Christmas Play
   The Church of Acts at 1000 Reaney will have a Christmas play "Good
King Wenceslas" on December 20, 2000 at 5:15 and 7:00 PM.  For more
information call 771-1261.

The Angels of Advent
    There seems to be nearly a cult fascination with angels in our
society.  Angel artifacts of all sizes and descriptions fill the shelves
at stores and curio shops throughout the year but especially at
Christmas. People remember the beautiful angel tree top that adorned our
Christmas tree when they were children. The angels are coming to
Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church, 655 Forest Street, for the Advent
services this year.  You and your family are invited to worship with us
for Advent vespers.
   Dec. 13, 6:30 p.m. "Mary's Angel"  from Luke, chapter 1
   A special appearance of the Sunday School angels will be noted for
the Christmas pageant at 6:30 p.m. on December 20th.  This year's theme,
"The Greatest Gift" will be presented in word and song.  The community
is invited.  Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church 655 Forest Street,
St. Paul, MN 55106.   Phone: 651-776-4737.  Email:
BethStPaulLCMS@juno.com

The Savior Fleshed Out For You
   The mission of Bethlehem Lutheran Church (655 Forest Street at
Margaret Street) is to share the love of Christ with our community.  All
residents of the Dayton's Bluff community are invited to share our
celebration of the Savior's birth through scripture and song.
  Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24th
    Morning Worship   9:00 a.m.
    Candlelight Carol Service 4:00pm
    Candlelight Choral Vespers 11:00 p.m.
        A Blessed Christmas to All!

Joy For Children of All Nations

    JOY Preschool Child Care at Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church,
655 Forest Street, is reaching a cross section of the Dayton's Bluff
neighborhood.  Children of American, African- American, Asian and
American Indian extractions are enrolled and enjoying the
Christ-centered developmentally appropriate, safe and economical program
offered at JOY.  Mrs. Wendy Ewald, director/teacher at JOY Preschool
Child Care invites registrations for the full and partial child care
program for 3,4, and 5 year old children.
   The program is open from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
and offers breakfast, hot lunch and two snacks each day. This Christian
based, full day program offers a complete preschool program which
includes Jesus Time, Circle Time, Story Time,
music, language, large muscle play (inside and outside), computers, rest
time and various learning centers.
   If you would like to schedule a tour of the facilities or receive
more information, please call Director Wendy Ewald at
651-771-6982.  JOY's Christmas Program will be performed in the church
sanctuary on Thursday, December 14th at 4:30 p.m.  Please bring your
child and witness our "Birthday Party for Jesus."  Give your child the
Gift of Christmas that keeps on giving throughout the new year... Jesus
the Savior of all Nations.

Portage for Youth "One Song", Opportunities for Girls

On the evening of November 10th, the Portage for Youth held their second
Sing-a-long Recording Session at Angel Beach studios in Minneapolis.
Funded by Donovan Cummings of Edina Realty and a long time resident of
Dayton's Bluff, this session was attended by 50 people coming together
to lend their voice in support of the Portage for Youth.
   If you would like to bring the magic of the Portage Music Program to
your organization, please contact Reann Ruth at 651-772-8674 or Barbara
With at 612-522-0150.
   There are still openings at the Portage for Youth for young women
ages 8-15 who live in Dayton's Bluff.  If you are interested in having
your daughter become part of an organization where "girls rule" in all
the best ways, please call Reann Ruth at the number listed above.  Thank
you!

Cooking in The Bluff
By Shiela Johnstone

   In this issue, I have chosen something for the festive holiday
season.
   I hope that you try these out and enjoy them as much as I do.

