Santa and Friends Bring Holiday Cheer to BOCES Students

Santa came to town early this year and he brought a whole bunch of his friends. Students at the Pines Bridge and Walden Schools on the campus of Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES were treated to a visit by Santa, who arrived this week with a number of costumed characters, including Elmo, Dora the Explorer and Winnie the Pooh.

The Yorktown Lions Club has organized the visit for the past 17 years. Al Avitabile, Lions Club vice president, recalled the first time his group visited the Pines Bridge School: “We were so emotionally impacted by the kids, as well as the wonderful teachers and staff members who work with them, that we made the decision to have the teachers make classroom wish lists each year and we would do our best to fill them.” This year the Lions donated gift cards and merchandise totaling $1,525.

Students took turns sitting with Santa, visiting with the assorted characters and enjoying ice cream treats brought by the Lions. “This is a wonderful event for our students,” said Pines Bridge Principal Bob Kelderhouse. “We look forward to it every year.”