Woman In 
Credit Case 
Is Given 
Probation

Anna Alt 
Nov. 30, 1992 
Anna M. Alt, 88, Of Split Rail Lane, Dallas, Died Monday Evening At Home 
Following An Illness.

Friday, December 04, 1992 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1D QUICK WORDS: CHRISTMAS SWETLAND
HOMESTEAD 





NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS -- Appearing at the Swetland Homestead are, from
left: Christina Nolan as Miss Christmas Carol, Peterlyn West as Amelia
Airheart Wingbatty, Micky Lahey as Clement Moore Mouse, Chari Rutkosky as Mrs.
Swetland and James Palerno as Santa Claus. The house served as the home of the
Swetland family for generations. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ************************************ &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; oliday show at Swetland blends history, fantasy &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 By MARY THERESE BIEBEL &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Times Leader Social Editor &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 WYOMING -- Poor Blitzen. He ate so many Christmas cookies he blew up like a
balloon somewhere over Brazil. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Santa misplaced his sack of toys and has a humdinger of a head cold, to
boot. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Soft-hearted Maggie Swetland is afraid her mother will set traps for the
cute little rodents who creep quietly through their house. Mrs. Swetland is
afraid her daughter is getting too attached to vermin. And Clement Moore Mouse
-- naturally -- fears for his tail. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Somehow, in the brief space of half an hour, all these problems are
resolved in "The Night before Christmas at Swetland Homestead," a musical
living history sponsored by the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Performances will be staged tonight, Saturday, Sunday and next weekend. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 About 25 members and friends of the society attended a sneak preview
Thursday of the Christmas fantasy at the historic homestead on Wyoming Avenue. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ushered from kitchen to parlor to hallway by such characters as Clement
Moore Mouse -- the "blabbermouth" who inspired Clement C. Moore's famous "A
Visit from St. Nicholas" poem -- and Amelia Airheart Wingbatty -- "an air
traffic controller from the Forty Fort Airport" who helps Santa land his
sleigh -- audience members were recruited to help the Swetland family fall
asleep. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Only then would Santa Claus be able to leave his presents. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Audience member Bradley Mailloux, of Wilkes-Barre, was fascinated when the
jolly old elf arrived and repeatedly reached out to touch Santa's red and
white outfit. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "His coat felt like fur," 7-year-old Bradley reported afterward. "His boots
felt like plastic. His white fur felt so soft. I didn't get to feel his belt." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Bradley's exploration apparently would have continued, but his mother,
Cindy Mailloux, held him back. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The youngster and his 3-year-old brother Clifford said that, after watching
this show, they'll be sure to leave cookies for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Jeanne Spillane, of Scranton, producer of the show, said she hopes lots of
children come to the performances. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We love to do children's theater," she said. "If you start children coming
to museums and events like this, they're going to be interested for the rest
of their lives." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The performance reveals old-time Christmas traditions and superstitions:
Bring holly into your house for blessings and good fortune; ivy for friendship
and laurel for affection. If you bring in an unlucky yew branch by mistake --
oh, no -- quickly toss salt over your shoulder. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And don't be surprised if the animals talk. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The play is performed by five actors from "The Itinerant Stage." It was
written by T. Martin Gilhooley, of Scranton, and underwritten by a grant from
Patient Care of Kingston.

Christmas Past *********************************** Photo Times Leader/alejandro A. Alvarez