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Claus & effect Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Mark Hill, left, and Keith Wittnebel decorate downtown Medford's U.S. Bank with life-sized Santas Tuesday. The lightweight, flexible stuffed figures have received mixed reviews from onlookers, who aren't quite sure what they're supposed to do. Santa has come to town, and some folks think this version looks a little less than jolly By BILL VARBLE Mail Tribune Margaret Graham saw the new Santa Clauses in downtown Medford as she was driving to work. "I thought it was a horrible mistake," she says. "Like those witches that run into poles." The Santas are part of a bright, new $45,000 holiday decorating package for the downtown core, courtesy of downtown merchants, the Medford Urban Renewal Agency and the Heart of Medford Association. Included are $33,000 worth of new lights. The Santas were made locally at a cost of $1,800. Linda Beauchamp of Medford Urban Renewal thinks the red-clad figures look like they're climbing. Graham says they look like cat burglars. Whatever they're doing, the dozen life-size Santas that have gone up the past few days are getting attention. Businesswoman Chris Celine calls them "a theoretically good idea." Justina DeVriese nods across Main Street at a Santa climbing on Pacific Diamond Jewelers and another above Norris Shoes. "That one looks like he's breaking in," she says. "That one looks like he's drunk." She prefers the jewelry store Santa. "At least it looks like he's doing something." "Santa is for children," says her husband, Rudolf DeVriese. "I prefer lights." Beauchamp says the Santas were inspired by holiday tableaux at European hotels. After the figures were sewn locally, 10 volunteers met on a Saturday to stuff the bright red elves with polystyrene peanuts. "They said not to stuff them too much or put too much in the head or the neck," Beauchamp says. "We wanted them to be light and flexible. They tend to pack down." And that can be disconcerting. Above the corner jewelry store, Santa's left leg looks like he's climbing, but his right leg dangles in a way that recalls the famous highlight film of NFL quarterback Joe Theismann having his lower leg horribly broken. One problem, Beauchamp says, is that some buildings don't offer much in the way of Santa fastenings. "We have to use whatever's up there," she says. Which may be why the Santas high on the east face of U.S. Bank above Central Avenue look to some like SWAT team Santas. And some say the westernmost Santa on the south face of the bank looks like he's been splattered onto the facade like Wile E. Coyote on the side of the Grand Canyon. "Somebody said they look like they wrecked," Beauchamp says. "They said they looked for a wrecked sleigh." But she says most comments have come from people who like the Santas. "They're funny and they bring a smile to their faces," she says. Somebody admires them, for sure. One has already been stolen. "I want to file Santa-napping charges," Beauchamp says. Reach reporter Bill Varble at 776-4478 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.