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Santa Comes to Cold Spring Courtesy of the Cold Spring Fire Company and the Recreation Commission
by Kevin Foley
 | | Families took advantage of Santa's early visit to have their children meet old St. Nick in person |
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In the hours before the anticipated arrival snow fell as if commanded by a stage director. Santa Claus was coming to town and how nice to have a white winter carpet surround the bandstand by the river as families gathered in a communal welcome to the traditional patriarch of seasonal cheer and the magic of presents under the tree on Christmas morning.
Friday evening, December 7, 2007 was the occasion for Cold Spring Village's annual holiday tree lighting celebration highlighted by the pre-Christmas visit of Santa Claus.
Early in the festivities villagers and visitors mingled around the semi-dark bandstand warding off the chill by sipping hot chocolate courtesy of the Village government and eating slices of pizza provided by Angelina's restaurant. Shouting children kicked up the snow as they ran off some of their pent-up excitement.
The Haldane High School Chorus led by choral director Meredith Nocton serenaded the swelling crowd with familiar holiday songs. Adults could be heard adding their voices as they passed down the well-remembered lyrics onto the next generation.
The first hint of something special was heard in the distance as sirens wailed far up Main Street. Then the flash of whirling lights from fire trucks could be seen signaling it was time for everyone to move closer together at the front of the bandstand. MC Danny Dillon thanked the vendors and the chorus and then led the audience in a countdown to Santa's imminent approach.
First to arrive was a Cold Spring Fire Company ladder truck, followed by an emergency services truck towing a nautical sled encased in multi-colored lights and carrying the night's very special guest. It was rumored Santa Claus had left his own sled and his tiny reindeer at the Haldane School athletic field. The PCN&R could only confirm that deer were seen grazing along Rt. 9D at that hour.
Santa's arrival triggered the lighting of the Christmas tree at the center of the bandstand as well as the lights strung all about the wooden structure. The tree, donated by the Antique Dealers Association of Cold Spring carried an especially poignant meaning this year. "We wanted to dedicate it in Darrell Burris' name so he is remembered during this season," said David Cooke head of the organization.
As Santa Claus stepped down from his pontoon sled, otherwise known as Marine 1, he was accompanied by volunteer elves substituting for the real ones who were reportedly busy making the dolls, bicycles and computer games longed for by children the world over. The fire company elves helped Santa give out candy canes supplied by Pete's Deli to all the children who surrounded the rotund man with the wide white beard dressed in a red suit.
Eventually Santa made his way up to the bandstand where he patiently posed for pictures around the tree and listened to last minute entreaties for presents from children and even a few adults. Within an hour he was away on his sled amid lights and sirens, no doubt onto another visit to a nearby village. The people of Cold Spring headed home grateful and warmed by his willingness to stop there.
The lights on the tree and bandstand, the music system, and the urns of hot chocolate didn't just appear out of nowhere, even Santa needs some help sometimes. Answering the call were Steve Etta, Joe Lizzi, Phil Etta, Greg Phillips and George Baltich who cared enough to make them happen.
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