Santa Claus

Ryan Carter RANCHO DISTRICT -- Santa Claus is beginning to make the rounds in Burbank. Santa and a group of carolers were spotted at Rancho Market Place last week, but he and Mrs. Claus were not buying up groceries, though. Instead, a group of singers, ringing their jingle bells, jubilantly sang Christmas carols as zealous children boisterously delivered their Christmas wishes to Ol' St. Nick on Saturday and Sunday. "It's just a little fun thing to do," said Kevin Mortesen, a spokesperson for Robertson Properties Group, which put on the event.

Laura Sturza MEDIA CITY CENTER -- Santa Claus will join a room full of happy children for a special Saturday breakfast. The event features music from a toy soldier band, storytelling, a warm breakfast and letter writing to Santa with a mailbox to the North Pole. It is suggested that tickets be purchased in advance, as the breakfast often sells out. However, any tickets still available that morning can be purchased at the Media City Center customer service desk.

Gary Moskowitz TRANSPORTATION CENTER -- Santa Claus and the holiday toy express train got held up by rainy conditions this weekend. The 450-ton train, which has been decorated with large holiday ornaments and more than 30,000 holiday lights and filled with gifts, has now been set to arrive at 6 p.m. Friday at the Burbank Metrolink Station, 201 N. Front St., in Burbank. The rescheduled lighting ceremony at the train station will also feature a tribute to honor local firefighters who were called to duty in New York City after the Sept.

Karen S. Kim BURBANK -- Shaquille O'Neal and Magic Johnson have both sat on Craig Weisman's lap to tell him what they want for Christmas. But they probably don't know him as Burbank resident Craig Weisman. He's Santa Claus. "It's a wonderful job," said Weisman, 42. "You couldn't ask for a better job. It's a magical transformation into this wonderful being." Weisman has a business called Millennium Productions that supplies corporate and private parties with Santas, elves and movie snow.

Gary Moskowitz MEDIA CITY CENTER -- When you're a child living in Burbank, snow falling in front of the Media City Center -- 15 tons of it -- is a big deal. So is Santa Claus flying in on a helicopter and stepping onto Magnolia Boulevard, complete with a white beard, rosy cheeks and a bag full of toys. For parent and event coordinator Katy Mason, the annual holiday show at the Media City Center is a magical day for Burbank families. "Watching the looks on the children's faces as Santa approaches, and waving at him in the sky, is magical," Mason said.

Gary Moskowitz TRANSPORTATION CENTER -- Burbank's Regional Intermodal Transportation Center will host a holiday celebration for Burbank residents next week. Festivities will be at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Burbank center, 201 N. Front St. Residents who attend are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy, which the Burbank Fire Department will then distribute to disadvantaged children in Burbank. Southland firefighters who assisted with recovery efforts in New York City will be special guests at the celebration, which will include musical performances, a holiday story telling, a live stage show with Santa Claus and his helpers and an appearance of Burbank's antique 1913 Moreland fire engine.

Gary Moskowitz MEDIA CITY CENTER -- Santa Claus will be dropping by, via helicopter, to Burbank's Media City Center later this month. Upon his 9:15 a.m. arrival to the Magnolia Boulevard entrance to the mall Nov. 23, Santa will be joined by Mervyn's Frosty the Snowman for "Magic in the Making," a holiday show at 9:30 a.m. At 10:30 a.m., the winter play land will open, adjacent to Mervyn's 3rd Street entrance. Parents and children are welcome to attend.

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.

I am writing this letter in response to what I heard that the council meeting the other night. I do not agree with gadflies at the City Council meeting about many things, such as loss of property values, ROAR, the airport, the yelling and calling my council members crooks. But this time, I agree with them about the city playing Santa Claus. It is outrageous that the city would consider a gift of $250,000 to Sears to bring a store into Burbank. A better idea would be for the city to give a tax break to any new business that would move to Burbank you would fill every empty space in the Media City Center mall.

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.