Santa visits local children

gloucester Mason Nazak, 4, and Asher Nazak, 6, from left

gloucester Hayden Sopko, 6, and Connor Sopko, 3

CHARLIE KOENIG / GAZETTE-JOURNAL

mathews santa Dalton Seaton, almost 9 months

CHARLIE KOENIG / GAZETTE-JOURNAL

Following Saturday’s Mathews parade, Santa Claus stopped off at the Mathews Visitor and Information Center. Among those he met with, in photos clockwise from left, were 3-year-old Adalynn Gibbs; Dalton Seaton, who is almost 9 months old; and Avery and Mason Parker, ages 9 and 11, and Nolan Larkin, 9, from left.

mathews santa Avery, 11, and Mason, 9, Parker and Nolan Larkin, 9, from left

CHARLIE KOENIG / GAZETTE-JOURNAL

The Abingdon Ruritan Club, Hayes, held its Children’s Christmas Party on Dec. 8, and a highlight was a visit from Saint Nick. Among those visiting with Santa were, in photos clockwise from left, Adelle Wilcox, 7; 17-month-old David Rogers; and 4-year-old Aubrey Fowler with her 5-month-old twin brothers, McKenna and Easton, from left.

abingdon Aubrey Fowler 4 with 5 month old twins McKenna and Easton, from left

library santa family — MELANY SLAUGHTER / GAZETTE-JOURNAL Santa Claus visited the Gloucester County Public Library Saturday to visit with local boys and girls. Phyllis Coates sits with her grandchildren, from left, Bryson Setterholm, 8, Vincent Pafundi, 3, and Brayden Setterholm, 10, to take a family photo with Santa.

library santa finnley sawyer, 4 — MELANY SLAUGHTER / GAZETTE-JOURNAL
Finnley Sawyer, 4, is all smiles with the Jolly Old Elf.

library santa jordan, 8, paige, 2, shogeren — MELANY SLAUGHTER / GAZETTE-JOURNAL
Finnley Sawyer, 4, is all smiles with the Jolly Old Elf.

library santa landen miller, 4 — MELANY SLAUGHTER / GAZETTE-JOURNAL
Landen Miller, 4, poses with Kris Kringle.

library santa peyton, 7, brooks, 5, hollins — MELANY SLAUGHTER / GAZETTE-JOURNAL
Landen Miller, 4, poses with Kris Kringle.

library santa ryan, 3, with mom becky mullins — MELANY SLAUGHTER / GAZETTE-JOURNAL Ryan, 3, and his mother, Becky Mullins, have a pleasant visit with Santa.

gloucester Chrystal Venneri, 10, and mom Angela — CHARLIE KOENIG / GAZETTE-JOURNAL During Santa’s visit to Gloucester Court House on Dec. 8, Angela Venneri and her10-year-old daughter, Chrystal, spent the day as Santa’s helpers. In photo below, Susan and Randy Ammons introduced their daughter Mary Ann, who is almost 2, to Santa Claus.

gloucester Susan and Randy Ammons with Mary Ann, almost 2

abingdon Cora, 2, and Hailey, 5, Hammond

CHARLIE KOENIG / GAZETTE-JOURNAL
Emmylynn Belvin, 6, gives a big smile after meeting Santa Claus at the Abingdon Ruritan Club’s Children’s Christmas Party on Dec. 8. In photo at right, 2-year-old Cora Hammond and her 5-year-old big sister Hailey also met Santa at the event.

heather's picture — Santa Claus stopped by the Hayes home of Sosiella, Katriel and Hadlyn Stafford, from left, lending a hand making some Christmas cookies.

gloucester Penney Carucci, turns 70 in two weeks

It wasn’t only children who came out to see Santa Claus when his sleigh landed at Gloucester Court House earlier this month. Some of the other people to visit with old Saint Nick included, at left, Penney Carucci and, above, Dan and Elizabeth Guinn.

abingdon Willow Kruske, 3 — Willow Kruske, 3, visits with Santa Claus at the Dec. 8 Children’s Christmas Party at the Abingdon Ruritan Club building.

