Journalism Assignment - Who's on First?
In an effort to examine reliability of our articles and to compare and improve our feature writing as a class, we are going to complete an activity I like to call "A Man and His Job".
You will, as a class, create a character who has a particular occupation. From that, you will develop more information about the person, their background, their likes and dislikes, etc. You will them generate quotes about the man and about the facts you have been given.
From that, you will be given the task of writing a feature article about the person. What direction will you take the story? What angle will you research? How will you keep the reader entertained?
The feature article, which is to be a minimum of 500 words, will be due on Wednesday, December 10, must be posted in the form of a BLOGSPOT POST ON MUSKETEERJOURNALISM.BLOGSPOT.COM. It will be worth 75 points for your semester grade.
We will discuss the posts in a week...
A couple of points.
1. Make sure that you are writing it in a freature-y style - a hybrid of a short story and a news article.
2. Keep it interesting, make it funny - it is your choice.
3. Consider tone and situation, audience and purpose, and mode.
4. Also, Thursday will be our pitch meeting. Get your story ideas ready.
Thanks,
B. Parsons
Musketeer Journalism
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21 comments:
Drew Hannah
Journalism
Mr. Parsons 3rd
12/5/08
He’s Holly, He’s Jolly, He’s Jewish?
He’s checking his list, and checking it twice: no it’s not Santa but it’s close. Chuck Schwarz is a 55-year-old Jewish mall Santa and has been for the past 12 years. A native to Poland, Schwarz moved to Hippopassett, KY in his early twenties to make an honest living the American way.
A former world-class yodeler, and a legend in his hometown Schwarz found it difficult to make ends meet here in the U.S. So to do what he can for money the 55-year-old has to struggle during the month of December being a traveling mall Santa.
“There aren’t to many mall Santa’s left,” said Schwarz. “Cash is the reason why I am Santa. I like kids, but in these times, I need money to keep my store running.”
On the other 11 months when Schwarz is not pretending to be Santa, he owns and operates his own store, Schwarz N’ Stuff. The store came into Schwarz’ possession after he had won it in a high stakes poker game. The store located in Hippopassett is a grocery store as well as a pawnshop.
“It’s the only grocery store and pawnshop here in Hippopassett with a kosher aisle.”
Being the only Jewish mall Santa, Schwarz has had to go to extreme lengths to get his job as a mall Santa, even hiding his Jewish ancestry to apply to an online Santa program.
“It was a great program,” said Schwarz. “I can now name all reindeer back words.”
Schwarz resembles Santa for the most part, the difference between the two is; Schwarz hates children, he’s Jewish, and instead of reindeer, he has 15 cats and a goat to pull his sleigh which doubles as his house.
Chuck Schwarz is a living portrait of the American dream. A man who plays by nobody else’s rules buts his own, if mall Santa’s were a rock star he’d be Keith Richards. When asked if he enjoyed his job Schwarz had only this to say, “The kids are smelly, loud, they bite, and they pee who wants kids? If their parents would control them, it would be an okay job.”
A Polish Christmas featuring a Jewish Santa
(Deck the halls with Polish Sausage)
Brett Reed
Once a year for about a month, straight to the 25th of December, one man dedicates his time, patience, and maybe a little Christmas Cheer to bring smiles to the faces of children all over this great nation. Chuck Schwartz, a fifty-year-old Polish immigrant, works all year around for our tri-state area as well as our local community as its own. For the cold, windy season of Christmas, Schwartz holds up his end of spreading the kindness by working at the Huntington mall as this years Old St. Nick. For the past twelve years Schwartz has been working at the mall as the popular icon Santa Claus.
The throne is brought out at the Huntington Mall on December 15th, ten days before Christmas, and is taken down on Christmas Eve. During his reign as Father Christmas, Schwartz is paid 1$ per every child that sits on his lap, with Christmas being a busy time of year, Schwartz racks in around fifty dollars an hour.
When the snow stops falling, and the sun starts shining again Schwartz is the owner and sole operator of Schwartz n’ stuff, a grocery store mixed with the finest of pawnshops. If you ever need a bucket of chicken with a golden watch for afterwards, Schwartz is your man. Although the speed of the holiday is in turmoil as far as nerves go, Schwartz has never given up on the children of our community.
