[StBernard] Christmas with Character event was a successful kick-off to the holiday season

[Westley Annis]

Christmas with Character event was a successful kick-off to the holiday
season

 

Santa arrived at Torres Park via helicopter ride compliments of the St.
Bernard Community Foundation and Crescent City Helicopter Tours on the first
Saturday of December. Children jumped and waved as he flew above the park
several times before landing at the Arc of Chalmette.  After a quick Gulf
Coast trolley ride, Santa, Mrs. Claus, the Grinch and two North Pole
penguins took their places in the pavilion of the Community Playground to
greet children personally and pose for hundreds of photos. A newly created
North Pole Express mail box received nearly 75 Santa letters. Children
enjoyed crafts and cold "hot chocolate" as well as mini-train rides as the
CHS Jazz Ensemble provided sounds of the season.

 

Participating organizations and individuals included: Kiwanis of St.
Bernard-Arabi, BPW, St. Bernard Chamber, Celebrate St. Bernard, VPNA, Arc's
Aktion Club, Mark Abshier, LA Crawfish Festival, Tourist Commission,
Entergy, Chalmette Refining, Gulf Coast Bank, St. Bernard Community
Foundation, Chalmette High School Jazz Band, St. Bernard Parish Government
and the Sheriff's Office.  Anyone wishing to participate in next year's
event as a sponsor or by providing a children's Christmas storybook
character is urged to contact Polly at 554-7134.

 

Replacing the annual Christmas parade with a successful "Christmas with
Character" holiday kick-off, pictured above, were committee members:
standing- "Molly" Penguin, Santa, Mrs. Claus, the Grinch & Penguin "Frost"
sitting- Polly Campbell & Gidget McDougall (committee members not pictured:
Bret Bowen, Claudette Reuther, Shirley Barreca, Mike Chutz, Judy Hoffmeister
& Elizabeth Frost)