Picerne hosts 9th Annual "December in the City!"

By Lisa R. RhodesDecember 11, 2012

Santa Claus arrives for holiday season
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Santa Claus was transported Saturday to the entrance of Potomac Place Neighborhood Center aboard Engine 45 of the Fort Meade Fire and Emergency Services.

Joined by three elves and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa waved to the cheering children and adults who stood on the neighborhood sidewalks.

Mrs. Claus, who could not arrive by truck due to an injured back, waited for her husband at the entrance of Potomac Place, where she handed him his eyeglasses. The couple walked arm-in-arm into the center's foyer, as a long line of children waited inside.

Santa and Mrs. Claus were the featured guests at Picerne Military Housing's ninth annual "December In The City." The three-hour event included an inflatable slide, a mobile candy-cane train, arts and crafts, and a petting zoo.

Picerne's holiday tradition was the first in a month of festive activities planned for the Fort Meade community.

"We do resident events for community spirit," said Meagan Murray, a communications specialist at Picerne. "We want to get everyone out there to have a good time with their neighbors."

Payton Armstrong, 10, was the first child to have her picture taken with Santa.

"It was pretty exciting," said the fifth-grader at Pershing Hill Elementary School who resides in Midway Commons. "He was cool. It's been so long since I sat on his lap."

Gena Armstrong, Payton's mother, said she came to the event 30 minutes ahead of schedule to be the first on line to pose with Santa.

"This brings a lot of families together," said Armstrong, wife of Sgt. Maj. William Armstrong of the 160th Signal Brigade who is deployed in Kuwait. "Picerne cares a lot about the families who live here."

Rebecca Summers, wife of Maj. Nakia Summers of the 741st Military Intelligence Battalion, attended with her two children, Raya, 8, and Nakia Jr., 5.

"We came last year and everyone had a good time, so we're back this year," said Summers, after her children selected free candies from the candy room.

"You get filled with sweets," said Raya, as she held her goody bag filled with Skittles, M&Ms, gummies and chocolate-covered pretzels.

Summers, a Potomac Place resident, said she enjoys "December In The City" because it is a festive alternative to the shopping mall.

"We're not out fighting the crowds at the mall," she said. "And Santa rode right by our house, which was fun."

The event also featured an arts and crafts room where children decorated paper snowflakes, hearts and stars to hang on their Christmas tree.

A DJ provided dance music, but the youngsters seemed too shy to boogie on the dance floor provided.

Outside, residents enjoyed a catered lunch of macaroni and cheese, pasta and cheese, meatballs, chopped beef, french fries and cupcakes while seated at patio tables.

Maj. Bobby Monday, of the Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion, and his wife, Nicki, stood on line with their children Mia, 5, and Braeden, 2, who waited their turn to slide down the inflatable Arctic Plunge.

Monday said his family, which resides in Potomac Place, has attended the event for the last three years.

"This is very important, the kids love it," he said.

"It's a great way to spend time with your family," Nicki Monday said.

Jordan Stahl, a freshman at Meade High School, attended with several high school friends to celebrate his birthday.

"We come every year," the 14-year-old said. "We hang out."

During the event, the teens admired a baby goat that was part of the petting zoo provided by Party Animalz Farm based in York, Pa.

Carsen Short, 14, said there is one long-time holiday tradition that even people her age do not want to miss.

"We get to see Santa, even though we're older," the Meade High freshman said. "You're never too old for Santa."