“With the children of the community to keep me company, life seems a little less bleak. After all in my one bed one bath trailer it gets pretty lonely. Its just me and Billy, Billy Joe, Billy Bob, Billy May, Peggy, Peggy Sue, Peggy May, Mary, Mary Sue, Mary Jane, Willy, Will, William, Jim and Jim Bob, my cats. My goat, Maxwell is also a good friend to have around.” Stated Mr. Claus during a brief interview, “I miss Poland, but they help me adjust.”
During the off-season of winter, not only does Shwartz run Shwartz-n-Stuff, he also teaches Yodeling Lessons to a younger generation to bring a lifetime of culture and memories to the area. A very diverse Santa indeed, Schwartz is a card at doing everything from decorating a Christmas tree to yodeling the National Anthem. He is a very intriguing man with a lot of knowledge the spread, like a schoolteacher in the middle of spring, Shwartz is eager to share all he knows with the younger generations.
Josh Howerton
Journalism
Mr. Parsons
December 9, 2008
Your Friendly, Neighborhood Jewish Santa
He has one of the most hectic jobs during one of the most hectic times of the year and doesn’t receive the credit that he deserves for doing one of society’s most underappreciated jobs, the job of Santa Clause at your local mall. During the Christmas holidays, Schwarz N’ Things owner, Chuck Schwarz, takes on the mantle of Santa Clause and works different malls each day.
Schwarz was born on July 7, 1953 in Warsaw, Poland to Boris and Ewa Schwarz. Both of Schwarz’s parents were interned at the Auschwitz Concentration Camp during World War II because of their Jewish religious beliefs.
While Schwarz was in Poland, he was a world class yodeler.
When Schwarz turned 18, he decided that it was time to move on from Poland and decided that he would travel to America to pursue the American Dream.
“I came to America,” said Schwarz, “because there were more opportunities for a better life here.”
While on the boat to America, Schwarz played a round of poker with some American tourists from Hippopasset, Kentucky. In the game of poker, Schwarz was able to win his shop, then Billy Bob’s Market, Hippopasset’s local grocery store.
When Schwarz arrived in Hippopasset with the keys to the store, the first thing that he did was change the name from Billy Bob’s Market to Schwarz N’ Things. He also added an additional section to the store for his own pawnshop, along with the grocery store. Along with the new pawnshop, Schwarz also added a kosher section to the grocery store, due to his lactose intolerance.
Along with owning his grocery store, Schwarz also gives yodeling lessons during the year.
“The yodeling lessons add to my income,” said Schwarz.
However, in recent years, owning Schwarz N’ Things and giving yodeling lessons have not been enough for Schwarz, as he has had to become a traveling Santa Clause. To get a traveling Santa Clause certificate, Schwarz had to take online courses. During the application process, however, Schwarz was forced to hide his Jewish heritage to get the certificate.
“The program that I took was great,” said Schwarz. “I can name all of the reindeer backwards.”
After a month of online classes, Schwarz was given his Santa Clause certificate and began to work as Santa in big city malls, such as the Fayette Mall in Lexington, Kentucky.
“There aren’t too many traveling Santa’s left,” said Schwarz.
For the last twelve years, this is how Schwarz has been making his extra money during the Christmas holiday. Currently, Schwarz makes around one dollar per kid that he sees, which is about $50 per hour.
“The only reason that I do this job is because of the money,” said Schwarz. “I like the kids, but in these times, I need money to keep the store running.”
When the children visit Schwarz as Santa at the mall, they usually try to bring him foods that Santa’s usually enjoy, like milk and cookies. However, because of his lactose intolerance, this usually makes Schwarz angry at the children and he is usually forced to leave work for that day.
Over the years, Schwarz has meet many children during the Christmas holidays that have also influenced his ideas of not having a family.
“The kids are smelly, loud, they bite, they pee,” said Schwarz. “Who wants kids? If their parents would control them, then it would be okay.”
Schwarz currently lives in his house in Hippopasset with his 15 cats and goat. All of Schwarz’s human family member’s have all died, leaving Schwarz with only his animals.
Schwarz also wishes to go back to Poland to visit before he dies. Schwarz says that there are many reasons he wants to go back to Poland, but one of the major reasons is that he misses the Polish Sauerkraut.
So the next time that you take your children to the local mall to sit on Santa Clause’s lap, remember that this man, Charles Schwarz, is like you, trying to make a living in life.
Ashley Kielmar
Mr. Parsons
Journalism
December 5th, 2008
Undercover Jew as Santa?
