By JUDY RATTNER
Sixty volunteers and 50 paid staff members served approximately 3,500 pancakes, five different kinds of cereal, rolls, bagels, juice, milk and coffee to the multigenerational groups of friends and families who filled the 40 tables set to accommodate up to 400 people at each of the event's three seatings.
Santa himself was there, as Rockville Centre Fire Department Chief Mike Lapkowski, in full Santa gear, listened to the hopes and dreams of countless children who sat on his knees, telling him what they'd like Santa to bring them for Christmas, while loved ones snapped photos. The Wii interactive video system topped the list for a second year as the most requested gift, but at least one of the requests, the best one he heard, said Lapkowski, was for peace on earth. Debbie Knoch, a.k.a. Mrs. Claus, was on hand to assist him with his duties.
"It's a great thing that Mr. B and his staff do," said Dan O'Connor, who teaches cartooning every Saturday morning at the Rec Center. O'Connor, who was on hand to help with food and drink distribution for the seventh year, added that "they had so many kids who wanted to volunteer, they had to turn some away."
In addition to chatting with Santa, visitors to the event also had the opportunity to deliver a written request for presents in a mailbox ready to receive Letters to Santa, storytelling by a fireplace with a flickering yule log and a large roll around area in the gym where kids could run around safely, perhaps working off the sugar from their meal. Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer mingled with the visitors. And new this year was face painting by Michelle Wettstein, a local resident who is a makeup artist for Cirque du Soleil.
In addition to the Pantry Diner, other area businesses who donated items or services included Brower Avenue Cleaners who cleaned costumes, hats and vests for staff, King Kullen and Associated grocery store and Danny Nasta.
"[I'd like to thank] the community that supports something like this when there's a turnout of so many people," said Parks and Recreation Center director Tony Brunetta. "It's a family event. It's a good thing when so many generations can get together at one table. [I'd also like to make] a general thank you to all our young volunteers who come forward and do such a great job in servicing the people. And I want to thank my staff who put in numerous hours putting all this together - it's so big - and after everyone leaves they clean up and put it away, with dispatch and pride. They feel so good just being a part of something so good. I'd also like to specially thank Ginger Creegan who does the decorating," he added.
