Larry Lange, a long-time Santa in The Dalles, was caroled on Winter Solstice, Dec. 21, by community members as a “Thank You” from the community. Lange, a firefighter for 40 years, was Santa from the age of 12 until health slowed his movement. He was everybody’s ‘real’ Santa over many years. “(Local musician) Victor Johnson rallied a “flash mob” choir to sing Christmas corals to Larry Lange at his home in honor of his decades-long service to The Dalles Community as a very memorable Santa Claus,” said Mike Ballinger. “He has made hundreds of appearances as Santa for public events and for families in the area. For more than a generation, Larry’s enthusiastic generosity in the role of Santa created indelible memories for community members of all ages.” Fellow firefighter Bill Wolfe made sure Lange was home for the surprise caroling.
To the editor: I would like to tell you about a wonderful concert that I attended Friday at St. Peter’s Landmark. I love going to concerts at the Landmark; the church is so beautiful, the music sounds so great — it’s almost magical.
The Dalles Main Street will soon learn whether a grant the organization applied for in mid-March will bring funds to help in the “preservation and adaptive reuse” of the historic Herbring House at 313 W. Fourth Street in The Dalles.