Chuck Schwarz was your average polish guy that studied Jewish religion and had a job playing Santa. He is in his fifty’s and lives in Hippopasett, Kentucky. He has been fooling us by acting like Santa for 12 years, Buddy the elf won’t be happy about that. Schwarz thinks he can get away with hiding his ancestry from the world, he has another thing coming.
Asking if Schwarz liked his Santa job and how he kept his store Schwarz N’ Stuff running this is what he had to say.
“Cash is the reason, I like kids, but in these times we need money to keep my store up and running.”
As coming to America he won his store in a poker game, and working mall to mall he makes about fifty dollars and hour.
He described the kids in his words “The kids are smelly, loud, they bite, and they pee…who wants kids? If their parents would control them, it would be okay.”
Talking to Schwarz he said that “There aren’t too many traveling Santa’s left. It was a great program, and I can name all the reindeer backwards.”
As you can tell Schwarz really likes his job if it wasn’t for the smelly, loud kids that bit and pee on him. Schwarz lives alone no family left; he has 15 cats, and a goat. While in Poland he was a world-class yodeler, and as he yodels it adds to his income. With his store coming along he liked that it was the only store in Hippopasett that had Kosher, and for him that’s great because he hates milk and cookies but he loves Kosher. Living in America, and trying to hide the true religion he studies and pretending to be a Santa just to make it by, is a hard job for one man. But having to do the job he likes he hopes to continue to keep being Santa even if he has to be undercover.
Chelsey Hayes
4th period
parsons
Here Comes Schwarz Here Comes Schwarz
A polish middle-aged man, Chuck Schwarz is a Jewish Santa throughout the holiday season’s and also a former world-class yodeler that added to his income. Schwarz is currently living in Hippopasett Kentucky but he emigrated from Poland. He owns a grocery and pawnshop combination called Schwarz n’ stuff that he won during a poker game on his way over to the United States. He has no family just 15 cats and a goat, he must get lonely at times.
“There’s more opportunity here…” “I miss Poland especially the sauerkraut.” Said Schwarz.
Schwarz has been Santa for 12 years, he was a veteran before his Santa career took off. Schwarz hates milk and cookies because there not kosher, which defeat’s the person for being Santa if you don’t like milk and cookies. He works from mall to mall and hid his Jewish ancestry to get a Santa Cert. online. Schwarz is only Santa for the money.
“It was a great program. I can name all the reindeer backwards.”
Well that proves it, anyone can be Santa if they just hide their ancestry, they’ll get the part although I wouldn’t be so happy about the kids that especially like to bite, pee, be loud and smelly while sitting on your lap. That’s when I would up the price. I wonder how Schwarz makes it through his day.
“Cash is the reason..I like kids but in these times, we need money to keep the store running.” said Schwarz.
Amanda Hutchinson
Journalism
Mr. Parsons
December 8, 2008
Santa Clause Is Coming To Town
When you hear the words “Santa Clause,” what comes to mind? Do you imagine a jolly, elderly fellow in a red and white suit? Do you picture a magical man who seems to defy the concept of time? Or do you think of the coolest mall Santa around, Chuck Schwarz?
Chuck Schwarz, a 52-year old Jewish business owner in his spare time, has been the Hippopasett Mini Mall Santa for nearly 12 years. Schwarz resides in downtown Hippopasett, Kentucky near the Hippopasett Mini Mall, where he spends an average of three days each week during the holiday season. Schwarz loves his job as Santa Clause. He enjoys making the children in our community happy, but he does admit that being Santa can be difficult at times.
“The kids are usually smelly and loud. They bite and pee, it’s awful sometimes,” Schwarz says. “If their parents would actually control them, then it would be okay.” Aside from bite marks and wet laps, Schwarz enjoys playing Santa, especially on payday. He is paid $1.00 for each child he seats, and he is capable of seating an average of 50 children each hour.
“Cash is the main reason I do it. Don’t get me wrong, the kids are great,” Schwarz reveals. “In times like these though, I need the money.”
Schwarz considers himself to be lucky when it comes to his Santa success. He credits all of his success as Santa Clause to Hippopasett Clause University (HCU). Schwarz earned his HCU degree online. He majored in Flying and minored in Chimneys.
“It was a great program; I can name all the reindeers backwards,” Schwarz said.