Christmas Pudding
Ingredients:
1 lb. golden raisins, chopped
1 lb. dried currants
8 oz mixed candied citrus peel
1/2 cup brandy
1 lb. butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
7 eggs, separated
1 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
Pinch of salt
3 cups fresh bread crumbs
1/4 teaspoon grated fresh nutmeg
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground mace or allspice
1/4 cup light cream
1 1/2 cups Vanilla- or brandy-flavored custard, per serving Directions:
   Prepare the fruit and place in a bowl with 1/4 cup of the brandy.
Allow to stand covered, for at least 5 hours.
   Cream the butter and brown sugar until light. Add the egg yolks, one
at a time, beating well after each addition. Fold in the sifted flour,
salt, breadcrumbs and spices alternately with the fruit.
   Stir in the cream and the remaining 1/4 cup of brandy. Pour into a
large heatproof pudding mold.
   Cover with 2 rounds each of waxed (greaseproof) paper and then with
aluminum foil. Tie the mold securely with string, by wrapping the string
around the top of the mold and making a "handle" by tying more string
across the top, tying each end onto the string wrapped around the top of
the mold.
   Put enough water in a saucepan large enough to hold the pudding mold,
to come three-fourths of the way up the side of the mold, and bring to a
boil. Lower the mold into boiling water and boil for 6 hours,
continually adding boiling water to the pan to keep the water about
three-fourths of the way up the mold. Remove the pudding and set aside
for at least a week before serving. Serve with vanilla or
brandy-flavored custard.
Nutrition at a glance:
Calories: 792
Fat: 37g
Carbohydrates: 106g
Cholesterol: 245mg
Sodium: 169mg
Protein: 11g
Fiber: 5g

Turkey Baste
   For added flavor, you can baste your turkey with apple juice, orange
juice, red or white wine. Do this occasionally, and use the juice from
the bottom of the pan for regular basting. Or try 1 (650-ml) bottle
champagne, making a delicious moist taste.
Fiber: 5g

Chocolate Balls (no baking!)
   Ingredients:
1 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
3 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate
1 tablespoon shortening
 Directions:
1) Combine the peanut butter and the confectioners' sugar and mix until
smooth.
2) Add the graham cracker crumbs and mix well.
3) Form into 1-inch balls by rolling in your hands or by using a cookie
scoop.
4) Melt the chocolates and the shortening in the top half of a double
boiler.
5) Dip the balls into the melted chocolate and let cool on wax paper.
   Makes 2 to 3 dozen
Nutrition at a glance:
Calories 121
Protein 2g
Fat 8g
Sodium 49mg
Cholesterol 13g
Carbohydrates 13g
Fiber 1g

Did you know?
   Sweet potatoes and true yams are two entirely different vegetables,
harvested from two wildly different plants. Sweet potatoes originated in
Peru and Ecuador, yams in Africa. Yams are also common in South and
Central America, Asia, and the West Indies. True yams are rarely seen in
the United States, and if you came upon them in a market, you would not
readily mistake them for sweet potatoes. Yams have a dark, scaly skin,
while sweet potatoes have a smooth, thin skin.   The confusion began a
few hundred years ago when African slaves came to the New World and
thought sweet potatoes were the yams they had grown up with in their
homeland. Most of what Americans call yams are really sweet potatoes,
which are higher in nutritional value than true yams. But it is wrong to
think yams have no nutritional value - they just have less than sweet
potatoes.
   Sweet potatoes are loaded with beta-carotene (vitamin A), giving them
their brilliant orange color. For the biggest dose, eat them with the
skin. They are a great source of vitamin E in a fat-free form.
   If you have comments, suggestions, a special recipe that you would
like to share, or you are looking for a special recipe, feel free to
contact me through the Dayton's Bluff District Forum.

Write to:
 Shiela Johnstone
Dayton's Bluff District Forum
P.O. Box 600511
St. Paul, MN 55106

Email:  shiela@qwest.net
Or call: 651-772-2075  (Dayton's Bluff Community District Office)

Hope you enjoy these fabulous recipes! Till next time . Shiela

CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE AND FUNDRAISING EVENT

   The event will be held on Friday December 15, 2000 from 4:00 PM to
9:00 PM at the Wilder Recreation Center at Edgerton and Case.  The
Cookie Factory sponsors the event.  Your donations are needed.  Bring
your donations of toys, non-perishable food, winter coats, gloves and
hats to Metropolitan State University at 700 East 7th Street.  For more
information call Albert Clark at 771-7664.

Caroline's Corner
By Caroline Snyder

Briana Baumgardner: Director of Margaret Community Recreation Center.

