The Recession Strikes the North Pole.

The worldwide recession hasn’t spared anyone - not even Santa. We have it from a reliable source that Santa Claus’s North Pole Workshop was forced to lay off several hundred elves due to a lack of capital. The remaining elves are working one shift a day instead of three. Several of the unemployed elves are looking for work elsewhere until recalled in October for the Christmas rush. The Polar Express is making daily stops in Los Angeles, bringing many elf families to sunny California to look for temporary employment There is word Hollywood will be hiring small people for a remake of The Wizard of Oz. There is also work in a few upcoming Christmas movies.

Santa is summering here in Cloverdale. He earns extra cash working as a master craftsman for his cousin Hans Tinkle of Tinkle Miniature Toys. The extra cash will be welcome this year as the bills come due - there are reindeer to fed, the workshops must be heated, toy building material must be purchased, and the Elves must be paid. Elves don’t work for free you know.