Hasbrouck Heights Fire Department welcomes Santa at Annual 'Santa Around Town'

The signs are showing that the holidays are fast approaching. With the weather getting cooler, the start of the school year and the department stores decorating themselves for holidays months away. With the start of the Christmas season soon to be in full swing, the town looks forward to the Hasbrouck Heights Fire Department’s Annual ‘Santa Around Town’, one of the big events that kick off the holiday season in Hasbrouck Heights. ‘Santa Around Town’ was created over 30 years ago. A fire fighter who has been heavily involved with Santa Around Town for the last seven years as Chairman of the Santa Around Town Committee is former Chief Chris Semenecz. Chief Semenecz is a 27 year veteran of the department, former Chief and an active member, treasurer and mechanic of Engine One. Chief Semenecz was recently elected as a Councilman in town was born and raised in Hasbrouck Heights, the son of Elizabeth and the late Joseph Semenecz and lives in town with his wife, Jayne. Chief Semenecz’s mother and sister, Colleen still live in town. He is the owner of Midair car service. “Santa Around Town has been great tradition in the fire department,” says former Chief Chris Semenecz. “It’s more of a gift to Santa as he has been able to send 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 has nine stops on both sides of town now adding two new stops to make it easier for the community. We want to try to visit all parts of town so that people do not have to go far. We have our Ambulance Squad drive ahead of Santa and his team so that they can prepare the families at each stop. We make double sure we have plenty of candy canes for everyone. 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. It’s our way of making the event special for people in Hasbrouck Heights. The Hasbrouck Heights Fire Department takes a lot of pride in that we have never had to cancel the event due to weather. Many members of the department have put a lot of time in to make this event successful. 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. “I have a very strong connection with Santa,” Chief Semenecz confided, “and we like to be sure that he arrives safely in Hasbrouck Heights. I always appreciate the volunteer ‘elves’ that make the event successful. They make sure that Santa has plenty of candy canes to give the children and make sure the coffee is hot on his long trip around Hasbrouck Heights.” Chief Semenecz admits it’s been hard on Santa in recent years. “We have some children who confide in Santa to make a family member better or help them get a job. Many people have a real connection with Santa. Sometimes when we see people with skeptical looks in their eyes, you have to remind them that Santa is also a state of mind. It is the giving and receiving and the well-wishes during the holidays that makes Santa who he is today.” 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. 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. “To see the look in a child’s eyes when they first see Santa arriving makes the event well worth it,” Chief Semenecz said. “Santa gets lots of hugs and well wishes from family members of all ages. It’s the fact that you can give back in a positive way to your community is what Christmas is all about.”