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Santa arrives in St. Marys |
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Friday, 28 November 2008 |
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At left, Ean Kramer, 4, sits on Santa’s lap in Santa’s house in Memorial Park Friday morning. Ean asked Santa for planets this Christmas. Staff photo/Mike Burkholder 
BY: Angela Weaver Staff writer ST. MARYS —The holiday season officially kicked off with exclamations of joy — and a few tears — that could be heard from Spring Street to Memorial Park Friday morning as more than 100 children and their parents or grandparents lined up to see Santa Claus come to town.
A mini parade began at 11 a.m. traveling west on Spring Street, led by a St. Marys fire truck with its lights flashing, followed by Memorial High School student Laura Marsee singing “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and horses from Miller’s Funeral Home. Santa arrived in a carriage pulled by an antlered pony, both provided by Leninger’s Pony Rides, and the mini parade ended with a St. Marys Police Department cruiser.
Shelly Huston and her 3-year-old twins Halle and Hunter were some of the residents who waited on Spring Street to watch the mini parade.
“They wanted to see Santa come into town,” Huston said, adding that Hunter likes fire trucks and wanted to see the one in the parade.
Friends Kennedy Schreiber, 7, Kaylie Gayer, 6, Maddox Hertenstein, 3, and Courtney Koeper, 8, on their day off from school also waited to watch for Santa arrive down Spring Street.
Kennedy said she wanted Webkinz for Christmas, and she also would like a Nintendo D.S. Kaylie also said she wanted a Nintendo D.S.
“Pokemon,” Kaylie said of the game she wanted, adding that her favorite character is Pikachu.
Maddox said he wanted trucks, and Courtney chose moonsand. Ella Kable nearby requested Barbies.
Ean Kramer, 4, said he wanted planets for Christmas.
“They’re way up in the sky in the dark,” Kramer said.
Santa gave each child whom he talked to a candy cane, and he said his favorite Christmas treat is gingerbread men. He also had an idea of what he wanted this holiday.
“Peace on Earth,” Santa said.
Children visited with Santa until 12:30 p.m. and were invited to watch a Disney movie in the Performing Arts Center at Memorial High School at 2 p.m.
St. Marys Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kelly Kill said the kids will receive goodies and have a chance to win an early present.
“Santa brings what he doesn’t have to put under other trees,” Kill said, adding that she didn’t know what Santa brought, but there will be two bikes — one for a girl and one for a boy — there also. “He provides a whole tree full of gifts.”
Kill said she hopes people will bring a canned good to benefit Agape Ministries to the movie.
“It’s great,” Kill said of how many people turned out to see Santa. “Kids always love Santa. When Santa comes to town, it’s always exciting stuff.”
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 03 December 2008 )
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