I'm glad my daughter isn't a child anymore, for how would I tell Sarah that Santa Claus has died.I'm not talking about the jolly old elf at the North Pole with the flying reindeer, the guy who leaves gifts under our Christmas trees and gobbled down milk and cookies until the he......

Manheim Township resident Grover C. Gouker Jr., who personally answered the letters sent to Santa Claus by tens of thousands of children worldwide, died Saturday at his home. He was 86.For the past 59 years, Gouker, who was honored as the "Official Corresponding Santa Claus," ans......

Nearly 80 families from Duke Manor Apartments filled up on scrambled eggs, sausage and pancakes Christmas Eve morning while waiting for a much-anticipated visit from Santa Claus.And, boy, did he deliver.Children who live in the 716 Rockland St. apartment complex were treated not onl......

Akron Pastor Matthew Lenahan notices how "we live in a time when people don't know their neighbors any more." There also aren't as many front porches where people can gather to socialize, and it's also a time closets and food pantries in many homes are stocked with surp......

She sweetened his downtown digs•••If you had to create a house for Santa Claus, what would it look like?Would it look like a ski lodge or an oversized igloo for life at the North Pole?Rachel Garman envisioned something a l......

Amid the growing festiveness of the holiday season, more than 60 people took time out Sunday to reflect on the grief they have experienced this past year.It was Highland Presbyterian Church's second annual Service of Hope and Healing, a time for those who suffered a loss during 2008 to......

When Santa Claus first started riding the rails at Strasburg Rail Road a half century ago, Strasburg's station was hardly bigger than a phone booth and the engine pulling the passenger cars was powered by diesel, not the trademark steam the railroad is known for today. Back in those earl......

A temporary Wal-Mart employee was trampled to death early Friday in a stampede of shoppers in New York, while two people were shot and killed during an argument in a Toys "R" Us store in California.The Christmas 2008 shopping season officially has begun, and evidently the Grinche......

Forget the housing crisis, folks. Santa Claus just built a new place — think colonial gingerbread — in a prime location inside Binns Park. Santa's new house (actually built by Gallagher Construction and decorated by Atomic Design), is where he'll be hanging out, talking t......

Santa Claus is getting fancy new digs for his Lancaster stops this year.The Mayor's Office of Special Events announced the Big Man will come to downtown Lancaster and set up residence in Binns Park on Black Friday, Nov. 28.MOOSE spokeswoman Jennifer Baker said that in previous y......

For 58 years, Grover C. Gouker, posing as Santa Claus, has answered Christmas letters from children across the nation and overseas. Now the 85-year-old man who may well be America's unofficial Santa is sharing some of his more than 100,000 Christmas letters in a new book titled "My San......

Yes, she shaved her eyebrows — her eyebrows! — and then glued tiny white hairs one by one in their place, so her brows would look snowy white. She made her own velvety red suit and kept a careful record of the thousands of children who sat on her knee (one season alone it was pre......

The Christmas tree lights and the tinsel still glittered. Tony Bennett's version of "My Favorite Things" echoed through the hallways. And a few people wore floppy red Santa hats.Yes, Virginia, there's still shopping to do after Santa Claus delivers the loot.Wednesd......

Scott Dierwechter would love to be awakened Christmas morning by his two boys, Aiden, 3, and Gabriel, 4, before they excitedly run downstairs to see what presents Santa Claus brought them. He'd love to linger over breakfast with his wife, Kerry, and spend all day watching his boys play w......

Last week, parents came by the thousands to a clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Club of Lancaster, and found some Christmas magic there. In an atmosphere that was less frantic than any ordinary toy store's, and perhaps even more festive, parents were able to choose from an impressive array ......

S. Arthur Shoemaker carved Jesus Christ as a happy fellow. "I think I took him from 'Jesus Christ Superstar,' " Shoemaker said. "His clothes are blowing, he has a nice smile and his hands are outstretched." And he has red, round cheeks like Santa Claus. The......

The spirit of Christmases long past will be present at Wheatland this holiday season, as Santa Claus — Civil War style — takes up residence for the annual Christmas Candlelight Tours. Portrayed by Civil War re-enactor Walter Bosch, Santa looks like a cross between Father Christmas a......

Christmases past always have a rosy glow. We think of a simpler time when families were happy and everyone understood the true meaning of Christmas. It's easy to forget that Christmas was sometimes celebrated during bleak times in our history, when happiness was in short supply. Cer......

Santa lost his head last week in Manheim Township. Somebody sliced off the jolly old elf's noggin, cutting it from an inflatable decoration in Lyle Ide's front yard and disappearing with it. "I don't quite understand what to think of it," said Ide, who lives off Or......

Who is this bearded, jolly man toting a bagful of toys in place of his usual .44-caliber Remington sidearm? It's Walter Bosch, that's who. "I'm Civil War Santa," the retired Lancaster resident matter-of-factly tells people taken aback by his getup. His breed is r......

Santa's Paradise Express is about to pull out of the station.The popular holiday train ride features Christmas carolers, brass horns and a personal visit with Santa during its 45-minute journey through the Amish countryside.Festivities will begin as soon as the visitor reaches t......

There's another man in Barb Heinaman's life. She showers with him every day. He dutifully holds her hairspray, napkins, candy, coins, drinks, salt and pepper. She steps on him, rests a spoon on him, cuddles with him and could darn a sock on his head, if she wanted. She's h......

Traditional celebrations meet modern-day flair as downtown Lancaster holds what may be its most exciting holiday season ever.From strolling musicians and horse-drawn carriage rides to movies and karaoke, the family-oriented activities are designed with one thing in mind — bringing pe......

Main Street Mount Joy will host the borough's ninth-annual Winterfest on Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m., followed by a special concert on Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Donegal High School Auditorium. Winterfest — featuring food, music, shopping and a variety of fun activities for all ages &mdash......

Christmas caroling and classical music, a tree lighting, refreshments and even an appearance for the little ones by Mr. and Mrs. Claus — according to Paradise Township Supervisor Dennis Groff, the township's annual holiday tree lighting ceremony/party promises "a little something for everyo......

Brian Belge has made a career out of being redeemed every Christmas, à la Ebenezer Scrooge."It's definitely a role I've been playing for several years now," Belge said. "And it's different every time I play it."But this year, he's the man b......

If you know who Buffy, Jody, Sissy, Uncle Bill and Mr. French are, the new lunch box exhibit at the Lancaster Museum of Art is right up your alley. So when you take your annual trek to Trees Galore! and shop in the expanded Holiday store on the first floor of the museum, make sure to go up......

He is the world’s best disciplinarian. In my house, I only have to mention his name to get my children to stop arguing, kicking, poking or generally annoying each other. I figure since the retail industry starts promoting Christmas in mid-October, I can do the same in my house. Before Hallowee......

"Nice celebrations, Mr. Editor,'' my jogging friend said the other day, sipping his coffee.

Get some running in?

"As usual, did the Pagoda thing in Reading. It's tough going up, but even worse coming down because you jar your legs on the steep inclines.

"Can still feel it. But y...

“Well, thank you, Mr. Editor, and the same to you,’’ my jogging friend said the other morning, sipping his coffee. Did you get caught up in the ‘Happy Holidays,’ and ‘Merry Christmas’ thing, Clyde?


“No, not really. I think it’s the thought behind the greeting that counts. If someone’s ......

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