Schwarz is not your average mall Santa; he is a self-proclaimed traveling mall Santa Clause. Schwarz in employed in several different malls and stores in the tri-state area. When Schwarz is not playing Santa Clause, he manages to run his own kosher grocery store and pawn shop called Schwarz n’ Stuff, which he won in a poker game while on his way to the United States from his native country of Poland.
“It is the only kosher grocery store and pawn shop located in Hippopasett,” Schwarz proudly states. “I am so lucky to have won this business; it keeps me occupied in the off season.”
Schwarz is a delightful man and a hero to parents, children, and aspiring mall Santa’s far and wide. Schwarz is sure to be busy this holiday season, so make certain that you are able to visit him at the Hippopasett Mini Mall before the holidays are over.
David Virgin
Mr. Parsons
Journalism
Dec. 10, 2008
Chuck Schwartz is comin' to town
Chuck Schwartz owner of local store Schwartz n’ Stuff will be Santa at the Hippopasett Mall located in Hippopasett, KY. Schwartz is in his fifties’ and is a Jew from Poland who came to America to start a new life, shortly after he won his store in a card game. “ Coming to America has given me more opportunities,” said Schwartz.
Schwartz has carried on this duty for 12 years now and he has brought some changes to the Santa we know and love, such as he doesn’t like milk and cookies and kids are not his first priority, “ The kids are smelly, loud, they bite, they pee…who wants kids? If their parents would control them, it would be ok,” said Schwartz.
“ The pay isn’t bad I get paid one dollar per child roughly fifty bucks an hour,” said Schwartz.
Schwartz has no family, no friends all he has is his cats and his goat. Being so lonely was a great reason for taking up this job because he gets to see all the cheerful face of the children. “Cash is the reason I do this… I like kids, but in these times we need money to keep the store running,” says Schwartz.
Desirae Murphy
Journalism
Mr. Parsons
December 10, 2008
Who is the real Santa Clause?
Chuck Schwarz a Jewish man in his mid-fifties is the man in the red suit aka Santa Clause. Schwarz is from Hippopassett, Kentucky he emigrated from Poland. He operates a grocery store and a pawnshop combined called Schwarz n’ Stuff. A random fact about him is he once won a stove in a poker game on his way back to the U.S.
When finally realizing the retirement he receives isn’t enough to do him, he decided to apply online for a Traveling Santa job. He found the ad in a newspaper at a local coffee shop. He then quickly responded to the ad, knowing the job might already be taken. He doesn’t really like kids but thought it would be an easy job with a nice paycheck every week.
“Cash is the only reason…I like kids”, said Schwarz. “But in these times, we need money to keep the store running.”
“More opportunity here…I miss Poland, said Schwarz, especially the sauerkraut.”
Schwarz has been Santa for the past 12 years. He works from mall to mall. He charges $1 per kid and he makes about $50 per hour. Although Santa is a lover of milk and cookies this Santa certainly does not like milk and cookies actually, he hates them. He is only in the Santa business for the money.
Many dressed up Santa’s are stationary which mean that they stay in one place but this special Santa travels to many different locations specifically shopping malls. Being Santa Clause isn’t really something that he enjoys but he does it anyway for the sake of keeping his grocery store/pawn shop open and to live on.
“There aren’t too many traveling Santa’s left.” Said Schwarz.
“The kids are smelly, loud, they bite they pee…who wants kids”, said Schwarz. If their parents would control them, they would be ok.”
Besides being Santa and running his own store Schwarz is also a former world-class yodeler. He has 15 cats and a goat but no living family. He actually had to hide his Jewish ancestry to get Santa certification online.
“Yodeling lessons add to my income.” Schwarz said.
There are many parents who take their children to see Santa Clause every year. But would this be someone you would want to take your children to see, when he doesn’t even want to be around children at all. This particular character disguised as Santa, is not a happy jolly fellow but really a sneaky old man who is really only out to make a dollar.
Provided by http://www.ehow.com/how_2239450_dress-up-as-santa-claus.html there are seven steps that you can follow to get the suitable “Santa look”:
Step 1: Begin with the white beard. Use as good a quality white beard as possible for the most realistic look. Stay way from those beards (and wigs) that looking like a bunch of cotton batting.
Step 2: Add some blush to the apples of the cheek and the tip of the nose.
Step 3: Cover your eyebrows with fake white hair using makeup adhesive.
Step 4: Pad your stomach and midriff with pillows to get that “bowl full of jelly” look.
Step 5: Slip on the classic red-and-white Santa Claus suit along with a pair of glossy black boots.
