By George McKinnis, Justice, Village of Bronxville

Dec. 14, 2016:  I spent last Sunday afternoon as the PTA/Chamber of Commerce Santa Claus at Santa Claus's Workshop on Kraft Avenue with many little children who were brought to the workshop by their parents to have a chat with Santa. A very useful and charming team of Bronxville Girl Scouts were Santa's helpers.

Santa's Workshop was well decorated for the holiday. I drove to and from Santa's Workshop in a cabriolet with the top down in full Santa Claus gear, and many cars honked at me and people in the street waived happily. 

Many of the parents would have a family portrait taken with all of their children huddled around Santa Claus. One of the Girl Scout girls would take the picture with the parent's camera or smart phone and the family would leave with all of them beaming. All children received a Christmas candy cane. 

Many children had extensive lists or a recitation of gifts that they wanted for Christmas. I told them that Santa has to deliver in one night presents to millions of children and Santa's North Pole workshop cannot guarantee that every child will get what they ask for but that Santa guarantees that they will receive something that they will like very much and that will be a wonderful surprise, especially if they are good and do what their parents tell them to do. Interestingly, most children of Bronxville parents that I recognized asked for very little. 

When I had a very demanding child on my lap, I would sometimes ask, "What is the best gift that you can imagine?" They would look puzzled and then I would say, "The best gift that you will ever have is when you give something to someone who really needs it." The expression on the child's face was normally puzzled -- we are an acquisitive species. 

One little girl gave me the following crayon-scrawled list, which proves how pervasive national politics has become: 

Dear Santa,

I would like:

- Peace on Earth
- Hillary to be President
- A baby to change diapers
- Stroller for baby
- Toy Kitchen
- Playhouse and slide
- Play food for kitchen
- Books
- Thomas the Train
- Crayons
- Playdough

I also learned that very young boys were bolder to jump on my lap and ask for things than very young girls of two years or younger, many of whom took one look at me and howled in holy terror. Instinct?       

The Girl Scouts and I carried a basket of candy canes as we walked along Pondfield Road and said hello to all the young people we came across. We went into several restaurants and spoke with young people, all of whom wanted Santa's candy cane and to greet Santa, even some serious Sarah Lawrence students who were studying at Slave to the Grind. 

It was a pleasure to be costumed and masked such that I was unrecognizable and for a few hours to be an icon that everyone loved, especially for one who frequently looks out over his judicial bench at a room full of defendants whose expressions make it all too clear that they do not recognize his true Santa Claus.

Pictured here (rotating):  Santa Claus, aka Justice George McKinnis, with Mayor Mary Marvin and Girl Scouts.

Photos by Marlene McKinnis