Don’t look now, but that’s Bloomburg mayor Delores Simmons asking Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus for Christmas approval. After all, the town has built this community center for the couple’s wish to speak to children about Christmas.
Who is this? New fire chief arrival? No, it seems Santa got lost when Rudolph’s nose burned out.The fire truck had to be called to save Rudolph and get Santa.
The exterior of Bloomburg’s new community center and city hall (the far right side) looks something like a welcoming spot for Santa Claus. It is. He’s due in just a few minutes.
Errysa Ramage helps squeezes decoration on cookies while Bloomburg city councilman Casey Kelley looks on.
Perhaps the best table for the Santa Claus party at Bloomburg’s new community center is the cookie table. Cookies here are decorated first, then eaten.
Santa visits Bloomburg
Santa came to visit Bloomburg and its new city hall and community center Friday.
Not only were the children excited, so were the adults, particularly city council members. They had rapidly, one evening meeting, decided to purchase this former community grocery store building, then turn it into a dual purpose community center and town hall.
Now this Christmas visit from Mr.and Mrs. Santa was going to give this central part of town Santa’s blessing. A source of pride.
Already behind the new city hall, a recreation area is taking shape. It, too, with fresh and colorful swings, slides and soft footing will say to citizens, “We may not have as many businesses in our former downtown area, but we have a place for citizens to gather, to meet and be proud.”
“Maybe we’ll get a lot of other things done including community spirit,” said council secretary and, until recently, Bloomburg school superintendent Suzanne Bishop.
From a tall height as Santa and reindeer approached the building, one could see large windows of the community section spill light and excitement out onto the parking lot. Inside, a large selection of Christmas trees, which had been donated and decorated by the community, made the scene look something like the North Pole.
Tables were decorated with strings of lights, hot chocolate and pop corn warmed the air, and chairs were filled with young people first to decorate then eat cookies, make decorations for the trees or create food to give to the reindeer.
In other words, on this gray, misty and rainy evening, Christmas appeared in downtown Bloomburg.
The town’s mayor Delores Simmons even went over to Santa and mentioned her wish for a successful and happy coming year. (Don’t tell anyone, but Santa was her city council member Melvin Notley) On the practical side, Bloomburg’s new building achievement had come because the town was able to sell the former Methodist Church building and the old city hall and take out a loan for the new building. Townspeople look over a year to remodel the facility into an attractive city hall with modest facilities for council and employees.
The work had been done for the town and by the town. Santa was able to say “Merry Christmas to all … and for all that!”