Step 6: Top off the look with white wig and a red-and-white hat. For and added touch, place a piece of mistletoe on the hat brim.
Step 7: Finish with a large cloth sack filled with Christmas gifts.
Hippopassett Imports Jewish Santa
The holidays are here once more. That special time of year when eggnog will be drank, carols will be sung, and halls will be decked. People’s yards become a display of pure Christmas spirit decorated with fake candy canes and inflated reindeer. The overall mood of the people is overwhelmingly joyful. The local mall becomes a winter wonderland with carols coming through the loud speakers but a perfect Christmas is not complete without the pivotal mall Santa. Mall Santas come in various forms but none more unusual than Hippopassett Mall’s own Father Christmas, Chuck Schwarz.
He has spent 12 of his 50 years moving from mall to mall presenting himself as Saint Nicholas. Although he only earns a dollar per child, which evens out to be $50 an hour, the main reason he continues to do it is because of the money. “Cash is the reason. I like kids but in these times, we need money to keep the store running. Yodeling lessons add to my income,” said Schwarz.
Schwarz runs a pawnshop/grocery store called “Schwarz ‘n’ Stuff” in his small hometown of Hippopassett, Kentucky when he is not portraying Santa. He won the shop in a poker game while living in Poland. He was a world-class yodeler in his home country but says there is more opportunity in the U.S. One opportunity not found in Poland could be a job for a Jewish Santa. “(Schwarz ‘n’ Stuff) is the only grocery store with a kosher section in it.”
Schwarz is a professional in the mall Santa business. He got his start taking an online Santa-training course. He had to hide his Jewish ancestry to get the certificate but admits it was worth it. The program prepared him for many challenges he would face as Mr. Claus.
“It was a great program. I can name all of the reindeer backwards,” explained Schwarz. “The kids are smelly, loud, they bite, they. Who wants kids? If their parents would control them, it would be okay.”
Schwarz has a busy life. When he’s not giving yodeling lessons or dressing up as Santa, he relaxes at his house. He plays with his 15 cats and his goat that is adequately named Rudolph. He is probably the only mall Santa that goes home, takes off his red, velvet suit, kicks off his boots and lights a menorah.
Christmas would not be the same without Santa. It would take the luster out of the whole holiday experience. Without a morbidly obese stranger popping in and out of your while you are asleep, Christmas would be the winter version of Easter. It’s nice to know that there will always be someone out there is attempting to keep the holidays cheerful, even if that someone is a 50-year-old Jewish Polish immigrant
Chris Miller
Mr. Parsons
Journalism
December 5th, 2008
Riding Santa’s slay to success
So a fifty-year-old Jewish mall Santa walks into a bar. Ready for the punch line? He’s real and the man behind the red jumpsuit is Chuck Schwarz. The big guy resides in a cozy little house in Hippopasset Kentucky with his fifteen cats and farm goat. Schwarz represents the biggest icon in Christmas season, when the red suit is in the closest Schwarz is the symbol for the American dream.
In his younger years Schwarz lived in a different country and was sporting a different type of outfit, and that being an outfit of a world-class yodeler. He was well known in his home country Poland for his status as a world yodeler but he grew weary of it. He wasn’t getting enough money and he was missing the thrill of it. As time went on Schwarz tried to find a profession that could enrich financially. Over time Schwarz was having more financial problems and running out of ideas for jobs. Schwarz finally decided that he needed to start over and out of word of mouth Schwarz set his sights on America.
Schwarz hasn’t forgot where he had come from he still misses his home country. “I miss Poland, especially the sauerkraut”. There was no time for him to waste moping about leaving, he needed the money now.
He immediately packed all his things and bought a cheap boat ticket to America. On the way to America Schwarz won an empty store lot that was located in hippopasset. Off the boat he found his way to hippopasset. Meeting up with a farmer and a pawn dealer when he arrived, Schwarz came up with the idea for his combo store Schwarz n’ stuff.
“More opportunity here” is what Schwarz says about the United States. A true statement because as soon as he arrived in America Schwarz n’ Stuff was in business.
“It is the only grocery store with a kosher section in hippopasset” Schwarz admits. The combination shop helped Schwarz for many years and still does. However, he felt that he could do more. With Christmas being more popular in America he noticed all the financial potential for the holiday, especially the beloved Santa Claus. Instead of competing with Christmas Schwarz decided to embrace Christmas by impersonating old Saint Nicholas himself. The only thing stopping him, His heritage.
