Friday, December 4, 2009
Cunningham/Democrat photo A tropical Christmas? Rainbow keeps 7-year-old Andriana Lucier company during Thursday's Salvation Army Children's Christmas Party at the Connie Bean Center in Portsmouth.
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PORTSMOUTH — While the weather outside was anything but frightful, the inside of the Connie Bean Center had a distinctly Christmas-like feel on Thursday when upward of 70 city youths belted out chants of "Santa!"
The man from the North Pole braved the region's 60-degree temperatures when he traveled to the recreation center for a Salvation Army Children's Christmas Party that makes it an annual tradition to spread joy to children in the community.
Santa was joined by Dover-based magician BJ Hickman and a parrot named "Rainbow" in providing dozens of children with an early holiday party that rings in the Christmas season.
Salvation Army Major "Chet" Emmons said the organization offers the event each year in the hopes of putting on a party for those who might otherwise not attend one.
"It's kids who could use a little extra holiday cheer," Emmons said.
Thursday's party saw each child enjoying pizza, ice cream and entertainment from Hickman who had them cheering as he made items disappear and allowed some of the young ones to try their hand at magic.
More than 20 Salvation Army volunteers worked at the party so parents could simply drop their children off for a night of fun.
Seven different area pizza parlors contributed to an event that also saw donations of entertainment and gifts.
Emmons said all of the children left with a gift bag full of approximately $75 worth of items donated by employees at Liberty Mutual.
The children also received teddy bears and other gifts.
One of the biggest hits of the night was Rainbow — a red parrot that accompanied owner and Salvation Army Board Member Myles Bratter to the event.
The children took turns having the 15-year-old bird sit on their shoulder and most had their pictures taken by Bratter.
He said Rainbow is friendly and was able to make the trip because of the unseasonably warm temperatures.
"She's only here because it's like summertime tonight," Bratter said with a laugh.
Hickman had the children rolling with laughter and Bratter joked that he might be more of a hit than Santa.
The full-time magician said he enjoys donating his time to such a worthwhile event.
"It's always a good feeling to see them happy," Hickman said.
The entire group sang numerous traditional Christmas favorites and as Santa and Mrs. Claus were introduced they let out a deafening scream.
Rachel Guilliams, 5, of Portsmouth worked on finishing an ice cream as she laid out her Christmas wish list, which is topped by everything and anything relating to "Dora the Explorer."
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