Around Town: Handel's 'Messiah' at Valley Presbyterian Church Around Town: Handel's 'Messiah' at Valley Presbyterian Church (December 14, 2005)

The chancel choir and orchestra of Valley Presbyterian Church will present Handel's "Messiah" at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, December 17, at the church, 945 Portola Road, Portola Valley. Price of admission is a donation of a non-perishable food item for the Ecumenical Hunger Program. For information, call 851-8282, ext. 108, or visit valleypreschurch.org.
Holiday dinner

Tickets are now on sale for a holiday dinner at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, December 25, at Little House, 800 Middle Ave. in Menlo Park. Tickets are $13 for members and $15 for others. Call 326-2025.
Children's book author

Sheralee Hill Iglehart of Stanford, who has taught children in Atherton, Menlo Park, and Portola Valley as a substitute teacher, will introduce children to her literary side at 1 p.m. Saturday, December 17, when she reads from her book, "A Very, Very Special Birthday," at the Coffee Society Cafe, 10800 Torre Ave., next to the Cupertino Public Library in Cupertino.

Ms. Iglehart says she was inspired to write a children's book about the birth of Jesus after spending a month in Israel sharing the historical landmarks with her family.

There will be coloring for kids and refreshments. The author has written two other children's books, "Mommy, Baby and Me" and "Three Cheers for Kangarooslow.
Trains and more trains

The Bay Area Garden Railway Society will be running large- scale trains in the learning center at the Museum of American Heritage in Palo Alto from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, December 16 and 17. Members of the society will be on hand to answer questions.

From Sunday, December 18, through Sunday, January 15, the Bay Area LEGO train club and the Bay Area LEGO User Club will combine forces to create a Holidays in the Bay Area display at the museum that will feature a 12-by-25-foot train layout incorporating multiple trains running through city, farm and suburban scenes.

The display will be open to the public during normal exhibit hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Lego club members will be present during weekend hours to answer questions.

For information, call 321-1004.

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