Sleigh

Santa didn't get run over by his reindeer, but he appears to have had a dust-up with an F-104 jet, in an elaborate Christmas display on Tom and Alice Blair's farm in St. Michaels. The tableau depicts the aftermath of a midair collision involving Santa's sleigh full of toys and a Cold War era "Starfighter" from the fictitious St. Michaels Air National Guard, piloted by "Captain Scrooge. " An elf retrieves a tricycle from the jet's tail wing as Santa notices that Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer, is stuck in the fuselage and the pilot sits off to the side fixing a broken Radio Flyer wagon.

The Boss is playing DC this Spring, so is the Bawse. On Tuesday, Rick Ross announced he'll play DAR Constitution Hall February 23. Ross is promoting new album "God Forgives...I Don't," which was described in the show's press release as "his highly predictable upcoming fifth solo album. " Their words...not mine. Ticket information is not yet available. Ross was last in the region last March, when he performed at 1st Mariner Arena onLil Wayne's American tour. Pitting fans of Jon Ehrens against Ross', White Life will be at the Ottobar that same night with DDM and Dope Body.

In the Knickerbocker snowstorm of January 1922, Maryland's biggest ever until this week, Bill Jasper remembers great electric arcs flashing like fireworks when the streetcar trolley hit a patch of ice on the power line. His dad, Will Jasper, was a motorman on the No. 19 streetcar line on Harford Road from Hamilton Avenue, the city's boundary, then, to Charles and Wells streets. Bill is 87 now. He and his wife, Vi, live at Oak Crest Village retirement community in Parkville, where they weathered Maryland's biggest storm ever the past few days.

Santa didn't get run over by his reindeer, but he appears to have had a dust-up with an F-104 jet, in an elaborate Christmas display on Tom and Alice Blair's farm in St. Michaels. The tableau depicts the aftermath of a midair collision involving Santa's sleigh full of toys and a Cold War era "Starfighter" from the fictitious St. Michaels Air National Guard, piloted by "Captain Scrooge. " An elf retrieves a tricycle from the jet's tail wing as Santa notices that Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer, is stuck in the fuselage and the pilot sits off to the side fixing a broken Radio Flyer wagon.

WE WERE given the following by a non-believer, who apparently found it in that renowned scientific journal, SPY magazine (January 1990):1. No known species of reindeer can fly. But there are 300,000 species of living organisms yet to be classified, and while most of these are insects and germs, this does not completely rule out flying reindeer, which only Santa has ever seen.2. There are 2 billion children (persons under 18) in the world. But since Santa doesn't (appear) to handle the Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and Buddhist children that reduces the workload to 15 percent of the total -- 378 million, according to the Population Reference Bureau.

From The Sun Dec. 9-15, 1840 Dec. 9: Yesterday a sleigh load of Cyprians broke down at the head of Centre Market. Another sleigh was obtained and they started off amid hootings and snow-balls of a crowd of boys who had collected them.Dec. 15: The gentleman who, a few days since, lost a quarter of a dollar in Saratoga Street, is apprised that it was most fortunately found yesterday and might be restored to him upon naked affidavit to that effect.rom The Sun Dec. 9-15, 1890Dec. 10: The body of William Schroeder, the old miser who was found Monday night at his home at 1229 High Alley, was placed in charge of Undertaker Schaefer yesterday by Coroner Cockrill.

Virginia L. Baker, 75, taught in county schoolsVirginia L. Baker, a former Baltimore County public schools educator, died Sunday from complications of diabetes at Gilchrist Center for Hospice Care. The Randallstown resident was 75.Mrs. Baker retired in 1984 as assistant principal of Westchester Elementary School and had also held that position at Relay and Maiden Choice elementary schools.She began her teaching career in the late 1940s and, after taking several years off to raise her family, returned to teaching full-time in the mid-1950s.

It was the night before Christmas and at Santa Claus' workshop at the North Pole, the elves were grumbling bitterly.Lorenzo, the shop steward, said: "The man refuses to take us seriously. Time and again we've asked him for a 401 (k) retirement plan, night differential for all shifts after 4 p.m., a modern conveyor belt which would facilitate transport of the toys from the shop to the sleigh.""Plus we want the place tested for radon," added Roy, shivering slightly. Smoking was now prohibited in all 16 buildings at Santa Enterprises Inc., and Roy had just returned from grabbing a few puffs outside, where it was 60 below zero.

Editor's note: Like "It's a Wonderful Life," this Christmas classic never loses its luster.'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the houseNot a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.The children were nestled all snug in their beds,While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my capHad just settled down for a long winter's nap.When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

TWO weeks ago, my son, a pre-med student in Tucson, wen to the dentist with a terrible toothache -- a visit that was clearly overdue.Tucson dentist Dr. Donald Saelens reported that he needed root canal therapy on one tooth, fillings in several others, and that the bill would be in the neighborhood of $1,000. Tommy called home. can't come home for Christmas, Mom. This is going to be so expensive! But the dentist said that we would work something out. He said that maybe I could paint his house.

