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Friday, May 18, 2012
Covering Dallas, Monmouth, Independence, Falls City and surrounding areas since 1868
With a twinkle in his eye and a sprig of holly on his hat, Kenn Lehto of Monmouth is the spitting image of a child's favorite elf this time of year.
December 20, 2011
Kenn Lehto gets a kick out of wearing red shirts and suspenders in public. And the glasses.
"I get the comments, mostly from kids," Lehto said. "They tug on mom or dad's pant leg and whisper: `That guy looks like Santa Claus.'"
Lehto started going gray in his 30s. By his late 40s, his hair was pretty much white. But it wasn't until after he grew out the mane that people first started remarking on his uncanny resemblance to Kriss Kringle.
"The parents get embarrassed by it," Lehto continued. "But I usually tell them it's OK.
"If I didn't want to be mistaken for him, I wouldn't wear a beard that long."
It's something Lehto has embraced during the last decade. When holiday festivals in and around Monmouth dictate an appearance by Santa, Lehto's a natural choice to don the red and white.
That's been Lehto, 60, on the back of a firetruck at the lighting of the sequoia at Western Oregon University since 1999.
Darcy Michaelson puts a biker spin on Santa's arrival at Dallas' annual Winterfest celebration, here in 2009.
Yes, the suit is his.
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Lehto's one of several volunteers -- or is it volunteered? -- in Polk County who answer the call of Santa when `tis the season.
Tom Sagers was Ol' St. Nick for Independence's Parade of Lights. The Oregon Department of Transportation employee said he was more or less enlisted by other members of his Elks Lodge when event organizers came looking for a Santa.
"I probably have the right physique," he said with a laugh. "I'm also more gullible."
This was Sagers' first time playing Santa. He made his appearance by locomotive in downtown Independence on Dec. 3 and posed for pictures with 300 to 400 children and families.
"As long as they have a good time, that's what matters," Sagers said.
Darcy Michaelson has been Santa for Dallas' winter celebration for the last 12 years. A motorcycle enthusiast, Michaelson's visit is always highlighted by his traditional arrival on his Harley-Davidson.
"He's the perfect Santa," said his Mrs. Claus -- Darcy's wife, Rozellen. "Rosey cheeks, blue eyes."
Darcy Michaelson was recruited by the Dallas Area Chamber of Commerce and fell in love with the job.
"As long as kids are out there waiting in line, he'll be out there well past 11 at night," Rozellen Michaelson said.
She invested in a realistic wig and beard to accentuate his look. She also adds a finishing touch to the outfit.
"I spray his Santa suit down with Febreze that smells like sugar cookies with vanilla," she said.
Kenn Lehto has been playing the featured guest of the Monmouth Hometown Holiday Fiestival and the tree lighting at Western Oregon University since 1999.
Hernia surgery prevented Michaelson from being the guest of honor for Winterfest this year, and led to some last-minute hunting to fill the spot. Jeremy Teal of Dallas, a chamber volunteer, was offered -- "pressured," he said -- the job two days before the event.
Teal said he was hesitant, primarily because of his age.
"I'm 36 and probably the youngest Santa around here," he said. "Every memory I have of Santa is this huge jolly guy with a bellowing voice, and that's not me."
Still, Teal ran with it, practicing his "ho, ho, ho" and "Merry Christmas!" in front of the mirror, he said.
Things went well, with only a few crying children when it came time to sit on Santa's lap, Teal said. He's already offered to take on the part in 2012.
"Afterward, I was thinking 20 years from now, those kids will be looking at pictures with their own kids and that will be me there in the picture ... that's a huge honor," Teal said.
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Initial reluctance, followed by pride, seems to be the theme for Santa's helpers. In 1999, Western asked Lehto if he would wear the red and white for the school's tree lighting. He held his nerves in check and said yes.
"I wondered about stage fright, I'm not that comfortable in front of people," he said. "But I am getting better at it."
The first instance went off without complication -- except for the heavy plush suit Lehto had rented and the cranked-up heat in the Werner University Center.
Santa deals with all different attitudes this time of year, including some little ones who are not happy campers, like this youngster at the Independence holiday festival.
"By the end of the evening, I was soaked," he said.
Lehto's wife made him a suit out of a more breathable corduroy the next year. It's been his uniform ever since.
Lehto now does five or six stints annually as Santa in Monmouth and other parts of the Willamette Valley. Gigs this year include a Christmas party for the National Guard unit in Dallas.
"I probably turn down one or two a year," Lehto said. "I haven't done schools yet, they can get pretty chaotic."
Lehto said he's grown into his role as Santa. He has a running arrangement with one mother who has regularly shown up with her daughter for his appearances.
Mom feeds Lehto key information about the girl before she approaches him to talk about her Christmas list.
"One time, I asked her if she had been good; she said `mostly,'" Lehto said. "I said, `I've heard you've had some trouble telling the truth.'
"She got wide-eyed," Lehto continued. "She went and told her mom, `he has to be Santa, because he knows everything.'"
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