Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Three wisemen — and a cluster of aliens

Henderson resident has unique nativity dotting his front yard

Nativity

Heather Cory

Paul Wine, 74, sets up a nativity scene in his front yard. Wine said he made the nativity scene, which includes three visitors from space, from plywood in 1995 as a tribute to God.

Not your average nativity

Paul Wine places an angel amongst the three wise men as he sets up his nativity scene in his front yard.  Wine made the nativity scene out of plywood in 1995 and later included three visitors from space.  
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See the manger

To view the Wines' nativity scene, take Boulder Highway south to Racetrack Road and turn left. At Burkholder Boulevard, turn left, then right onto Skytop Drive.

The Wine front yard is home to more than a typical nativity scene.

First there's the breadth of figures — 19 in total. All are hand-crafted from plywood, not store-bought plastic figures, and life-size. But perhaps the most striking thing is its most recent addition — a cluster of miniature aliens bringing the sun, moon and stars to the Baby Jesus.

Since retiring to his Henderson home at 132 Skytop Drive in 1995, 74-year-old Paul Wine has erected a nativity scene that has expanded from just Mary, Joseph and a crib to its current 19 pieces.

"I figured this was my gift to God," he said.

"When he retired he got more time," added his wife, Mary, who was busy assessing each piece's placement Dec. 1.

Wine does not consider himself an artist. He used to spend hours re-drawing each figure before he created something that satisfied both him and his wife. Then he would take out his bandsaw and drill to finish a piece in a process that could span days.

"I really had no vision," Wine said.

But through the years he added kings, angels, a Star of David, a shepherd and a dove of peace. Four years ago, the otherworldly creatures drifted in.

"It just came to me one day," Wine said. "Maybe what they're looking for is Jesus. Whatever god people are looking for, they're looking for God."

Originally the aliens landed in a saucer, but they were later stranded. One windy night, the disc literally flew away — down the street. Wine retrieved the spaceship, but no longer places it outside.

The scene has undergone few changes since then, Wine said, other than some neighborhood children tossing rocks at it or karate-chopping a hand — since repaired. It has continued to attract the admiration of neighbors and fellow church members from St. Peter the Apostle, who ask its status every year.

Wine said at times he grows weary at the thought of erecting the scene. Four days before Christmas in 2006 he underwent open-heart surgery

"I'm still recuperating," Wine said. "It gets to be a real struggle. I don't know if I'm going to do it much longer."

Prior to the holiday season, he routinely mulls whether to put up the scene. Eventually, any doubts are cast out.

"It gives me a good, warm feeling," he said. "It's a lot of work, but I'm compelled to do it. It's the thing that keeps me going."

Dave Clark can be reached at 990-2677 or [email protected].

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