Photo try (V**
Valley River Center'$ Santa Cloui laid he trlei to "keep the warm tooling of Christinas alive
Amid the department stores
and passersby in Valley
River Center sits an old
man on a chair for hours on end
Some people wave at him, and
some just stare A lew have even
been known to cry
The man is Santa Claus, a
gentle soul with a generous heart
and a jolly belly that welcomes
one and all to abandon shopping
for awhile and sit on his lap for a
chat
' They're always excited to see
him," said Judy Sebastian, while
watching her children Sara, 7,
and Gregory, 6. sit on Santa's
knees and tell him their wishes
Sara, who asked for a "crying
doll," likes Santa because "he
gives everyone toys ' Gregory,
who asked for "lots of candy,"
said he likes Santa simply
because "he's nice "
But it wasn't just the young
who got into the act Steve
Albrich, 49. and Ray Marsh. 53,
of Corvallis, much to the amuse
ment of shoppers, sat on either
knee of Santa and posed for a
picture
Marsh planned to give his pic
ture to his three granddaughters
Albrich said with a laugh. 'We
posed because it's Christmas,
and we believe in Santa, but the
picture is just a lark "
For whatever the reason that
people are drawn to Santa. Mr
Claus sits and sits listening to
each person's reasons — some
times for six or seven hours at a
time But Santa doesn't mind
"I could take a break it I wanted
to, but I don’t want to." Santa
said “I love kids, I enjoy waving
to people, and I enjoy just sitting
here, watching and meeting peo
pie"
Santa has had many unusual
experiences with children sitting
on his lap over the years
"Oh yeah, they go to the bath
room on your lap." he said "You
just act like it didn't happen I just
keep talking to them If they're sit
ting on one side, then after they
leave I move the next child to the
other side Then I go home at
night and wash But that's the key
— I don't act like it bothers me “
"Many of the kids become so
excited because they view
Santa’s presence as magical."
said Pat Havice. owner ot Santa ,
Magic, a small business he has
run during the holiday season tor
many years
Although Havice receives mod
est profits from the photos taken
at the mall, he said the money is
not the reason ho operates the
business
"We try to create the warm
feeling ot Christmas and bring
Santa alive," he said
The line of children eagerly
waiting to see Santa proves that
Havtce's efforts are working He
attributes the success to the
steadfast belief children have in
Santa Claus
"In a child's mind, there are
three things that are important at
this time of year," he said "You
have God or Jesus r< you are reli
gious, then you have Mom or
Dad because they're your protec
tors, and then you have the guy
in the red suit," he said
When Christmastime rolls
Turn u SANTA I'agc Nil
) RECORD GARDEN
ou/ ctj<C Aril 'C/ 7 / /
✓ h riAt )<?£ "men/ : /
1030 Willamette - frufynt, OR. 97401
-Mon - Sm f. |0-9 & Sun \Z.-b
Smith Family
Bookstore
Eugene's Largest Bookstore
usn.1, rare, and out-of-print books
n«*,ir i.impus
76K I nth
34S lf>SI
We've
lixpanded
iltnvntokvn
VVill.Htn'th’
in -1717
CREATIVE
QIFTS
I xplore the largest
Art Supply Store
in Oregon...
and discover
tiie perfect gift
for your favorite
artist. W
We have kits and sets
foe artists of all ages:
Paint Sets
Pastel Sets
S<lk Painting Kits
Silkscreen Kits
Kid's Art Sets & Kits
and morel
GIFTS
IF YOU WISH, WE'LL PACKAGE IT TOO!
Boxes & Packaging Supplies
Computers • Stereos • TV's
1 to 1000 pounds • Insurance available
Packaging Store
344-3106
440 Chamelton (back of building) • parking available
Wolff Beds-Wolff Bulbs
Tanning Packages Available
GiU'
Five Tans $ 15.00
Ten Tans $25.00
Fifteen Tans $30.00
Oregon West
fitness
k
$
You don't £~
have to be <
a member <
1475 Franklin across from campus 485-1624
Expires 12/31/92