Schwarz didn’t let his Jewish heritage get in the way, so he kept it hidden as he completed his Santa certificate online. After attaining his Santa certificate Schwarz wasted no time in using his new ‘alter ego’ for profit.
His first job as Santa Claus was at Sears in Hippopasset. For fifty dollars an hour Schwarz was ready to get things goings. Unfortunately Schwarz was unaware of the children that paraded after Jolly Santa. He grew into it and started getting good at until eventually almost every single child in Hippopasset visited Santa.
Schwarz never lost sight of his goal; he wasn’t to bring joy to the children of Kentucky. He was there for his own joy in financial success, and with Schwarz n’ stuff in business he started to get that warm feeling of joy around Christmas time.
“Cash is the reason… I like kids but in these times, we need money to keep the store running.”
Schwarz wants to be on top, and it’s his dedication that’s the key to his success. Nothing can stop him, not even his religion. He is even still yodeling, “yodeling lessons still add to my income.” So this Christmas when you leave your milk and cookies out for the big guy make sure that they are kosher for Chuck Schwarz.
Mall Santa Schwarz
The man in the red suite we see at the mall each year is more then just a jolly fellow. His name is Chuck Schwarz; he is 50 years old and is a veteran. He lives in Hippopassett, Kentucky he emigrated here from Poland. He has become successful living in the U.S.
He now runs a grocery store/pawn shop called Schwarz n’ Stuff. He won the shop in a poker game on the way to the U.S. He has also been Santa for twelve years and works from mall to mall.
He is also a Jewish Santa. He hid his Jewish ancestry to get Santa Certified online. I asked Schwarz what he thought about the online Santa certification? “It was a great program. I can name all the reindeer backwards,” Schwarz said.
A lot of mall shoppers have been wondering why Schwarz has been Santa for so long? Schwarz said, “Cash is the reason I like kids, out in these times, we need money to keep the store running.” So cash is his reason for being Santa.
Schwarz makes $1 per child, he makes about $50 per hour. It is hard to find a traveling Santa these days. Schwarz even says, “There aren’t to many traveling Santa’s left.”
Even though he hates milk and cookies, he sure does love sauerkraut. In addition to the fact that he has 15 cats, 1 goat and no family; he is a former world-class yodeler. “Yodeling lessons add to my income,” Schwarz says.
After the children get done sitting on Santa’s lap telling him their Christmas wishes their hearts are filled with joy! I asked Schwarz if he gets that warm fuzzy feeling inside when a child walks away full of hopes and dreams. Schwarz said, “The kids are smelly, loud, they bite, they pee… who wants kids? If their parents would control them, it would be ok.”
Clearly after this interview with Schwarz I have found that he is not your typical Santa Clause. I am one to say I may never look at Santa the same again.
Santa, But Not Really Santa
Written by Allison Rowe
Christmas is growing nearer and what is it that all children are nuts over? It is none other than the world’s Santa Claus. Kids everywhere are driving their parents up the wall, wishing to go to the mall to take their turn telling Santa what it is they desire for Christmas. Everyone knows that Santa cannot possibly be at every mall in the world all at once, so he has to have replacements to perform the job for him. Chuck Schwarz, a normal, jolly, Jewish fellow, is one of those substituting Santa Claus’.
Chuck was born and raised in Smargahwargahweeschnaw, Poland. While growing up his family did the best they could to make the Christmas holiday special.
“Every year my Mother and Father would buy me the best presents, but none were better than my goat Adolf, given to me by Santa,” said Schwarz. “Santa visited me every Christmas for my first fifteen years of life, but when I became sixteen Santa did not come.” Each one of these years Schwarz received a cat. When he was sixteen he became very heart broken when Santa did not visit him, so from there on out he hated Santa Claus.
Later he decided to make a rational move, as he immigrated to the United States to live in Hippopaesett, Kentucky. During his trip to America he was involved in many poker games. In one of these he won a shop. This shop he now owns is in his town of residence, Hippopaesett and is a grocery store and a pawnshop called, ‘Schwarz N’ Stuff’. When he moved to Kentucky the only thing he brought with him were his 15 cats and his goat. Today, they are all of the family he has left.
During the Christmas season he found that his shop was not bringing in enough money, so he went out searching for jobs he could work only during the winter. He looked many places including taxi driving, senior citizen care taking, and running carnival rides, but found nothing that would fulfill his need for revenue. Then he was offered a job as a replacement Santa Claus.
