Santa Claus, Lois Pellow join ranks of Celebrity Readers

Sparta - The children of Little Sprouts Day Care Center were stunned by a surprise visit paid them recently by Santa Claus. Making his annual visit as a Celebrity Reader for Project Self-Sufficiency’s day-care center, Santa read to the enthusiastic group and distributed books to the children afterwards. Santa (played by Leo Bushatta) read Big Hungry Bear’s Christmas to his rapt audience. “We are so appreciative of Leo Bushatta for taking the time to once again appear as Santa Claus for our children at Little Sprouts,” said Claire Willetts, Little Sprouts director. “I am happy to bring a smile to the faces of these great kids,” declared Bushatta. “It’s fun to bring happiness and excitement into children’s lives, especially this time of year.” Prior to the visit from Santa, the Little Sprouts children gave an enthusiastic welcome to Celebrity Reader, Lois Pellow, long-time Project Self-Sufficiency patron. Pellow read George and Martha, Biscuit and Biscuit’s Snowy Day to the group of boys and girls present. “I thoroughly enjoyed reading to and interacting with these wonderful children,” said Pellow. “I became a teacher because of my love of children and spending time with them recently brought me back to my teaching days.” Each month, Project Self-Sufficiency invites Celebrity Readers to its day care center to read to and visit with the children in an effort to instill the love of reading. Over the past three years, project Self-Sufficiency has hosted numerous Celebrity Readers. Among them are Susan Zellman, Freeholder; Dr. Wayne Threlkeld, superintendent of Hopatcong schools; Roy Knutsen, Project Self Sufficency board member, and his wife, Susan; Judge Farber of the Sussex County Court; Judy Kaiser, Native American storyteller, and Barry Worman, superintendent of the Sussex County schools. For information on the Celebrity Reader Program, call 973-383-5129.