If there is such a thing as Santa Claus, then the Ravens had better hope he delivers them the perfect late gift Sunday night. That present would be a first-round playoff game against anyone but the New England Patriots. Of course, we're getting a little ahead of ourselves here, because the Ravens haven't beaten the Jacksonville Jaguars yet to earn a playoff berth. But that's a formality. In those famous words of a song written by the late James Brown, "Please, Please, Please," don't bring on the Patriots.

Letters to S.A.N.T.A. has a North Pole setting, a missing-Santa mystery, dancing reindeer, singing elves, a glamorous Mrs. Claus and a mean mother-in-law. It also has 29 contributing writers. The play, running weekends, tonight through Dec. 17, at Howard Community College, is the latest original production by the school's Student-Alumni Arts group. As with four previous productions, the actors spent several weeks doing improvisation to develop characters and scenes. But unlike previous shows, this one started with some central themes regarding Christmas.

New York City in a day? It's hard to imagine, what with all there is to do. However, if you ride with one of several local luxury bus companies that leave from the Baltimore area, you can begin your journey stress-free. In about three hours, you will be enjoying the sights and sounds in Manhattan. Holiday shopping, fabulous shows, ice skating in Rockefeller Center and viewing the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center are a few reasons to make the day trip. What to do Rockefeller Center (Fifth Avenue to Seventh Avenue, between 47th and 51st streets)

Gene Poligardo, who has played Santa for at least 10 years, rode the Elkridge Volunteer Fire Department's firetruck, with Mrs. Claus, collecting food for the needy Dec. 11-17. "It makes my Christmas season when I put that Santa suit on," he said. "To me, it puts the whole spirit back into it [to] see not only the kids but the parents jumping up and down and very appreciative." At each stop, Poligardo said, he and Mrs. Claus (Debbi Peddicord) got off the truck, talked to children and gave them candy canes.

In the Knickerbocker snowstorm of January 1922, Maryland's biggest ever until this week, Bill Jasper remembers great electric arcs flashing like fireworks when the streetcar trolley hit a patch of ice on the power line. His dad, Will Jasper, was a motorman on the No. 19 streetcar line on Harford Road from Hamilton Avenue, the city's boundary, then, to Charles and Wells streets. Bill is 87 now. He and his wife, Vi, live at Oak Crest Village retirement community in Parkville, where they weathered Maryland's biggest storm ever the past few days.

Nine reindeer wait patiently on Mark Obermiller's lawn in Scottsburg, Ind., with the whine of a jet engine rising in the background. Behind them, Santa sits on a white sleigh and can be heard running through a preflight checklist with Rudolph: "Master switch on - check." "Transponder on and set to 1200 - check." "Cloaking device set to engage on takeoff - check." "Roll turbines - check." "On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer, on Vixen, on Comet, on Cupid, on Donner, on Blitzen - and away!"

Nine reindeer wait patiently on Mark Obermiller's lawn in Scottsburg, Ind., with the whine of a jet engine rising in the background. Behind them, Santa sits on a white sleigh and can be heard running through a preflight checklist with Rudolph: "Master switch on - check." "Transponder on and set to 1200 - check." "Cloaking device set to engage on takeoff - check." "Roll turbines - check." "On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer, on Vixen, on Comet, on Cupid, on Donner, on Blitzen - and away!"

Hear Dallas Bradshaw of Smith Island recall a bitter cold Christmas of 50 years ago that still warms his heart:There came a freeze-up so bad the whole Chesapeake threatened to ice over. Smith Island, nine miles from the mainland, would soon be cut off.Tylerton, the town where the Bradshaws have lived for the last couple of centuries, was itself islanded from the other communities of Smith by a broad, deep channel -- that was turning as solid as any other town's main street.The ice had forced Dallas' dad and other island men to beach their "drudge boats" where they were oystering, across the bay on the Potomac.

The tundra swans have already flown south after a brief winter appearance on Chautauqua Lake, but winter enthusiasts are flocking to this idyllic southwestern corner of New York for skiing, ice fishing, sleigh rides and festivals. Though the 781-acre Chautauqua Institution on the shores of Chautauqua Lake is essentially a summer community, the institution welcomes guests year-round. The 127-year-old facility is a national historic district known for its artsy, intellectual summers. The institution was founded in 1874 as a summer study and conference center for liberal arts and religious instruction.

Editor's note: Like "It's a Wonderful Life," this Christmas classic never loses its luster.'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the houseNot a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.The children were nestled all snug in their beds,While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my capHad just settled down for a long winter's nap.When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.