Santa’s New Sleigh

Santa Claus was scheduled to arrive by helicopter for “Milk and Cookies with Santa.” But with swirling winds, low clouds, and intermittent rain on Saturday morning – everything short of snow flurries – Santa’s planned arrival by whirlybird was scrubbed, and the Marco Island Fire-Rescue Dept. once again delivered Santa and Mrs. Claus to Mackle Park aboard a shiny red sleigh that was actually their Tower 50 extension ladder truck.

Children and their parents thronged the Clauses once they stepped down from the truck, welcomed by authentic-looking elves Arne and Jill Sandberg. Many of the younger set eagerly greeted Santa, running into his arms for hugs, but some of the younger kids wanted nothing to do with sitting on the lap of a funny-looking bearded man. 

They had the chance; families could pose with Santa and purchase photo prints from Betsy Sabbides once their number was called. Mr. Claus was not given the chance to enjoy the promised milk and cookies, instead being set up in front of the photographer’s umbrella lights. Mrs. Claus headed into the community room, where volunteers doled out an unending series of cookies after kids collected their goodie bags from volunteers including Iran Zarati wearing reindeer antlers. Many of the participants were decked out in an endlessly varied array of Christmas clothing, way beyond just the traditional red cap. 

Alexis Malloy, daughter of Parks and Recreation Manager Samantha Malloy, was helping with the event, wearing a shirt with checkboxes labeled: naughty, nice and whatever. Her shirt chose “whatever,” and her mother, she said, told her that was the one to wear. Samantha Malloy was celebrating a birthday but didn’t disclose which one. Amahlia Aleman, six, was not only dressed in a complete candy-striped reindeer suit but carried a matching elf – named Candy Cane.

Maggie Ward was dressed in what looked like a knitted Christmas sampler, shepherding her three children through the cookie line. Volunteer Donna Dubey and Parks and Rec. staffer Jill Cartaya handled the critical task of doling out the cookies, while Larry Heinemann acted as the “milk man.” 

The kids engaged in Christmas-themed activities, including something that looked like the old carney shell game, a magnetic fishing game that garnered prizes, and one game that involved tossing rolls of toilet paper through a toilet seat. At least the toilet paper rolls were decorated in a Christmas motif.

Christmas Island Style chair Wanda Burson, who made the call to bail on the chopper, said helming Marco’s signature holiday series of events “has been great fun,” even though she is wondering what to do with hundreds of uneaten hot dogs, after the previous night’s outdoor film, “Frozen,” was also canceled due to the weather. She thanked her co-chair, or vice chair – the org chart is a little fuzzy – Greg Snyder and called Christmas Island Style a “wonderful experience. It brings lots of joy to lots of people.”