THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 2, 1994 TAG: 9411300144
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines
Now that the Christmas season has arrived, the Chesapeake Parks and Recreation Department is offering a variety of yuletide activities for children.
The department has planned Hot Lines to Santa, home visits by Santa, phone calls to Snowflake the Elf, an activity time for young children, visits by Santa to fire stations around the city and a photo session in Indian River.
Tots In Playland - Do you need a few hours away from your children to finalize your holiday shopping? Are you looking for a fun seasonal program to help your kids release all their pent-up holiday energy?
Check out this Saturday's ``Tots In Playland'' activity for ages 3-6 at the River Crest Community Center, 1001 River Walk Parkway.
For a fee of $12 per child, trained recreational supervisors will entertain and keep your little ones busy from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. The program will feature a puppet show, arts and crafts, fitness fun, a clown show, games and lunch.
There will be one instructor for every eight children and the $12 fee includes all supplies. Parents should send along a brown bag lunch with their child's name on it. Make sure everything in the lunch is disposable.
Register by calling 436-8466, and the children will have fun while Mom and Dad shop.
Santa at the station - His suit is red and the fire engines are red, so what better place to feature Santa than at a Chesapeake fire station?
Now a Chesapeake tradition, Santa Claus will again be at several Chesapeake neighborhood stations Dec. 12-15 for some free visits.
Ol' St. Nick and the friendly fire personnel will welcome kids at each of the stations from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., each night. Along with some fun, Santa and the firefighters will help give very important fire safety tips and other safety information.
Parents, make sure you bring your camera along for photos of your children with Santa.
Here is Santa's fire station schedule: Dec. 12, station No. 2, 1205 Freeman Ave.; Dec. 13, station No. 12, 4421 Taylor Road; Dec. 14, station No. 6, 1109 Whittamore Road; and Dec. 15, station No. 4, Volvo Parkway.
Call 547-6566 for more information.
Hotline to Santa - Not only do Chesapeake firefighters protect us from fire and other disasters, but they really get into the spirit of the season with their Fire station Santa visits and participating in the ``Hotline to Santa'' program.
From Dec. 12 to 16, and from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. each evening, volunteers from the city's fire personnel will act as Santa as they call Chesapeake children, ages 3-6.
The service is free, but be sure to register by Dec. 8 by filling out the coupon on the back of the current fall/winter ``Spare Time'' brochure, published by the Parks and Recreation Department and available at any local community center or the department's main office at 112 Mann Drive.
Parents can note specific information about their child on the form to make the call personal and unique. Remember, the calls are only for children ages 3-6.
Wish list hotline - Besides a visit with Santa and a call from him, have your child dial a secret letter code to leave a message for Snowflake the Elf, Mr. Claus' No. 1 helper.
On Dec. 12 and until the end of the season, your child can key in the secret code letters H-E-N-T-I-N-K and he or she will be in contact with Snowflake via a special recording featuring a seasonal greeting and a reminder of several Christmas activities.
After that, your child will be able to leave his or her gift wish list with Snowflake, which he will make available to Santa. Please make sure your child is as brief as possible because Snowflake wants to hear from as many Chesapeake boys and girls as he can.
Home visits from Santa - If you want to do even more for your children at Christmas, how about a home visit from Santa himself?
On the week before Christmas, Santa will set aside time to visit your home to talk to your children and their friends. Each home visit will last for 15 minutes. During the session Santa will hear everyone's gift requests, talk with your children or sing some carols.
Make sure you register early. The fee is $30 per visit and Santa will make his appearances between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. each evening. His visiting schedule is: Dec. 12 - Great Bridge, Dec. 13 - Indian River/Greenbrier, Dec. 14 - Deep Creek, Dec. 15 - South Norfolk and Dec. 16 - Western Branch.
You can leave a gift outside for Santa to give to your child and make sure your porch light is on and your house number is clearly marked and illuminated.
To register, fill out the coupon on the back of the current ``Spare Time'' brochure, available from any Chesapeake community center.
Snaps with Santa - If those lines for the mall Santas are too long and their photo fees are too expensive, take your kids to the Indian River Community Center, 2250 Old Greenbrier Road, Dec. 17.
Parents can bring in their children, ages 11 and younger, for free photo sessions with Santa Claus from noon until 2 p.m.
Make sure you bring your own camera and film along for a set of photos of your child with St. Nick.
Call 424-4238 for more information. by CNB