abingdon Chase, Ethan, Carson, Paisley and Brunlee Robbins, from left — Chase, Ethan, Carson, Paisley and Brunlee Robbins, from left, visited with Saint Nick during the Children’s Christmas Party at the Abingdon Ruritan Club.

gloucester carolers with santa — CHARLIE KOENIG / GAZETTE-JOURNAL Victorian carolers Robert Walters, Cambra Craddock, Sophia Stopyra and Wesley Benson, from left, joined Santa Claus in singing a few traditional Christmas carols during Gloucester Main Street’s Holiday Open House on Dec. 8.

abingdon Hope, 3, and Mathias, 6, Johnson

CHARLIE KOENIG / GAZETTE-JOURNAL
Among those spending time with Santa when he came to the Abingdon Ruritan Club were, clockwise from left, Reagan Coates, 6; Hope and Mathias Johnson, ages 3 and 6; Jessica Cunningham and daughter Sunny, 5; and Brayden Setterholm, 10, Vincent Pafundi, 3, and Bryson Setterholm, 8, from left.

abingdon Brayden Setterholm, 10, Vincent Pafundi, 3, and Bryson Setterholm, 8, from left

abingdon Jessica Cunningham and daughter Sunny, 5

abingdon Raylan Browder, 4 — CHARLIE KOENIG / GAZETTE-JOURNAL
Raylan Browder, 4, sits with Santa at the Abingdon Ruritan Club.

mathews santa Cole Pritchett, 7 — CHARLIE KOENIG / GAZETTE-JOURNAL
Raylan Browder, 4, sits with Santa at the Abingdon Ruritan Club.

CHARLIE KOENIG / GAZETTE-JOURNAL

Among those who visited Santa during his stopover in Mathews included above from left, Chelsea Napier, 7, Beau-Ryan Barlett, 4, and brothers Wyatt (at left) and Wayne Doubleday, ages 5 and 13.

mathews santa Aubrey, 13, and Emma, 7, Adams

CHARLIE KOENIG / GAZETTE-JOURNAL

Santa Claus visited with children after Saturday’s parade in Mathews. Among those greeting the Jolly Old Elf, above left, were 2-year-old Elsa Cassidy; Emma and Aubrey Adams, ages 7 and 13; and, at bottom left, Zoey Banker, 8, and her 3-year-old sister, Nyla.

mathews santa Zoey, 8, and Nyla, 3, Banker

eddie the dog — Eddie the Dog wants to wish a very Merry Christmas to everyone at the Gazette-Journal, and all the nice people that have stopped to meet him wherever he goes. Also, Merry Christmas from his dad and mom, Robb and Julie Riddle of Mathews.

abingdon Jaclyn Griffith, 2, and Lily and Violet Hollis, 5, from left

CHARLIE KOENIG / GAZETTE-JOURNAL
Three-year-old Autumn Streaker, left, and Jaclyn Griffith, 2, and photo at right, Lily and Violet Hollis, 5, from left, asked if they were on the naughty or nice list when Santa Claus came to the Children’s Christmas Party at the Abingdon Ruritan Club.

mathews santa Leila Jarvis, 7 — Santa Claus listens intently as Leila Jarvis, 7, lets him know what she wants for Christmas when Mr. Claus stopped off at the Mathews County Visitor and Information Center on Saturday.

Seven-year-old Finley Gonski, at left, and her 6-year-old brother Declan, right, both got the chance to spend time with Santa Claus following Saturday’s parade in Mathews.

mathews santa mom Tovah Stonecipher with Lorelei, 2

Lukas Stonecipher, 4, at left, met one-on-one with Santa Claus. But his 2-year-old sister Lorelei, right, was a little hesitant, so mom Tovah stepped in to give her some support. Turns out she was fine, as long as she got some candy canes.

Among those greeting Santa Claus during his Dec. 8 visit to Gloucester’s colonial courthouse were, above from left, 5-year-olds Evellyn Marshall and Aubrey Bundy, and, below from left, Claire Taylor, 6, Ella Taylor, 10, and Charlotte Hogge. Also pictured with Santa is Pam Callis-Lett, below, who serves on the board of the Gloucester Main Street Association, which sponsored the Holiday Open House.