Santa Claus

Lolita Harper HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- Anyone who ever wondered what Santa Claus did during the off-season got their answer Tuesday during the Christmas in July celebration, presented by the city of Burbank. Dressed in shorts and Hawaiian garb, Santa hung 10 with about 50 Burbank tots at McCambridge Park while they danced, created arts and crafts, played games and ate special Christmas goodies. Tots on the Town, part of the Burbank Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department, sponsors such events periodically throughout the year, program director Vicky O'Neill said.

Santa Claus soared over hundreds of people watching the mayor’s tree lighting in front of City Hall at the annual Burbank Holiday Parade, while chants for him penetrated the air. But he didn’t do it with his trusty reindeer. Santa circled the crowd in a helicopter. The event and subsequent parade down San Fernando Boulevard kicked off downtown Burbank’s 12 Days of Holiday Cheer, which is usually in the first 12 days of December. After Santa and Mrs. Claus waved to the crowd, they were whisked away to the AMC Theatre walkway where Santa heard the whispered wishes of children.

Jackson Bell Nick Bennett was so excited to be standing in the cold outside of City Hall that he could hardly keep still. The reason? A special appearance by a certain white-bearded man who is known to have a belly like a bowl full of jelly. "I'm here to see Santa because I want to see him arrive on the fire engine," Nick said. The eager 7-year-old Burbank resident was among dozens of local families gathered on the front steps of the civic center to celebrate the holiday season with Santa, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and city officials during the annual Mayor's Tree-Lighting Ceremony on Tuesday night.

Jackson Bell Do-it-yourself holiday decorating is a point of pride for Brian Smith. That's why most of the ornaments outside of Smith's home at 841 N. Buena Vista St. -- from a hand-painted cutout of Santa Claus to a homemade silver tinsel tree -- are ones that he crafted by hand. "I like to see houses where the stuff is homemade, not where they just put their checkbooks in their front lawn," he said. Smith's house was one of four residential award winners in the Burbank Civic Pride Committee's 2003 Holiday Decoration Contest.

Children decorate cookies and meet Santa at Burbank Boys and Girls Club annual Christmas celebration.Biting his lip and shifting from one foot to another, 11-year-old K.C. Mattison was having trouble determining his cartoon allegiances on Thursday. But K.C. was in luck. A team of illustrators from the Walt Disney Co. occupied the lounge at the Burbank Boys and Girls Club and were willing to fulfill his every request, from drawings of Gonzo and Chicken Little to a sketch of Winnie the Pooh for his sister.

TODAY "Breakfast with Santa," featuring letter-writing to Santa Claus, is at 8:30 a.m. at the Media City Center third floor food court, 201 E. Magnolia Blvd. The cost is $6. For more information, call 566-8617. The Nature's Artists Club for children 10 and older is at 11 a.m. at the Stough Canyon Nature Center, 2300 Walnut Ave. For more information, call 238-5440. Families are invited to create traditional holiday tin decorations for the winter season from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the Autry Museum of Western Heritage, 4700 Western Heritage Way. For more information, call (323)

Lolita Harper MEDIA CITY CENTER -- Little Samuel Barcelona could not sit still, he was so excited. "I saw Santa in a helicopter and horses and the big Christmas tree," the 3-year-old said while bouncing up and down. Samuel was one of thousands of people who gathered Friday at the Media City Center Mall to welcome Santa -- who arrived via the Mountain Dew/KISS (102.7 FM) helicopter -- and kick off the holiday shopping season. Santa Claus's arrival at the mall was only one of several activities, which included a puppet show, carolers, a holiday youth choir, a horse-drawn trolley, ice skaters and 15 tons.

BURBANK ELKS SPONSOR CHILDREN?S PARTY Burbank Elks Lodge #1497 had a Christmas party for more than 375 children who were treated to a visit with Santa Claus and presented with a new toy. The Elks lodge was filled with excited children and their parents, who were served free hot dogs and punch while they waited to visit with Santa. Camera flashes lighted the room as each child sat on Santa?s lap and told him their Christmas wishes. The Burbank Elks have been hosting children?

While crooner Bing Crosby wasn’t present when Christ was born, he is one of several offbeat characters in Westminster Presbyterian Church’s “Nativity! The Musical.” This is the third year that writer-director team Greg and Melissa Baldwin is producing the show, which tells a moving version of the birth of Christ with several wacky embellishments, organizers said. “It’s an irreverent look at something very reverent,” said David Brandt, who portrays Crosby.

Joyce Rudolph The holidays have been especially blessed for my family this year with the birth of my nephew, Robert David Rudolph. Six months old this week, he has constantly added humor and excitement to our lives in his short time with us. Of course, no one is more proud than my brother and his wife, Robert J. and Debra Rudolph, former Burbank residents now living in Santa Clarita. My nephew is just adored by his sisters, Sheila, 16, Rochelle, 11, and Tiffani, 6. And let's not forget Grandma Dorothy Rudolph, a longtime Burbanker whose bedroom is now half a nursery.