Santa
Claus Comes to Town |
By Anita Varghese
Staff Writer
December 4 -- With his reindeer resting at the North Pole
so they could be in top shape for the big day on December 25, Santa
Claus came to town Thursday on a carriage drawn by two regal Belgian
horses dressed in bells and tinsel.
He was invited to town early this holiday season to bring jolly
good cheer to good boys and girls from the Santa Monica Police Activities
League (PAL) by the Bayside District Corporation, Santa Monica Place,
Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel and the Santa Monica Police Department,
which sponsors the PAL program.
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| Santa rolls down Ocean Avenue. (Photos
by Anita Varghese) |
“Everyone in Santa Monica has made me very happy,”
Santa Claus said, as he headed home after declining to join Mayor
Richard Bloom for a few evening rounds of skating at the city’s
new ice rink on Fifth Street and Arizona Avenue. “Not at this
age,” he quipped.
“I’m having a wonderful time,” Santa Claus said.
“This is a wonderful town, and people are blessed to be living
in this place.”
He had the chance to see the best that Santa Monica has to offer,
starting with a sunny afternoon arrival at Loews’ beachside
hotel and snack time in the hotel’s poolside deck with excited,
young PAL participants.
Later, the horses took him north on Ocean Avenue where, to his
left, he could marvel at the grand Pacific Ocean. Turning east,
he found majestic tall trees to light at Santa Monica Place and
on the Third Street Promenade.
“The PAL kids have been with me all afternoon, and I just
love them,” Santa Claus said. “There are a lot of kids
who need something for Christmas, and I know all of you can help
make their dreams come true. Merry Christmas.”
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| Santa consults with PAL kids
outside Loews. |
PAL is a citywide program offering free educational, cultural and
athletic activities for children ages six to 17.
The program is designed to provide youth with the opportunity to
build positive self esteem and develop life skills under the guidance
of adults, many of them Santa Monica police officers who want to
create mutual trust between law enforcement and young people.
For the second year in a row, Winterlit holiday celebration organizers
have established the Best Gift Ever toy drive for PAL participants.
Community leaders and residents are asked to remember the best
gift they ever received and donate a similar gift to PAL participants.
Unwrapped gifts are being collected at the Winterlit Gift Wrap
Station (1300 block of Third Street Promenade), Santa Monica Place
Guest Services (on the second floor of the mall) and participating
Starbucks Coffee shops throughout the city.
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| Santa strolls with kids from Santa Monica
Place to Promenade. |
Last year, the Best Gift Ever toy drive brought in more than 250
gifts for PAL participants, said Police Chief Timothy Jackman.
“We hope to beat that this year,” Jackman said. “We
would appreciate any and all help from the community.”
Bloom’s gift to Santa Claus was a key to the city.
“We want everyone to keep their doors locked at home, but
we think it is okay for Santa to have a key to the city so he could
come back anytime this season with more toys,” Bloom said.
For more information and a schedule of events, visit the Web site
at www.winterlit.com.
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