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The Acorn - Thousand Oaks Acorn Moorpark Acorn - Camarillo Acorn |
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A neighborhood Saint Nick
No wonder he makes a pretty convincing Santa Claus, whether he's tossing gifts from his roof or climbing 20foot ladders to decorate light poles. Thoman dresses as St. Nick on the weekends leading up to Christmas, greeting passers-by with a smile and a wave and offering candy canes to wide-eyed children who delight in his festively decorated home. Santa also listens to children's wishes and poses for pictures. "I love seeing the little kids' faces," Thoman said. "The look you get from them is unbelievable. It's so cool." The residence of Jim and Donna Thoman at 2293 Homewood Ave. isn't exactly the North Pole, but it sure looks like it on most December nights. It glitters with elaborate lights and inflatable figures. "We've always decorated, but we keep buying more and more every year," Donna said. "When Thanksgiving evening arrives, we flip the switch and all the lights go on. I think it drives our neighbors nuts." Thoman climbs a ladder and decorates light poles with red ribbons and red and white lights so they look like candy canes. This is the third Christmas he's played Santa Claus for the neighborhood. This year Thoman made his first appearance on Dec. 8, and he'll continue delighting visitors most Friday and Saturday nights this month from 7 to 9 p.m. The former San Fernando Valley resident began dressing as St. Nick and tossing gifts down from his roof for his nieces and nephews about 20 years ago. Three years ago, he started to dress up again when neighbors asked him to play Santa for their daughter. His suit was a Halloween outfit. Now he has a more authentic costume in which he greets about 50 visitors a night- and it's way more comfortable. "This is something I've always enjoyed," Thoman said. "I like making people happy, it just seems important. I like the Christmas holiday. Once Thanksgiving's over, that's my time." |
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