Letters to Santa (Lake County)

Strack & Van Til and The Times Proudly Present

Letters to

Santa e 2010 f

Written by Children from Across the Region who Truly Believe in the Magic of Christmas

M E D I A

C O M P A N Y

TO SEE ALL LETTERS TO SANTA RECEIVED, GO TO WWW.NWI.COM/NORTHPOLE

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y a d i l o H Cheer!

Find everything you need at Strack & Van Til for the most cheerful holiday gatherings.

Whether you are running off to a holiday party or preparing to entertain guests, we have the ingredients to make your holidays merry and bright.

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Cater Your Gatherings with the BEST Caterer!

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Friday, december 24, 2010

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Letters to

Santa 2010

Season’s Greetings!

Strack & Van Til is proud of the goods and services we provide for residents of the Region throughout the holidays. It’s a treat to us and we hope you enjoy the treats we give to you.

However, we couldn’t be more proud to help present the letters of our Region’s children in Letters to Santa. Always wonderful to read, these letters, written by local school children, bring light and joy to homes throughout Northwest Indiana and Northeast Illinois.

We’re sure they’ll bring you joy and a bright smile as they touch your heart and, in some cases, your funny bone.

When a newspaper proclaimed, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus!” over a hundred years ago, who would have thought that the dreams expressed by that child’s wish would still be felt today.

Wishing You and Yours the Happiest of Holidays,

The Strack & VanTil Families

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Yes, Virginia There Is A

Santa Claus

When eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of the New York Sun, a quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial on September 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history’s most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.

or, Dear Edit e of old. Som s r a e y re is I am 8 s say the d n ie r f my little ays, s. Papa s u la C a t it’s no San The Sun in it e e , “If you s the truth e m ll e t se so.” Plea us? anta Cla S a e r e h is t O’Hanlon Virginia 4

Friday, december ecember 24, 2010

The Sun responded ...

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see.

They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus ...

He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence.

We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight.

The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus!

You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see

fairies dancing on the lawn?

Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart.

Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real?

Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever.

A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood. the new york sun, september 21, 1897

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Letters to

Santa 2010

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Santa 2010

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Letters to

Santa 2010

! s g n i t e e r G ’s n o Seas

To our customers, neighbors, associates and friends:

We wish you a blessed holiday season.

We value your continued patronage and support.

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Santa 2010

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Letters to

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Tis the Season to Celebrate!

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Plan Your Parties with the Best Caterer T 16

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VOTED #1 CATERER a special publication oF the times media company

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From casual party to full dinner, you can simplify your Relax and enjoy this holiday seas

Party tray F

Choose From over 20 Distincti 14”

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Convenient locations i Convenient hour 10

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r holiday entertaining with Strack & Van Til catering. son, leave the preparation to us!

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FavoriteS

ive Deli and Seafood Trays Mini Croissant Platter

15 Count $30.99

21 Count $40.99

27 Count $50.99

Junior King’s Hawaiian Sandwiches

12 Count $15.99

18 Count $20.99

24 Count $27.99

Tomato & Mozzarella Platter Chicken Wing Platter

$29.99 50 Count $24.99 100 Count $49.99

Mediterranean Platter

$33.99

Antipasto Platter

$39.99

Watermelon Basket

$49.99

Deluxe Shrimp Platter

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Seafood Combo Platter

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Sub Sandwich Platter

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Our Hero Gourmet Sub

Serves 15 to 25 3 Foot $69.99

Serves 25 to 50 6 Foot $129.99

Our Hero Party Sub

Serves 15 to 25 3 Foot $59.99

Serves 25 to 50 6 Foot $109.99

rs i Pick up some Holiday Cheer today! a special publication oF the times media company

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Santa 2010

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Letters to

Santa 2010

The family of employees and staff of Strack & Van Til thank the children for sharing their letters to Santa with us.

s e h is W s a m t is r h C r u May Yo Come True! a special publication oF the times media company

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Santa 2010

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Letters to

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LAST MINUTE GIFT IDEAS i Flowers i Wine i Cookies i Candy i Fruit Baskets i Gift Cards

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Santa 2010

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Letters to

A Very Special

Thank You!

Santa 2010

Thank You to Participating Teachers, Schools and Administrators Franklin Academy, East Chicago Mrs. Brazil, 5th Grade

Jane Ball School, Cedar Lake Mrs. Kepshire, 1st Grade

Lincoln Elementary, Hammond Mrs. Huseman, 3rd Grade

Liberty Elementary, Hobart Ms. Bunda, 2nd Grade

Central School, Portage Mrs. Curry, 2nd Grade

St. John Evangelist School, St. John Miss Pagorek, Kindergarten Mrs. Mikolajczyk, 1st Grade Mrs. Mamelson, 2nd Grade Mrs. Smith, 3rd Grade

Jefferson School, Gary 3rd Grade

Warren Elementary, Highland 3rd Grade

St. Casimir, Hammond Ms. Gomez, Before/After Care

Winfield Elementary, Winfield Ms. King

St. Mary School, Griffith Ms. Ruby, 2nd Grade

Homan Elementary School, Schererville Mrs. Giese, Kindergarten Mrs. Dywan, 2nd Grade

Edison Elementary, Hammond Ms. Stevens, 3rd Grade St. Ann School, Lansing Mrs. Stone, 3rd Grade

Abraham Lincoln Elementary School East Chicago Miss Reed, 1st Grade

Fieler Elementary School, Merrillville Mrs. Steele, 2nd Grade

Ridge View Elementary, Hobart Ms. Spicer, 1st Grade Mrs. Huttle, 1st Grade Mrs. DeBattista, 1st Grade

Wadsworth Elementary School, Griffith Mrs. Guy, 2nd Grade

Watson Elementary, Schererville Ms. Hoffman, Kindergarten

Hamilton School, Lake Station 3rd Grade

Lew Wallace Elementary School, Hammond Mrs. Smolen, 1st Grade, Kindergarten Mrs. Kiepura, 1st Grade Ms. Graczyk, 1st Grade

Lincoln Elementary, Cedar Lake Mrs. Cullen, Kindergarten Ms. Romanovich, Kindergarten

Homan Elementary School, Schererville Mrs. Giese, Kindergarten Mrs. Dywan, 2nd Grade

Longfellow School, Gary Mrs. Smejek, 2nd Grade Mrs. Bouchnow, 4th Grade

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Eads Elementary School Munster 2nd Grade W.G. Harding Elementary School Hammond, 3rd Grade Aquina School, Merrillville Ms. Snyder

St. John the Baptist School, Whiting

Porter Lakes Elementary, Winfield Mrs. LaFollette, Kindergarten Mrs. Wauro, Kindergarten Mrs. Mucha, Kindergarten Mrs. Corman, 1st Grade Mrs. Heckler, 2nd Grade

Kyle Elementary, Portage Miss Gran, 1st Grade

Hayes Leonard, Valparaiso Ms. Burns, 1st Grade

Morton Elementary School, Hammond Mrs. Nemcek, 3rd Grade

Memorial Elementary, Valparaiso Mrs. Watkins, 1st Grade

Coolige Elementary School, Lansing Ms. Spangler, 3rd Grade

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