Justice George McKinnis Plays Santa; Learn Kids' Requests
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
Government & History Directory
Bronxville is a quaint village (one square mile) located just 16 miles north of midtown Manhattan (roughly 30 minutes on the train) and has a population of approximately 6,500. It is known as a premier community with an excellent public school (K-12) and easy access to Manhattan. Bronxville offers many amenities including an attractive business district, a hospital (Lawrence Hospital), public paddle and tennis courts, fine dining at local restaurants, two private country clubs and a community library.
While the earliest settlers of Bronxville date back to the first half of the 18th century, the history of the modern suburb of Bronxville began in 1890 when William Van Duzer Lawrence purchased a farm and commissioned the architect, William A. Bates, to design a planned community of houses for well-known artists and professionals that became a thriving art colony. This community, now called Lawrence Park, is listed on the National register of Historic Places and many of the homes still have artists’ studios. A neighborhood association within Lawrence Park called “The Hilltop Association” keeps this heritage alive with art shows and other events for neighbors.
Bronxville offers many charming neighborhoods as well as a variety of living options for residents including single family homes, town houses, cooperatives and condominiums. One of the chief benefits of living in “the village” is that your children can attend the Bronxville School.
The Bronxville postal zone (10708, known as “Bronxville PO”) includes the village of Bronxville as well as the Chester Heights section of Eastchester, parts of Tuckahoe and the Lawrence Park West, Cedar Knolls, Armour Villa and Longvale sections of Yonkers. Many of these areas have their own distinct character. For instance, the Armour Villa section has many historic homes and even has its own newsletter called “The Villa Voice” which reports on neighborhood news.
Link to Village of Bronxville One Square Mile Monthly Newsletter
Village of Bronxville Administrative Offices
337-6500
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Bronxville Police Department
337-0500
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Bronxville Fire Deparment
793-6400
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