THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 11, 1994 TAG: 9411090156
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
A CHRISTMAS EVENT before Thanksgiving? You bet.
If you love Christmas and would enjoy spending an evening at a house decked out in traditional English-style decorations, enjoying first-rate seasonal entertainment while feasting on a host of edibles, then the Christmas open house sponsored by the Women's Division of the Chesapeake office of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce this Nov. 20 is just the thing to put you and your family in a fine holiday mood.
The event will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. at the home of Alvene and Donald S. Buckley.
When faced with the idea of holding a fund-raising open house, the Buckleys jumped at the chance, said Alvene Buckley.
``The members of the Women's Division are very community-minded,'' Buckley said. ``We provide support for many projects that will benefit all of Chesapeake. We were trying to come up with a fund-raiser idea, and I thought, `Don and I always enjoy having people over for the holidays, so why not hold the first Christmas party of the season?' The committee agreed and thought it was a good idea.''
Buckley said the open house will benefit Chesapeake General Hospital's new Cancer Treatment Center, which is currently under construction.
The first thing the public will notice when attending the open house will be the decorations, something that's a labor of love for the Buckleys.
``The house will be decorated,'' Buckley said. ``We enjoy Christmas, and we're delighted to have an excuse to decorate our house early. We do a lot with Christmas. It's our favorite time of the year.''
Buckley said their home will be embellished with holly greenery, candles in the windows, wreaths and other very traditional decorations.
``We'll have lots of reds and greens and poinsettias,'' she said. ``It will be nothing fancy, but it will reflect the traditions of our family. We live in a wooded area, and many people say our house during the holidays looks like a home in the country.''
After enjoying the decorations, Buckley said, patrons will be able to enjoy the many goodies prepared by members of the Women's Division.
The open house will offer holiday punch, several varieties of finger foods and hot hors d'oeuvres, cheese trays, fruit and Christmas cookies and other pastries.
She said the food will be traditional treats that will reflect the holiday season.
While people are enjoying their goodies, they'll also be treated to an evening full of masterful music of the season.
The entertainment will include the following:
An ensemble from the Chesapeake Civic Chorus, under the direction of Geraldine Boone, will sing an array of seasonal songs.
Chesapeake keyboard prodigy Christopher Clark, the 14-year-old son of Irene and Wesley Clark of South Norfolk, will play several selections on the piano. ``I've watched that child grow and seen his talent develop,'' Buckley said. ``The first time I saw him he was 8. He's a wonder.''
Katherine Ricketts, who is the health sciences librarian at Chesapeake General Hospital, will perform on the hammer and lap dulcimer. Ricketts, who teaches dulcimer and is a member of the Thistles & Roses ensemble, will perform a program of seasonal and traditional Celtic music.
Melina and Stephen McPherson will sing a program of light classical and traditional holiday songs. Melina McPherson is Miss Chesapeake 1992 and teaches geography and social studies at Crestwood Middle School. Her husband, Stephen, has a degree in vocal performance and directs the Hope Haven Children's Choir.
``We would like people to come to enjoy our home and enjoy the excellent entertainment we have lined up,'' Buckley said. ``To my knowledge, this is the first holiday event of the season in Chesapeake and will be a nice way to kick off the season.'' ILLUSTRATION: SEASON OPENER
What: Christmas Open House
Where: The home of Alvene and Donald Buckley, 1498 Cobble Scott
Way.
When: Nov. 20, 7-9 p.m.
Who: Sponsored by the Women's Division of the Chesapeake office
of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce.
Why: To raise funds for Chesapeake General Hospital's Cancer
Treatment Center.
Cost: $5 donation at the door.
Call: Alvene Buckley at 482-5042 or Beth Banks at 421-3621.
by CNB