 | | | Photo Andy Scheck
| | | | | | Orinda's 25th Annual Tree of Lights festivities kicked off last Saturday with a welcome from Mayor Victoria Smith and other community leaders.
A children's chorus set the mood with special music, including a medley of "Mr. Santa" and "We Need a Little Christmas," followed by the countdown by Mayor Smith and Council Member Dean Orr to the annual lighting of the Orinda Village tree, which will twinkle with white lights of hope throughout the holiday season. But it was a certain round, white-whiskered, jolly man who stole the show.
Children vibrated with excitement as Santa arrived by Moraga-Orinda Fire District truck. Bounding down from the cab, he waved as he made his way through the crowd. He greeted his biggest fans from his place of honor for more than an hour with help from members of Boy Scout Troop 237.
"Were you good this year?
"Yes," said one, almost too softly to be heard.
"Tell him about the train," called a dad as his son's brain froze.
Another tiny one, too shy to meet St. Nick in person, advised his mom that it wasn't necessary to sit on the big guy's lap. "Santa already knows what I want."
"What's that?" whispered his mom. "A helicopter."
All it took for one little girl, frowning as she was seated on Santa's knee, was to look up into those twinkling eyes. Presto, a smile!
Santa, when asked by the Lamorinda Weekly if he had a message for local boys and girls, nodded thoughtfully and said:
1. Be grateful for what you have.
2. Be good to your Mom and Dad.
3. Be good to your brothers and sisters.
4. Be good to animals. I like animals.
5. Have plenty of chocolate chip cookies and milk ready.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA