Holiday memories in Paradise

"It gave me such great memories when I went to school here," said 94-year-old Betty Meyer after the 2nd Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration at the Paradise Center, formerly Paradise Elementary School Sunday evening.

Meyer was one of more than 60 people who gathered in the multi-purpose room, which used to be the school gymnasium, to attend the Christmas program, sponsored by the Paradise Elementary School Preservation Committee. Meyer was a student at the school from first to eighth grade during the Great Depression and had performed in Christmas programs as a student. Meyer's favorite part of the program was when Paradise resident Lisa French and her grandchildren – Karissa French, 7, Paisley French, 4, Lane French, 2, and Mady Marjerrison, 6 – sang a handful of Christmas songs.

The crowd gave a big cheer at the start of the program when the room lights were dimmed and Karen Thorson lit the decorated 10-foot Douglas fir, cut down by Cliff Stephens. Thorson, her husband, John, Judy Stamm, and Carol Brooker decorated the tree and the room, a task that took them about three hours. Guests were also treated to hot chocolate, hot cider and a variety of goodies. Karval Pickering, the chief coordinator of the program, spent four days to bake eight dozen cookies for the event.

The French kids were one of six acts during the hour and a half event, but they were the biggest hit, according to Pickering, who led off the entertainment with "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas." She followed her song with a story of when she was 5 years old in Paradise during her first Christmas performance at Paradise School as a glass doll that cried "mama" when another student tipped her over.

Entertainment also included the trio of Brett Barber, Peggy Stafford and Chari Wipplinger, who performed three Christmas songs. Adam Aguilera, 15, read "Rudolph's Night Off" to the crowd. Judy Stephens of Paradise sang "The Little Drummer Boy" while 9-year-old Caydin Christensen of Plains played the drum. His sister, Jamie, 10, and brother, Christian, 6, carried gifts to the baby Jesus during the song. Stephens also served as one of two pianists for the performance; the other was Bonnie Neff of Plains. Neff also told the audience the story of when she was 6 years old in Minnesota. The family was extremely poor, but her father was determined to buy something for her mother. With a dime, she said, he went to the hardware store and purchased a cheese grater, which Neff still has. "That's what I call the real spirit of Christmas," Neff said.

Butch Murdock of Plains showed his singing talents with a couple songs and told the story of when he was in the Navy in the Middle East during the late 1970s. Murdock said that when the Shah of Iran escaped the country, the Navy and Air Force were tasked with helping stranded Americans get safely out of the country. While Murdock and his fellow sailors were celebrating Christmas on their ship, they spotted an aircraft close to the water coming at them. He said the crew instinctively went to their gun stations and waited. He said the Russian "Bear" bomber passed the ship so close, you could read the sign a Russian slapped up against the inside cockpit window. It read "Merry Christmas."

Pickering's primary goal with the event was to have the program remind them of happy days as children at Christmastime, a goal she believes was a success. "I am just thrilled the way it turned out. I could see how much they loved it by the looks on their faces," said Pickering, who was a student at Paradise School from 1944 to 1952. As an adult, she served as the school's cook, was the school clerk for 30 years, and was the school board chair for nine years.

The event included a special visitor. Santa Claus – aka Dennis Bursell – donned a Victorian age Kris Kringle suit and sat with about 20 children, asking what they wanted for Christmas and handing out goodie bags.

The staff gave guided tours of the Paradise Center after the event. They will also be holding an open house for the center on Saturdays, Dec. 22 and 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.