News
ENLARGE
By Tom Meyer
BONANZA STAFF WRITER
Unless he or she has been particularly naughty, everyone can expect an annual visit from Santa Claus - including governors and U.S. senators, as Incline Village's very own St. Nick resumed his "Bless the Children" tour Thursday. Santa Claus planned to pick-up where he left-off in August.
BONANZA STAFF WRITER
Unless he or she has been particularly naughty, everyone can expect an annual visit from Santa Claus - including governors and U.S. senators, as Incline Village's very own St. Nick resumed his "Bless the Children" tour Thursday. Santa Claus planned to pick-up where he left-off in August.
"I'll resume (the tour) in Florida ... and am planning to visit legislative staffs in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah during the next two weeks, returning to Lake Tahoe to fly to Hawaii and Alaska to briefly visit legislators there," Claus said.
Claus began his adventure in May, planning to visit every governor's and senator's office in the nation to advocate for legislation affecting children's health, safety, and welfare and to call attention to the risks posed by childhood obesity. He had just passed the half-way point of his trip - visiting Florida, his 25th state - before his trademark Ford Bronco "Santamobile" broke down at the end of July. Claus' new vehicle, a 2001 Volvo Wagon Turbo, was donated by an anonymous couple to support the tour.
"It's Tahoe Blue rather than Santa Red," he said.
Claus' reception varied greatly, he said, ranging from warm welcome and awards, to cold shoulders, to abject puzzlement about what to do with a white-bearded man with the documentation to prove that his legal name is "Santa Claus."
Claus began his adventure in May, planning to visit every governor's and senator's office in the nation to advocate for legislation affecting children's health, safety, and welfare and to call attention to the risks posed by childhood obesity. He had just passed the half-way point of his trip - visiting Florida, his 25th state - before his trademark Ford Bronco "Santamobile" broke down at the end of July. Claus' new vehicle, a 2001 Volvo Wagon Turbo, was donated by an anonymous couple to support the tour.
"It's Tahoe Blue rather than Santa Red," he said.
Claus' reception varied greatly, he said, ranging from warm welcome and awards, to cold shoulders, to abject puzzlement about what to do with a white-bearded man with the documentation to prove that his legal name is "Santa Claus."
Staffers for Sen. James Talent (R-MO) and Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) referred him to their D.C. counterparts, and both Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Sen. Barbara Boxer's (D-CA) offices refused to meet with him at all.
However, Claus received a Certificate of Tribute from Gov. Jennifer Graham of Michigan, and the Bless the Children Tour received a Certificate of Appreciation from Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen.
Claus is flying to Florida to pick-up a new Santamobile, and plans to take a zig-zag, 4,300 mile drive across the southern United States before returning to Incline in mid-October.
However, Claus received a Certificate of Tribute from Gov. Jennifer Graham of Michigan, and the Bless the Children Tour received a Certificate of Appreciation from Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen.
Claus is flying to Florida to pick-up a new Santamobile, and plans to take a zig-zag, 4,300 mile drive across the southern United States before returning to Incline in mid-October.
He plans to finish the tour and visit the remaining states on his list next spring.
Claus will be updating the his blog and photo journal on his Web site, http://santaslink.net as the trip progresses.
Staff writer Tom Meyer can be reached at 831-4666 ext. 112 or at tmeyer@tahoebonanza.com.
Claus will be updating the his blog and photo journal on his Web site, http://santaslink.net as the trip progresses.
Staff writer Tom Meyer can be reached at 831-4666 ext. 112 or at tmeyer@tahoebonanza.com.
