‘Santa’ visits Howard Beach

Even with the thick beard and glasses, Santa Claus bore a strange resemblance to Councilmember Joseph Addabbo during a meet-and-greet at Ozone-Howard Little League on Saturday, December 15. To hundreds of local tots excited to have their picture taken with St. Nick, however, there was no doubt that the man asking cheerfully what they wanted for Christmas was the real, true Santa Claus.
The session with Santa was organized by Howard Kamph, President of the Ozone Park Civic Association, who said this year’s event yielded his biggest turnout since he started three years ago.
“I was too lazy to make coffee, but we brought cookies and juice,” said Kamph, pointing to a table once filled with what used to be Oreos, now reduced to crumbs.
On the other side of the room, a table of toys provided distraction for the hoards of youngsters waiting online to see Santa. Kamph provided the toys, as well - plastic flutes, boxes of crayons, and wooden paddles with rubber balls attached by a string. If you were a child present at the event, all of these items were yours for the taking - at absolutely no cost to your parents.
“I don’t ask for any money or donations or anything. The only charge I’m hoping people pay is the $10 a year to join the [Ozone Park Civic] Association,” Kamph quipped.
Camera flashes lit the room brighter than the Howard Beach Christmas tree as parents captured the moment for their photo albums, but even those without cameras had access to photos, thanks to the Polaroids provided by an assistant to Addabbo.
The kids seemed to love it.
“I didn’t tell Santa this, but I want a Barbie dream house,” said six-year-old Zeina Briones after having her picture taken with her brother Brandon, 4, and sister Kateleen, 3.
Along the same lines, three-year-old Giovanna Ariola said she wanted a Barbie car.
“I want to drive my cousins around in the car,” she said.
Anthony Gurino, 3, a huge Spiderman fan, said he wanted action figures of most of the legendary comic book’s main characters.
“I want the New Goblin, and Spiderman, and Sandman, and Venom,” said Gurino.
Addabbo, himself the father of two young children, said he enjoys the yearly tradition of playing Santa for a day. The Councilmember recalled a story from last year’s event that, according to him, sums up the spirit behind the affair.
“We were just about done, and I was changing, and as I’m looking out the window, I see one last girl and her mom coming up the walkway,” said Addabbo. “She was totally decked out in Christmas gear and had a huge smile on her face. I said, ‘Well, I gotta get the suit back on and go back out there.’”
This year, however, there were no last-minute stragglers, and the politician-turned-Christmas icon had a schedule to keep.
“It was a lot of fun, and it always is,” Addabbo said. “But now Santa’s gotta change.”