Santa Will Make His Way Around Town This Sunday

Once again the borough's volunteer fire department will take "Santa Around Town" this Sunday, Dec. 18.

Beginning around 4 p.m. Sunday, the department's fire trucks will escort Santa all around town making several stops along the way to greet the children and hand out candy. They will begin at the northern end of town and work their way around beginning at Collins Avenue at Baldwin.

‘Santa Around Town’ was created more than 30 years ago under the direction of then fire fighter Anthony Greco, a 35-year veteran of the Hasbrouck Heights Fire Department and former chief.

Another fire fighter who has been heavily involved with the event for many years serving as chairman of the Santa Around Town Committee is former chief Chris Semenecz, a 27-year veteran of the department, former chief and mechanic of Engine One.

“Santa Around Town has been a great tradition in the fire department,” said Semenecz. “It’s more of a gift to Santa as he has been able to spend time with our community. It has gotten so popular that people are bringing their dogs and cats to meet Santa to tell them their wishes for the holiday season. Some families really enjoy this evening out.”

The department tries to visit all parts of town so people do not have to go far. The ambulance squad drive ahead of Santa and his team so that they can prepare the families at each stop. Also, if anyone is handicapped, sick or disabled, they can call the department in advance and make arrangements for Santa to visit them in their home.

“Many members of the department have put a lot of time in to make this event successful,” Greco said. “From late members like Bryon deRussy, who painted the first set of reindeer to ride on the trucks to Turk Eckert, who played our first Santa. The ‘Santa Around Town’ committee and the Entertainment Committee of the fire department take much time out of their own holiday season to make this event work the way it does. The fire fighters want to make sure that everyone has a good time.”

Many members who participate have appreciated the generosity of the citizens of Hasbrouck Heights, who provide the fire fighters with coffee, hot chocolate, cookies and doughnuts along the route.

“Many people over the years have seen what we go through in the weather to help make this event what it has become and we very much appreciate their thoughtfulness,” Greco added. “It has been the involvement and the participation of the families of Hasbrouck Heights that have made this event grow over the years into the success that it has become. To see all the smiling kids and their families and to see how the event has become part of their holiday traditions makes’ Santa Around Town’ worth all the hard work.”

“We want the people of Hasbrouck Heights know that we are not just here to fight fires and bring people to the hospital. We feel that we have a good relationship with the town and it is our way of giving back during Christmas. It gives Hasbrouck Heights that ‘small town’ feeling.”