ADVISORY/ 'Yes, Kensington, There is a Santa Claus!'; Santa is Special Guest At Merchant's Open House for 15th Year in a Row.

    Assignment Editors
    ADVISORY... for Friday (Dec. 7th)

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      WHAT: Santa Claus will be the special guest of honor for the 15th
        year in a row at the special Holiday Open House being hosted
        by the Old Town Kensington Merchants Association. As part of
        the evening's festivities, Santa will be presented with a
        Proclamation of the City by City officials, as well as a Key
        to the City of Kensington by the Old Town Kensington Merchants
        Association in a special ceremony. Old Town Kensington
        businesses will stay open until 10pm that evening for Holiday
        Shopping, many offering refreshments and special sales.
          The evening is part of the Annual Open House celebration
        sponsored by the Old Town Kensington Merchants Association, an
        association of nearly three dozen small businesses located
        along Kensington's historic Howard Avenue. The Avenue was
        designated a Main Street Historic Area in 1999 by the National
        Trust for Historic Preservation and is home to a plethora of
        unique shops and craftspeople, from antiques to leather goods
        and specialized Americana.

      WHEN: Friday, December 7th, 2001

          5pm    Santa Arrives Courtesy of the Kensington Volunteer Fire
               Dept.

          6pm    City Officials Present Santa Claus with a Special
               Proclamation of the City

          5-7pm  Local Children Invited to Sit on Santa's Lap Pictures
               Taken with Santa and His Fire Elves (Firemen from the
               Kensington Volunteer Fire Dept.) Photos for $1 charge
               or FREE for children who donate a toy to Toys for Tots

          7-10pm Old Town Kensington Shops Open Late for Holiday
               Shopping

      WHERE: 3700 Block of Howard Avenue, Kensington, Md.
             Take I-495 to Connecticut Avenue Northbound; travel 1.5
           miles to Howard Avenue on your right. Santa will be
           receiving visitors at the park across from the train
           station.

      MORE: For more information, contact Roger Lund at Aunt Betty's
        General Store, 301/946-9646 or via email at
        [e-mail]

    --30--KMK/ph*

    CONTACT: Old Town Kensington Merchants Association
              by
             Waterford Public Relations
             Beth Offenbacker, 703/683-4815
             Cell: 703/623-4811

    KEYWORD: DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA MARYLAND
    INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ENTERTAINMENT RETAIL ADVISORY
    SOURCE:  Old Town Kensington Merchants Association