Here comes Santa Claus

Friday, July 18, 1997 | 11:06 a.m.

The morning after the Grinch stole the trappings of Christmas in the popular Dr. Seuss children's tale, folks gathered around where the tree had stood in the town square, clasped hands and sang.

They were undaunted. They were united.

The same could be said for Las Vegas, which has shown a great outpouring of support for Opportunity Village in the wake of vandals stealing $12,000 worth of Christmas supplies and trashing Santa's Castle and the Magical Forest at 6300 W. Oakey Blvd.

"It is amazing the number of people and companies who have come forward," said Julie Roberts, special events coordinator for the organization that teaches work skills and provides job placement to the mentally disabled.

"Our phones have been ringing off the hook with pledges of help."

The cash donations that came in Thursday included $15,000 from Circus Circus Enterprises Chairman Clyde Turner and a piggy bank full of pennies from a 4-year-old girl.

Metro Secret Witness is offering a $1,000 award for information leading to the arrest of suspects.

Saks 5th Avenue has pledged to buy lights to help replace the $6,000 worth of bulbs and miles of cord that were stolen. Home Depot has offered to provide $2,000 worth of paint to assist in the repair efforts.

That is but a small number of those who have come forward to help.

Opportunity Village discovered the vandalism Wednesday morning and reported it to police, who reportedly were able to lift fingerprints from the scene.

Each year, the Magical Forest, which has free admission, opens around Thanksgiving and runs until two days after Christmas.

Started in 1992 with loaned boxed trees, the Magical Forest became a permanent display in 1993 and has become one of the charity's top fund-raisers.

About 175,000 people visited the Christmas display last year. About 200,000 are expected to visit it this year, Opportunity Village officials said.

"We will need help now through Nov. 21 to get ready," Roberts said. "We want to thank everyone for the help they have given and for the help they are going to give us to make this the biggest and best Magical Forest ever."

To make a donation, call 259-3741.