Jay grad performs with choir (11/22/06)

Amy Chaplin, a 1999 graduate of Jay County High School and the daughter of Mike and Judy Rockwell, Portland, recently sang in a concert with the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir in Australia. The concert, "Choral Fireworks," was conducted by Andrew Wailes and also included the Melbourne University choir and the Australian Children's choir.

Amy sang in the Friendship Company while at JCHS, and after graduating from Huntington University she taught at Bluffton Schools, where she was choir director. She and her husband Drew recently moved to Australia, where Drew works for Franklin Electric.

Holiday auction

Jay County Cancer Society will hold its 3rd Annual Holiday Auction on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 6 p.m. at General Shanks Elementary School.

Homemade holiday items, such as tree decorations, wreaths, centerpieces, candies and baked goods, may be donated for the auction. Donated items may be brought to Strohl Appliance and Electronics, 1513 N. Meridian St., Portland, by Friday, Dec. 1.

Refreshments will be available. Auction services are being provided by Loy Auction and Realty.

Holiday happenings

The Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun St., Fort Wayne, will feature displays during the holidays.

"Bells of Christmas" holiday showcase will be on display through Jan. 7. Visitors are invited to wander through a holiday garden decorated with topiary Christmas bells, an antique sleigh pulled by a topiary horse and more than 1,000 poinsettias.

The holiday kick-off party will be Wednesday, Nov. 22, from 5 to 9 p.m. and will feature live reindeer. Children may get their picture taken with Santa and there will be refreshments. Santa will also be at the Conservatory on Dec. 2, 9 and 16.

Wonderland of Wreaths will be from Nov. 22 through Dec. 3 and will feature more than 200 wreaths on display by professional and amateur designers. The wreaths will be available for silent auction.

Pinata Paradise will be on display Nov. 22 through Dec. 6. Pinatas, which have been designed and decorated by children all over the region, will be on display in the Sonoran Desert Garden. The pinatas will then be donated to local children's agencies for their holiday celebrations.

Conservatory hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon until 4 p.m. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for children ages 3 to 17. For more information, call (260) 427-6440 or visit www.botanicalconservatory.org.[[In-content Ad]]