| | Published December 18th, 2013
| Christmas Cheer Soars When Snow Falls in Orinda
| | By Laurie Snyder |  | | Photo Ohlen Alexander
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In an exclusive interview with Santa Claus, the Lamorinda Weekly has learned the jolly old elf will fly his sleigh totally on reindeer power this year - no movie-inspired turbine engine needed - thanks to a sudden December surge of Christmas Spirit.
The energy surplus has been traced to kids from 1 to 92 who have been unable to stop smiling since Dec. 14, when four truckloads of a mysterious white crystalline substance transformed the normally temperate Orinda Theatre Square into a winter wonderland.
"It's snow!" shouted one child with glee.
"My hands are cold," puzzled another.
"Oh. It's real," said a parent in a hushed tone.
Human sugar plums pirouetted in purple and pink snowsuits while playful pals pelted one another as the scene unfolded in front of Barbacoa restaurant. The official version is that the snow was provided free of charge by Special Ice in Walnut Creek. But those in the know had a different take. Deborah Lopez's grandson, Chase, wisely assumed it came "from the mountains" while family friend, Blaine, theorized that someone brought it all the way from Oregon. The general consensus among most of the children, however, was that it was most definitely the good stuff -a bit of North Pole magic flown in by the big guy himself.
The snow was "crunchy," observed elementary schooler Lauren Schultz. She's hoping for a scooter and a bike - and a Stuffies toy. "You can put anything in it, and it's soft." Lauren and her mom, Emily, recently made sugar cookies and a gingerbread house.
When asked by her daddy what Santa says, 2-year-old Celeste gave an enthusiastic, "Ho! Ho! Ho!" Celeste just moved to the St. Stephen's neighborhood three months ago with her parents, George and Vanessa. "It looks like she's really enjoying it," he said of his daughter's inability to tear her eyes away. She's hoping for chocolate.
Broderick and Colton Bornstein, snug and warm in Chip and Dale hats, had a blast bringing their own Frosty to life. "It was really fun, but we also had fun re-building," said Broderick. "The head kept falling off and the eyes kept falling out." Asked what Christmas meant to sister, Paige, she simply said, "Joy!"
New memories were made - and more names were added to the "Nice List." Not a bad way to end 2013. Merry Christmas, Lamorinda!
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 | | Photos Ohlen Alexander
|  | | If the snow didn't provide enough excitement to keep Santa's sleigh flying for another three centuries, there were also horse and carriage rides with Jerry Christmas high stepping up and down Moraga Way under the moonlight.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA