Phi Alpha Theta, Stephen F. Austin State University's history honor society, will host a book signing for Dr. Court Carney's new book, "Cuttin' Up: How Early Jazz Got America's Ear," this week on campus.

The event will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at the Barnes & Noble located in the Baker Pattillo Student Center.

"It is exciting," Carney said about the publication of his first book. "It is one of those projects that you work on for so long, and it seems without end." He spent two years writing the book and finished last spring.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Saxophonist Brian Utley and pianist Ron Petti, both members of the music faculty at Stephen F. Austin State University, will present a faculty recital at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

The duo will perform Bernhard Heiden's "Sonata for Saxophone and Piano," one of the staples of the saxophone repertoire, and "Seresta No. 1" by Brazilian composer Liduino Pitombeira.

SFA School of Theatre's The Original Cast will present the musical revue "Christmas at the Movies" in W.M. Turner Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4; at 2 and 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5; and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Original Cast, a musical cabaret troupe from the Stephen F.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Art galleries operated by the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art will be closed Sunday, Nov. 22, through Monday, Nov. 30, for the Thanksgiving holidays.

"Our galleries are normally closed on Sundays and Mondays," explained Christian Cutler, director of SFA galleries, "and since SFA begins its Thanksgiving break on Wednesday, Nov. 25, we decided to close on Tuesday, Nov. 24, as well."

Ashley Currid, president of the SFA Ceramic Club, works on a handmade bowl to be sold during the club's Chili Bowl Fundraiser from 11 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, in front of Steen Library on the SFA campus. For $10, patrons receive a bowl filled with chili and a side of cornbread.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Ceramic Club at Stephen F. Austin State University will be selling handmade ceramic bowls filled with chili from 11 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov.

"Harper Church," a platinum/palladium print by Matthew Magruder, is one of 30 photographs included in "The Texas Church Photography Project," which the SFA School of Art will open at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

NACOGOCHES, TEXAS - The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and School of Art will open "The Texas Church Photography Project" at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov.

SFA Gardens will host its monthly Les Reeves Garden Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, in the Stephen F. Austin State University Agriculture Building Room 110 on Wilson Drive. Dr. Brent Pemberton, ornamental plant researcher with the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton, will present "Trials and Travels 2009: Great Plants - Great Gardens."

Attendees at Stephen F. Austin State University's Fire Safety Day on Monday, Nov. 16, will learn how to fight fire with fire. The event will begin at 4 p.m. at the intramural fields near the corner of Starr Avenue and Wilson Drive.

In addition to learning how to use a fire extinguisher on small trashcan fires, an interactive video game will be available that lets participants extinguish a fire on a television screen with a remote control. "It is similar to a Wii," said Jeremy Higgins, SFA director of Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management.

Pictured, clockwise from left, are "Brothers" by Henderson junior Turner Vinson; "Kubota" by Brenham senior Kristina Nell Grauke; and "Darkness" by San Antonio junior Elizabeth Guerrero.

Art works such as these by Stephen F. Austin State University art students are currently on sale at the Nacogdoches Antique Market, 412 E. Main St. Sponsored by the SFA student organization, Art Alliance, the sale will continue through Saturday, Nov. 21.