animals were adopted during the holiday event, though more than 50 people came through to look at the pets, said Animal Control Officer Cindy Saeuberlich.  The animal shelter has a variety of dogs and cats available. Saeuberlich said she recommends people not give an actual pet as a gift for the holidays unless it's a family gift. Sometimes people want to pick out a new kitten for Aunt Linda, but that's not a good idea, she said.  "What if they don't mix?" she said. "Now they're going to bring the animal back." For that reason, the animal shelter doesn't allow people who are under 18 to adopt pets …

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