Youth - Vitality - Heart: "Aspire to inspire" is the goal of Margaret
Recreation Center's Director.
   Briana is a birthday party, a Halloween surprise and a Christmas gift
all in one.  She is the Director at Margaret Center who leaves you
breathless extolling her prides about the children of Dayton's Bluff.
You will be privileged to have a "great mentorship" experience awaiting
your children when they become involved with her year round activities
and events at Margaret Recreation Center.
   Born in Minneapolis, her family moved to the West Side of St. Paul
when she was only a year old.  She is currently a resident of Highland
Park and has been the director of Margaret for 2 years.  Her involvement
with youth recreational activities citywide began in high school.  She
obtained her degree in law criminology and deviance from the University
of Minnesota where she also took Spanish.  After passing the city test
for recreation director she was assigned her position at Margaret in
1998 and the last 2 years have given her the dream she wanted to capture
since high school.  Briana has 2 assistants - Cornelius Brown who is the
basketball co-coordinator and Andre Dawson who is the after school
program co-coordinator.   Most of the programs are pretty much tailored
to her clientele, which range in age from 2 years old to the 55 and
older senior citizen.  Grades 1 through 8 are in the majority.  The
Center is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the summer and during the school
year the hours are from 3 to 9 p.m. for the young people.  On Saturdays
they are open from 11a.m. to 4 p.m.  The seniors meet on Tuesdays from 9
a.m. to 1 p.m.   Their activities range from cards and cribbage to
bowling and darts. Special trips are planned year around which the
seniors themselves organize.
   The athletic programs for the youth range from basketball and
wrestling (intramural) all year round to ice skating in the winter.
Also inclusive in year round events are field trips and special Holiday
events.
   Briana is also involved with the Winter Carnival City Royalty and the
selection of the King and Queen of this Winter Celebration.
   There is a special Booster Club at Margaret where concerned parents
and Dayton's Bluff residents can participate in the assistance of fund
raising and grant writing.  Funds are used to pay for entry fees,
purchase equipment, uniforms, and supplies for Margaret  Recreation
Center. Some of the activities are free.
   For children who need a "safe and invigorating place" to participate
in competitive and non-competitive activities after school, the
Recreation Center has an open invitation to all children on the East
Side of St. Paul.  After school nourishing snacks are offered to
children and parents can be reassured their children will be attended to
by caring staff.  When Mom and Dad are not at home and siblings are busy
with other activities, this just might be the answer for many "latch key
kids."  Briana relates a couple of stories, which touched my
heartstrings.  One of a young boy in the neighborhood who stops in
frequently to help said to Briana that "he really needed a place to come
to or he would be hanging out with troubled kids and getting into
mischief."  Another story about a young girl whose older brothers and
sisters were busy with their friends and didn't have much time for their
"little sister."  Margaret Recreation Center welcomed her and soon she
was busy with her own activities at the Center.  These are stories that
Briana is proud to tell along with many others.  Because of a special
sensitivity she possesses for children and young adults, the position of
Director is especially fulfilling and heartwarming for her.  She
realizes that the years between elementary and junior high are
especially difficult and that values and morals evolved during these
years help to develop the character of a young person to make the
transition into adulthood.
   Margaret Recreation Center is built into a hillside and the
architecture of the landscaping is quite unique.  There are several
trophies displayed in a showcase in the entrance and beside this
showcase is a dedication plaque dated 1983, the date of the recreation's
inception.  The names of Mayor Latimer and Congressman Bruce Vento are
engraved on the plaque - quite fitting to the memory of Bruce Vento who
made such an impact on the lives of children in the 4th District.
   As I left the facility, I noticed some lovely pink pansies huddled in
the morning sunlight awaiting the eminent frost that will bring to an
end this summer's rebirth of Mother Nature's offering to humanity.
Briana reiterated that the children had planted a garden of shrubs and
flowers at the entrance in the spring to signify the desire to keep
alive the spirit of Margaret - nurturing youth for the opportunities
that await our young people for a lifetime of dreams fulfilled and
relationships cherished.
    If you want more information, Briana publishes a quarterly
newsletter each season and the Fall Program 2000 is available to you.
Please stop by the Center at 1109 Margaret Street or call her at
651-298-5719.  You will always receive a warm greeting as I did and a
wealth of information about the Center.