$1.50 | Vol. 94 — Edition 155 Your local news source since 1926 Friday, December 25, 2020 www.ridgecrestca.com Is there DI 2020 Christmas Light a Santa Claus? Contest winners Editor’s note: Eight- year-old Virginia 1st O’Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York’s Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history’s most reprinted newspaper editorial, ap- pearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps. DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no LAUREN JENNINGS/DAILY INDEPENDENT Santa Claus. 701 Peg Street Papa says, ‘If you see it in THE SUN it’s so.’ Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus? 2nd VIRGINIA O’HAN- LON. 115 WEST NINETY- FIFTH STREET. VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere in- sect, an ant, in his intel- lect, as compared with the boundless world LAUREN JENNINGS/DAILY INDEPENDENT about him, as measured 713 West Alene Avenue by the intelligence capa- ble of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge. Yes, VIRGINIA, there 3rd is a Santa Claus. He ex- ists as certainly as love and generosity and de- votion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if LAUREN JENNINGS/DAILY INDEPENDENT there were no VIR- 1831 South Mahan Street GINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, ex- Honorable mentions cept in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extin- guished. Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither chil- dren nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can con- ceive or imagine all the PHOTOS BY LAUREN JENNINGS/DAILY INDEPENDENT See VIRGINIA, A5 TOP LEFT: 111 Chambers TOP RIGHT: 928 West Willow BOTTOM LEFT: 1019 Peg Street BOTTOM RIGHT: 701 Cottonwood Drive Today Tomorrow Full Forecast A9 Comics A8 Letters A2 53/20 57/26 Record A9 Classifieds A10 A2 Friday, December 25, 2020 www.ridgecrestca.com Letters to Santa Claus Dear Santa, am 2. I would like any- Connecticut Idaho wear a size 4T. For Christmas I want a thing PJ mask and co- California Hi Santa, Dear Santa, Thank you, Joran hoverboard and a headset comelon. I am a size 5T Dear Santa, I want a Lightning Mc- May I have a onewheel VR and pajamas and a and a size 10 in toddlers. How are you? I hope Queen racetrack please. and a metaldetctor and a Maine Barbie farm and a Christ- Thank you so much. you are healthy. I want Ian set of brior horses for my Dear Santa, mas sweater and a barbie O’Shea some toys. Beyblade, sister and cowgirl boots This year I want a Ipod, closet and a elf. I love you! knights toys, legos, Florida for my mom and a new hover board, Electric gui- Madison Arizona Godzillas, toy soldiers. Dear Santa, rope for Rocky. tar and a remote control Ridgecrest Dear Santa, Thank you, Santa I been good this year. I From Kiptyn shark. We are leaving you would like a L.O.L surise Thank you, Nate Colorado Illinois Letters from around cookies my Mommy O.M.G remix super sur- Missouri the country, provided made, eat them up, Dear Santa, prise, mini brands, na na Dear Santa, by USPS please. I wish you could I no its a little erly but I no surprise, call of duty My name is Joran and I Dear Santa, bring two Woody’s for relly want a ... bunny Il modern warfare. P.S. I am three years old. I My name is Kenlee and Abreon and I so we don’t feed it and take good care would like to move to would like learning here is my Christmas list. Alabama fight over them. And a of it! Germany. games, books, cars, 1. Baby 2. Soft bed 3. Red Dear Santa, toy Ant. 2 biting ants!! From Norah Love, Elearnor trucks, trains, fast toys, PJ car My name is O’Shea I Deloreon mask, monster trucks. I Thank you MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM ALL OF US AT THE DAILY INDEPENDENT Merry Merry Christmas Wishing Our Support Your Christmas Community Community A & a wonderful 2021 Merry Christmas 40 Years from all of us at as Your From All Of Us At Trusted Hometown Plumbers 501 N. China Lake Blvd 501 N. China Lake Blvd. cardinalridgecrestplumbing.com 760-384-3131 760-384-4541 760-446-4771 919 E Ridgecrest Blvd 629 Inyokern Road Ridgecrest Lic # 496447 Merry Christmas I would like to wish all & Happy New Year of our community a We Look Foward To Serving You In 2021 Merry Christmas PacificPacific TileTile && GraniteGranite 531 W. 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Sydnor Ave. Ridgecrest, CA 93555 Ridgecrest, CA 93555 (760) 446-1968 holiday rates available (760) 446-1630 Friday, December 25, 2020 www.ridgecrestca.com A3 ‘I have not had a good year’: Children pen heartbreaking letters to Santa sharing hardships faced during pandemic By Charles Trepany over 107 years, accepts letters gifts for her family members, wrote in his letter. “Having us more than just milk and cook- USA TODAY from kids in need and matches including earrings for her mom, all home and not working do to ies when he stops by her home them up with donors to make games she can play with her covid we could use some help.” this year. Kaden, a boy from California, their holiday wishes come true. dad, clothes for her sister and Kids aren’t the only ones “I hope you don’t get sick,” doesn’t want much for Christ- And in 2020, kids have more “Xbox stuff” for her brother. writing letters to Santa this read her letter. “Matzy will give mas this year: just a remote- than just toys on their Christ- She also asked for “a doll that year. Marilu, a mother of three you cookies and milk and mom- controlled car, a green jacket mas lists, with many Opera- looks real” and a purple jacket in California, described in her my Andrea will make a mask for and a coronavirus-free school tion Santa letters reflecting the for herself. letter how her husband, who you and rain deer.” year. hardships families are facing “Santa can you bring grammy stopped working due to the And many kids are also asking “Dear Santa,” he wrote in a during the pandemic. a puppy so she is not so lonely?” pandemic, is frequently in the Santa to keep their loved ones handwritten letter. “I would Lilly, a sixth grader from she added. hospital because of heart is- healthy. do enything if you could some- Maine, shared the toll the coro- Many children also put in re- sues. “I also wish for my friends haw restart 5th grade with NO navirus has taken on her fami- quests to ease their parents’ fi- “This year has been really and family to stay safe,” COVid. so plees if you the ly. nancial stress. For instance, rough for us,” she wrote. “We Jacqueline from California amasing Santa could restart it I “I have not had a good year,” though 13-year-old Raymond have been struggling financial- wrote at the end of her list. wood be happy” the 11-year-old wrote in her from California confessed he ly because of all the hospital “And for my Abu not to get sick Kaden is one of thousands of letter to Mr. and Mrs. Claus. “is not a believer,” he still asked bills & they just keep piling up. because I don’t want to lose kids who mailed their Christmas “My grandpa died and I could Santa for gifts in order to help We would appreciate clothes her, not yet.