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HOLIDAYS, continued from p. 1
Christmas tree featuring glass ball ornaments and a plastic Santa Claus, surrounded by a stuffed teddy bear, a Skipper doll similar to a Barbie doll, a Fisher Price Pull-A-Tune Xylophone and Mallet, the Little Golden Book Three Little Kittens, a toy radio station, and a Fisher Price School Bus. The ever-popular model town of Possum Ridge and its trains will also be on display on the first floor of the Winter Building. Characters from A Special Visitor Comes to Possum Ridge will read from the children’s book inspired by the train exhibit. For more information about the Candlelight Tour call 601-576-6925.
As part of its Food For Thought program, which aims to teach that being a good citizen means taking an active role in improving our own communities, the Old Capitol Museum is inviting visitors to donate books and non-perishable food items throughout December. Food collected through the program will go to Jackson’s Operation Shoestring, children’s books will be distributed to Mississippi preschools and daycares, and other books will be sent to the Mississippi Library Commission.
On December 2, 9, and 16 at 3:30 p.m., the Old Capitol Museum will present “Telling Tales,” a series for elementary-school-age children that features stories and craft activities. Mississippi Public Broadcasting’s
Ed Said will kick off the series with a reading on December 2.
Carols and other holiday songs will fill the Old Capitol rotunda for “Sounds of the Season.” The Hinds Community College Choir will perform on December 2, Mustard Seed’s Bells of Faith on December 10, Wells Memorial United Methodist Church on December 16, and Scotland Baptist Church Ensemble of Yazoo City on December 17. All groups will begin at noon. For more information about events at the Old Capitol, call 601-576-6800 or email info@oldcapitolmuseum.com.
The historic section of the governor's mansion will showcase traditional holiday decorations using seasonal greenery for Christmas at the Governor’s Mansion from December 2 to
20.	Guided tours are offered Tuesday through Friday, 9:30 to 11 a.m. on the half-hour. The tours are free of charge, but ad-
vance reservations are required for groups of ten or more. The mansion will be closed for tours from Wednesday, December 21, through Monday, January 2, and may be closed at other times for official state functions. For more information about events at the governor’s mansion or to make a tour reservation, call 601-359-6421.
From December 5 through 22, trains will again run through the model town of Possum Ridge on the first floor of the William F. Winter Archives and History Building at the corner of North and Amite streets in Jackson. As a part of Winter Holidays, historic Christmas trees and toys will be on display Monday, noon—4:30 p.m., Tues-day-Friday, 9 a.m.—4:30 p.m., and Saturdays, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tours for school groups are available by reservation Tues-day-Friday, December 6-16, 9 a.m.-noon. For information call
601-576-6800.
Outside Greenville, Win-terville Mounds will hold its Christmas open house inside the museum on Sunday, December 5, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Local choirs will perform holiday music, and refreshments will be served. For more information call 662-334-4684 or email info@wintervillemounds.com.
In southwest Mississippi, Historic Jefferson College will again have its Celebration of Christmas Trees. Trees are brought into the first-floor classroom of the historic West Wing building. Classes from area schools decorate the trees with ornaments they have made and learn the story of Jefferson College during the Territorial period. Last year more than four hundred young people participated. The Celebration of Christmas Trees will run from December 12 to 31. An open house showcasing the trees will be held Saturday, December 17, 10 a.m. -4 p.m.
Children are invited to make holiday decorations at the Historic Jefferson College workshop “EXPLORE! Christmas Ornaments” on Thursday, December 22,10—11:30 a.m. (ages 6-8) and 2-3:30 p.m. (ages 9-12). Parents and grandparents are always welcome to stay and learn. S10 pre-registration is required. For more information call 601-442-2901 or email info@historicjef-fersoncollege.com.
STATEHOOD DAY, continued from p. 1
rah High School mock trial team that won the 2001 state championship.
In 2000 Graves received the Hinds County Bar Association’s Innovation Award for his pioneering efforts in creating the first high-tech courtroom in Mississippi state courts, establishing the first court Web site fora Mississippi state trial court, and implementing electronic filing of court documents. In 2001 Graves received the Jackson Public School District’s Parent of the Year Award. In 2002 the Mississippi Association of Educators presented him with the Human-
ized Education Award, the group’s highest honor given to a non-teacher.
In 2004, Millsaps College named him a recipient of the Li vesay Award for his service to the college and the community. In 2009, the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University selected Graves for the Maxwell Public Administration Award, which is given to alumni for their exceptional work in public service.
The Mississippi Territory was organized in 1798 and included both modern-day Mississippi and Alabama. On December 10,
1817, President James Monroe signed the resolution admitting Mississippi into the Union as the twentieth state.
The Old Capitol, Jackson’s oldest building, is a National Historic Landmark. Located on State Street at Capitol, the museum’s regular hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, free of charge. The Old Capitol is a museum of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. For more information call 601-576-6920 or email info@oldcapi-tolmuseum.com.