Santa kicks off Christmas in Shepherdstown

November 24, 2007|By MATTHEW UMSTEAD

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.VA.

Eleven-month-old Caroline Brewer usually is fascinated with beards, according to her mother, Christine Brewer of Martinsburg, W.Va.

On Santa Claus' lap Saturday at J. Cooper Gallery in Shepherdstown for a holiday photograph, Brewer's curiosity wore thin. The Santa hat-donning child born on New Year's Eve wanted mom.

What she wanted Santa to bring her was moot, regardless.

"We imagine her aunts are going to spoil her a lot," Brewer said while waiting in line with other parents and their youngsters in tow for the Christmas in Shepherdstown event hosted by the gallery at 140 E. German St.

Sponsored by a host of organizations, along with the Corporation of Shepherdstown, the annual holiday celebration continues today, with events also scheduled for next weekend.

Joining the Brewers in line to see Santa were Matthew and Kathyrn Bellacosa of Charles Town, W.Va., who brought their young daughters, Mia, 2, and Zoe, 5 months, for pictures.

After telling mom she wanted a ringing bell, the oldest child was reminded she might also want a Barbie car. Moon Sand also was on the list, Kathyrn Bellacosa said.

When a youngster in the Hershey family shied from sitting on Santa's lap, Lynne Hershey Rieden of Herndon, Va., and her mother, Anna Hershey took a seat ? at the same time ? for a photograph together.

"You OK, Santa?" they asked while Cecilia Gerstner of Sol Photography of Shepherdstown had them pose for the picture.

"We're having a ball," Hershey said of a weekend together with family in Hagerstown.

Dan Mitchell, in his first year donning the red garb and long, white flowing beard, was just fine, other than being "a little hot" from the costume. A side door was propped open to allow a little chill in the air inside.

The cool temperatures were welcomed by Adele Knott, secretary of the Kiwanis Club of Shepherdstown

The weather doesn't hurt the group's annual chili and cornbread fundraiser, she said. The varieties of chili, including bison, venison, white chicken, vegetarian, spicy and mild beef, were prepared by the group's membership.

"We encourage them to make what they like," Knott said of the 40 gallons of chili prepared for the weekend. "It takes the whole team effort to pull this off."

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