Christmas comes early for Calimesa and Yucaipa children

Children were treated to an early Christmas at the Calimesa Norton Younglove Senior Center, Saturday.

CALIMESA - Santa and 15 of his elves brought an early Christmas to about 200 Calimesa and Yucaipa children at the Calimesa Norton Younglove Senior Center, Saturday.

Toddlers through elementary-age children were treated to a movie, story time, goodie bags, raffles for snowbears, pizza and punch, and of course the biggest thrill of all:

Sitting on Santa's lap.

Some children shyly asked for their most desired present, while others implored him to fulfill their wishes. "They've been asking for electronics - things like ipods and Nintendos," said Santa (Pete Bouzos), who has been Santa for the event for three years. "But last year one child asked me for a place to live. That just breaks your heart."

The annual "Calimesa Lunch with Santa and Storytime," now in its seventh year, is jointly sponsored by the Calimesa Branch Library Friends of the Library and the Calimesa Cultural and Performing Arts Association.

The group arranged to buy snow bears, goodie bags filled with candy, fruit, coloring books, and the pizza lunch.

But before the kids met Santa, they huddled cross legged on the floor while Debbie Wisdom, a Friends of the Library volunteer, read "Bless You Santa," and "The Christmas Surprise," to them.

"I love kids and I enjoy reading to them," said Wisdom. After story time, the kids munched on pizza, sat on Santa's lap, and waited anxiously for their raffle number to be called for a snow bear by Walt Pyle, who MC'd the event.

15-month-old Jonathon Hickey won a snow bear in the raffle, and his grandmother, Mary Hickey, was all smiles as she carried Jonathan up to Pyle and Ella Zanowic, Calimesa Council member, who handed Mary the bear.

Mary held her little grandson in one arm and the bear in the other as she posed for pictures. "This is a nice community event for the children," Hickey said. "I'm grateful that our small town supports our children."