Westminster planetarium hosts holiday program

Westminster planetarium hosts holiday program

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. — “Season of Light” will be shown at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and Dec. 12-13 in the Westminster College Planetarium, Room 116, of the Hoyt Science Resources Center.

The 45-minute multimedia holiday program features the origins of many holiday traditions and their relationship to this important astronomical time. It focuses on the symbolism of light at the winter solstice season.

While retelling the Christian story of the birth of Jesus Christ, the program also examines the history of the Jewish holiday Hanukkah, and the beginnings of the traditions of holiday decorating, feasting and exchanging gifts.

Included in the show is a look at the stars and constellations of the winter sky, a review of the basic astronomical concepts of diurnal motion and the seasons, and discussion of possible astronomical explanations of the Christmas star.

The program is free and open to the public. Reservations are necessary. Call (724) 946-7200.

TV producer from Sebring signs with global TV company

Reality television show producer R. Greg Johnston, a native of Sebring, has signed a two-year contract with Endemol USA to executive produce unscripted series, according a report in The Hollywood Reporter.

Johnston is a 16-year veteran of MTV. He joined the cable network as an intern and worked his way up to vice president in the music development department, and then became an MTV-based producer.

He was instrumental in developing popular MTV reality series, including “The Osbournes” and “Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica.” For his work on “The Osbournes,” he shared a best nonfiction program Emmy in 2002.

Johnston was part of the original development team for the MTV Movie Awards, and was involved with the MTV Video Music Awards and such series as “Rich Girls,” “Miss Seventeen,” “The Ashlee Simpson Show” and “The Wade Robson Project.”

As an independent producer for the past three years, Johnston executive produced the Bernie Mac reality pilot “Welcome to the Family” for NBC and is executive producing Bravo’s upcoming series “Chef Academy.”

Endemol is a global television and Internet entertainment production company.

Canfield celebrates Christmas

CANFIELD — A Christmas celebration will be at 6:30 p.m. Saturday on the Green in Canfield. Participants can sing carols in candlelight, take a horse and carriage ride, view a live Nativity scene and eat roasted chestnuts. The decorations on the Green will be illuminated, and Santa Claus will visit with children.