For the past twelve years he has worked at malls and other small town places, pretending to be Santa, while having little children sat upon him and tell him their Christmas wishes.
“The kids are smelly, loud, they bite, they pee,” stressed Schwarz. “Who wants kids? If their parents would control them, it would be okay.”
He was paid by how many children would visit him. Chuck received one dollar for every child, averaging out to about 50 dollars for every hour he worked.
“Cash is the reason,” admitted Schwarz. “I like kids, but in these times, we need the money to keep the store running.”
To prepare for this job Chuck had to go through much training. He could not just simply dress up in a red suit with a white beard and sit in a chair without the proper education. He went to Certify Yourself As Santa Network to get his training, where he had to hide the fact that he was Jewish.
“It was a great program,” said Chuck. “I can name all of the reindeer backwards.”
Chuck Schwarz is just your normal, everyday Jewish, yodeling, pawn/grocery store running, Santa Claus. “When I was a child I loved Santa Claus and if I were to do this job for anything besides the money it would be to make children happy,” said Schwarz. “But that’s if not for the money.”
Kyle Martin
Yodelay Yodelay Yodelay HO HO HO
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you here the word Christmas? Some might say presents, but more than likely you would say Santa Clause. And for Chuck Schwarz that just happens to be his job on Christmas. Schwarz is also the owner of a grocery store and pawnshop called Schwarz n’ Stuff.
When ask what he thinks of his grocery store and pawnshop in a place like Hippopasset, Kentucky Schwarz said, “It is the only store with a kosher section in it in Hippopasset.”
Schwarz is also a world class yodeler. When asked why he yodels Schwarz went on to sat this, “Yodeling lessons add to my income.” Schwarz will need that income when u runs a grocery store and a pawnshop in Hippopasset, in the middle of nowhere.
Schwarz won the grocery store and pawnshops in a no-limit Texas hold ‘em poker game on the way to the United States of America.
As for the Santa job Schwarz only makes about 50 dollars per day, while charging one dollar per child.
“The kids are smelly but they bite.” Schwarz said about the kids’ behavior, “They pee who wants kids? If their parents would control them, it would be okay.”
Schwarz was born July 7th, 1953 in Poland. He has been Santa Clause for 12 years he started in the U.S.A.
“More opportunities here” Schwarz said on asked why he moved from Poland to America. “I miss Poland, especially the Sauerkraut.”
Schwarz had a hard childhood both of his parents Boris and Ewa Schwarz was in the concentrations camp during World War II, for their Jewish beliefs.
After his parents got out of the camp they had little Chuck in a hospital in Poland.
When Chuck was 31 years old he was walking out in a shopping center with cat named Ruches, with he Goats waiting outside, he decided that he wanted to be Santa Clause for next Christmas.
So next Christmas the 32 year old yodeler went to the same mall he was at the year previous he walked in and seen a sign that said “Santa Needed.” The previous Santa was in the Hospital after buying some Kosher from Schwarz N’ Stuff and gotten food poising.
So Chuck went up to the owner of the shopping center Cindy Jenkins and ask about the Santa Clause job and after a short interview Cindy had no choice but to give Schwarz the job, because he was the only one that applied for it.
So Schwarz started the job on that Friday. But Cindy for got to add to Schwarz that he would have to travel over the U.S. that didn’t matter to Schwarz. On asked why he took the job anyway Schwarz said, “There aren’t to many traveling Santa’s left in the U.S.
Schwarz had a great time over the past 12 years he has decided that he will be back for a 13th year next Christmas.
When asked why he has decided to stay Santa for 13 years Schwarz said, “It was a great Program. I can name all the reindeer backwards.”
Jewish Santa is coming to town.
Have you been naughty or nice?
Melissa Jackson
It’s the season to be jolly. A time for remembering, giving, loving one another, and peace. In the month of December you can always find a Santa Clause at the mall. In the town of Hippopassett, Kentucky, Chuck Swartz, 50, has been Santa for 12 years. In his years as Santa Schwartz has brought his own version of Santa out. A Jewish version that hates milk and cookies because they are not kosher. Schwarz works from mall to mall where he earns one dollar per kid who sits on his lap, or about 50 dollars an hour. “Cash is the reason I choose to become Santa, I like kids but in these times we need money, to keep the store open.”
