The sunny skies and 60-degree temperatures gave him the opportunity to celebrate both Christmas as well as Halloween. “I’ll be fine,” Claus said, sitting in a plush, high-back chair, dressed in the classic velvet outfit and a box fan blowing at his perspiring face, complete with the traditional red nose. Habitat for Humanity opened its Christmas store at 803 E.
Wood St., Decatur, on Saturday morning with Claus as a special guest. Staff continually offered him sips of water during his unseasonably warm trip to the Midwest.
Known for selling gently used Christmas décor including trees, dishware and wall hangings, the shop's regular hours are 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.
m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m.
to 2 p.m. Saturdays.
News of Santa's visit had spread to children several miles away. Bennett Miles, 8, and his sister Merritt Miles, 6, traveled from Bloomington to see Claus. “I had no idea we were coming here,” Bennett said, wearing a Halloween T-shirt.
“I knew we were going to a Santa, but I didn’t think it was here.” Since Stephanie Stuckins manages the Christmas store, she had an easy time convincing St. Nick to visit the shop’s seventh annual opening.
“Santa’s a good friend of mine,” she said. This year was the first event for Jesse Kater, dressed in the classic red and white Santa suit and ready to greet children. He and his wife, Paige Kater, have worked for Habitat for Humanity and the Christmas store in the past.
“He has been, for probably about s.
