Finishing up my second week as the new editor of the newspaper here in Portsmouth has been an exciting and challenging experience to this point.
The city is beautiful and I have met many wonderful people. My goal is to help the newsroom reach its full potential, and I appreciate the help and support I have received from the community.
It is the Christmas season, which is one of my favorite times of the year.
A tradition in my family is going through old Christmas photos. My mother especially enjoys old Santa pictures of my sisters and I sitting on Santa’s lap.
Some of the pictures show us at a very young age and we appear to be a little scared of old “Saint Nick.” As we got older we appear to enjoy visiting Santa Claus at the local mall.
One particular photograph shows me sitting on Santa’s lap at the age of 13. Most people would probably be too embarrassed to sit on a grown man’s lap at that age, but how old is too old to sit on Santa’s lap?
At a recent trip to a local mall, I noticed children and parents lined up to take their picture with Father Christmas. I asked my wife if she thought it would be acceptable for me get a picture sitting on Kris Kringle’s lap at my age. I am over 50 now.
“If it’s the REAL Santa then you’re never too old,” she said.
I became somewhat excited and headed toward the line, when she added, “But if it’s a MALL Santa, then I would probably say 35-years-old.”
I guess I am past the age limit for the mall Santa, according to my wife.
Still my mother enjoys the old Christmas photographs and even has some clippings of where she submitted those photographs to our local newspaper. They have become keepsakes in my family.
I encourage everyone to submit a photo and greeting to the newspaper’s “Santa’s Little Darlings” via email at [email protected]. Include your contact information (name and phone number) and how your greeting is to read.
The cost is only $10 per ad and it’s a great way to say “Merry Christmas!” Santa’s Little Darlings will be published in the Thursday, Dec. 24, Christmas Eve edition of the Daily Times. The deadline to submit the ad is Thursday, Dec. 17.
Credit card payment will be accepted via email or by telephone by calling 740-353-3101 or check payment at the Daily Times office or mail at 637 Sixth St., Portsmouth, Ohio 45662.
The newspaper is also accepting “Letters to Santa” via email at [email protected], but they must be typed in the body of the email. No scanned copies of hand-written letters will be accepted. The deadline is also Thursday, Dec. 17.
Those participating in these Christmas programs offered by the newspaper will be creating family memories to enjoy for years to come.
I am happy to be in Portsmouth and wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
.neFileBlock {
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
padding-bottom: 5px;
padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
font-size: 85%;
}
