Kids enjoy Christmas Eve event at Towanda Public Library

BY JAMES LOEWENSTEIN (STAFF WRITER)

Published: December 25, 2009

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Review Photo/JAMES LOEWENSTEIN Ashley Scrivener of Sayre, left, tells Santa that she wants a pink bear for Christmas. Also sitting on Santa's lap is Scrivener's sister, Raegan.

TOWANDA - At the Christmas Eve Story Time event, held Thursday at the Towanda Public Library, Santa chatted with local kids and gave them lollipops, candy canes - and a used children's book.

"Every child ought to have a book for Christmas," stated Santa.

"Three books," remarked the library's director, June Houghtaling, who was watching Santa interact with the children.

"Exactly," replied Santa.

The library donated books for the 1 1/2-hour-long event.

At the event, which was run by library staff, children decorated Christmas cookies with icing and colored sugar, made ornaments for Christmas trees, concocted a magic dust to spread on their lawns to make sure Santa will find their homes, and had Christmas stories read to them by children's librarian Katie Patton.

Besides giving out books to the children, Santa also asked Houghtaling if he could keep one of the books for himself, which is titled "The Rooster Who Lost His Crow," by Wendy Cheyette Lewison.

"Sure!" replied Houghtaling.

Santa explained to a reporter that he was particularly interested in the book because he raises chickens, and that he wanted to read to the book to his grandchildren.

"Santa raises chickens!" said retired math teacher David Crowley of Towanda, who overheard Santa's interview.

Houghtaling said there was a good turnout for the event, which was free of charge but which required participants to pre-register with the library in order to attend.

"I think around 30 children registered, and it looks like most showed up,"

The magic dust was made out of oatmeal and colored sugar, Patton said.

James Loewenstein can be reached at (570) 265-1633; or e-mail: jloewenstein@thedailyreview.com.

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