[ back ]
Bomberettes join Santa for lighting ceremony
(by Joan Demirjian - November 25, 2009)
Bomberettes join Santa for lighting ceremony
By JOAN DEMIRJIAN
For 30 years, former Bainbridge resident William Dieterle, now of Middlefield, has portrayed Santa Claus for critically and terminally ill children.
And for the ninth year, he officially will flip the switch on the holiday lights for the annual Cleveland lighting ceremony Nov. 28 at Public Square. With him, portraying Santa's elves, singing and dancing, will be the members of the Kenston High School Bomberette dance team.
The team's involvement for the first time came about when Mr. Dieterle was volunteering at Kenston High School. At the time, he was introduced to Bomberette coach Kathy Werner, and that led him to asking the team to consider serving as the elves at this year's Cleveland event.
With their agreement to take part, they have been working with choreographer Christine DuPreu to prepare for the dance show, Mr. Dieterle said.
There will be several families with their children at the event and if the children feel well enough, they will be brought up on the stage.
"Everything I do revolves around the children. If it were not for the sick children, I wouldn't be here," Mr. Dieterle said.
He has visited with more than 59,000 critically and terminally ill children at hospitals, homes and at his Santa's "Hide-A-Way Hollow."
Ms. Werner has been coach of the Bomberettes since 1991. The team has won three national championships.
They have been practicing and a dress rehearsal was held this week, said Ms. Werner, whose background is in dance and acting.
Seventeen girls will portray the elves, in different costumes for each song, including hip-hop and rock. The outfits are being provided for the team.
"They had to learn all the songs along with the music," Ms. Werner said. "They're very good with showmanship, and they are all very excited." Two of the girls will play toy soldiers.
Kenston is providing a bus for the team to ride to Cleveland for the event. The members will stay at a hotel room to change and get ready, she said. "There's a lot of glitter and makeup involved.
"It's a big event and Cleveland shuts down for the occasion," Ms. Werner said. "A VIP party will be held afterward and we're invited. It's a huge privilege.
"It's a great thing to do and to give to the community," Ms. Werner said.
Mr. Dieterle said his ministry to the children began when he played Santa Claus at Breezewood Gardens in Bainbridge and a 5-year-old boy named Joey, who did not want anything. He said, "I'm dying, please make my Mommy happy."
From then on, he said, he has taken on a ministry to special-needs children. He started a place at his home in Bainbridge where children could visit Santa any time of the year at Santa's Hide-A-Away Hollow.
Now, he has expanded to North Pole Village being built on 93 acres in Middlefield Township, where critically and terminally ill children visit.
"There are 18 buildings and four under construction," Mr. Dieterle said. More are to be built, he said.
His daughter, Jordan, now in college, has been playing an elf during his visits with children since she was in seventh grade. She even learned sign language to communicate with some of the children, he said.
Her friends have volunteered over the years as well, Mr. Dieterle said. They play and talk with the children. "They are fantastic," he said.
At North Pole Village, children visit all year to talk to Santa and to visit the buildings and see the animals.
Mr. Dieterle will be at Lowe's Greenhouse in Bainbridge from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 13, visiting with children who are critically ill, autistic or handicapped, who cannot go to a shopping center to see Santa. The event is only for those special-needs children, he said.
[ back ]