Schwartz n’ Stuff is a grocery store/pawn shop owned by Schwartz. This were you will find Schwartz in the months when he’s not running around wearing a red Santa suit. “It is the only grocery store with a kosher section in it in Hippopassett.” Schwartz won the store in a poker game on his way over to the United States. Schwartz doesn’t get much business at his store, which is why he became Santa. While at his store you can shop for all your kosher needs, and pawn something.
Schwartz is a Jewish emigrant from Poland. “I miss Poland, especially the sauerkraut, there’s more opportunity here.” Schwartz has no family left, his only family consists of 15 cat, and a goat, named Rudolph. He is a former world-class yodeler. “Yodeling lessons add to my income.” Also, he is a veteran.
While working online for his Santa certificate, Schwartz had to hide his Jewish ancestry. “It was a great program. I can name all the reindeer backwards.” He went through many different obstacles to become Santa. Some of the obstacles were learning the reindeer names, how long it takes to get around the world, how to become a master of breaking and entering, an memorizing every child’s name.
Even though he likes children he says, “The kids are smelly, loud, they bite, the pee. Who wants kids? If their parents would control them it wouldn’t be that bad.” He is only Santa one reason, for the money. Schwartz travels from mall to mall taking various types of Santa jobs. “There aren’t too many traveling Santa’s left.” Schwartz had been to many different towns. Not only has he worked at indoor malls he' worked at outdoor malls as the man in the red suit, Santa.
Soon hundreds of kids will be making their way to malls to have their picture taken with Santa. Many will see this Jewish Santa. Schwartz will be giving his time, patience, expert Santa expertise, and maybe a little Christmas spirit, to all the joyful. Smiling children of Hippopassett. Schwartz will see many kids during this month, and will be wishing a Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.
Have you ever seen the Santa at the mall, his name is Chuck Schwarz. He is a fifty-year-old Jewish traveling Santa. Schwarz emigrated from Poland and lied about his Jewish heritage to enroll in the Santa Academy on-line. Schwarz loved the academy and say “It was a great program. I can name all the reindeer backwards.” Schwarz currently lives in Hippopassett, Kentucky. Aside from making about fifty dollars an hour at one dollar a kid he owns a grocery/pawnshop called “Schwarz and stuff.”
He only does the traveling Santa job for the money he says “kids are smelly, loud, and bite, they pee… who wants kids? If their parents would control them, it would be ok.”
Chuck has been a traveling Santa for twelve years so you might call him a veteran. Chuck is only being Santa to keep his grocery/pawnshop that he won gambling in a card game up and running, he actually said “Cash is the only reason I tolerate kids, out in these times, we need money to keep the shop up and running.
Schwarz lives alone in Hippopassett with fifteen cats and a goat because he has no family left. Schwarz said, “I miss Poland especially the sauerkraut.” In Poland Schwarz was a world-class yodeler
Tahler Peveto
Jewish Santa?
Santa Clause appears to be the same in every store you enter throughout the holiday season, a jolly old man with rosy cheeks and a big red Santa suit. This suit is filled with a different kind of background this year as 50-year-old Jewish immigrant Chuck Schwarz travels the tri-state spreading holiday cheer.
Schwarz immigrated from the streets of Poland about 15 years ago to the United States to have more opportunities to a better life. As a world class Yodeler he found that his low paying job as a yodeling lesson teacher just wasn’t cutting it and he aspired to make more of himself. He now resides in Hippopaesett, Kentucky with his companions: 15 cats and one goat. He said, “ I still provide yodeling lessons, they add to my income.”
Schwarz described the boat ride to the U.S. as miserable, but one good thing cam out of it. This is his pawn shop/ grocery store, Schwartz n Stuff, which he won in a poker game. This Santa hates cookies and milk on Christmas because he is totally kosher and owns the only kosher food supplier in the tri-sate area.
Schwarz got into the Santa business about 12 years ago and is now considered to be a veteran. Not only does he come highly recommended but was also certified online where he had to hide his religious background. Also, Schwarz is one of the few traveling Santa left. You can see him at as many as 8 malls going from one to the other. Schwarz said, “ Cash is the only reason I take on the role of Santa, the kids are fine but in these times we need the money to keep the store running.” Schwarz stays busy at this day job and makes $1 for every kid that visits him which overall averages out to about $50 an hour.
No matter his desire for performing this public service, Schwarz does a wonderful job. He will be at the Ashland Town Center all this week between the times of 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.
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