A one-on-one talk with Santa Claus

Santa shares a few secrets about his upcoming holiday journey to Jamesburg and Monroe.

By: Leon Tovey
   He’s making a list, checking it twice, and as it turns out, the girls, boys and elected officials of Jamesburg and Monroe have been very, very nice this year.
   Since Dec. 4, Santa Claus has put in more than half-a-dozen appearances at Christmas tree-lighting ceremonies, pancake breakfasts and holiday parties in the three towns, and rumor has it, he’s not done yet.
   The Cranbury Press caught up with Jolly Old St. Nick during the Police Benevolent Association Local 255’s annual Lunch With Santa event at the Monroe Township First Aid building Dec. 11, where he was seen leading local children (and a few Monroe police officers) in the chicken dance and munching on some pasta and chicken from the Cambridge Inn.
   "Ho, ho!" Santa said when asked about the attention he’s lavished on the borough and townships this year.
   "Well, everyone’s been very good this year — keeping us busy up there at the North Pole — so I figured I’d better get started early."
   Santa said he’s been particularly impressed with the good behavior of local children as Christmas draws near — a time, he said, when children generally tend to "get a little funny."
   Santa also said he’s quite enjoyed the reception he’s received at his appearances and hinted that he might have to make the early visits a regular thing — even though it would mean leaving his second elf in charge at the North Pole more often.
   "But he’s a good elf," Santa said. "He’s ready for the responsibility."
   Santa said the only problem he’s had with his early visits is transportation.
   "It’s been hard to get clearance to land the reindeer and the sleigh in town," he said. "So I’ve had to land outside of town and ride in on the back of firetrucks and trains and things."
   Assemblyman Bill Baroni, a close friend of Santa Claus, blamed the transportation difficulty on the area’s location under the flight paths into and out of Newark’s Liberty International Airport.
   "Santa has worldwide flight clearance on Christmas Eve, but in the weeks leading up to the holiday, people have to get places," said Mr. Baroni, whose district includes Jamesburg and Monroe. "Fortunately, we do have other transportation options."
   Mr. Baroni said he’s grateful for Santa’s frequent early visits and agreed with the Jolly Old Elf that residents had been very good this year. He pointed to the generosity of local residents who have helped in his effort to collect gift baskets for U.S. troops serving overseas.
   "People have been very generous," said Mr. Baroni, who has served as an "acting Santa" at local events in the past. "I’ve gotten so much stuff — I no longer have an office."
   Santa, who knows when you are sleeping and knows when you’re awake, said the generosity of Mr. Baroni and other local elected officials had not slipped his attention either.
   "They’ve all been very good this year too," he said. "I foresee very few lumps of coal this year."
   St. Nick will make his last big public appearance in the area prior to the holiday, Saturday in Jamesburg, touring the borough on the back of a firetruck and handing out candy canes throughout the day.