Manhasset Memoirs

I often think of my pal, John Gambling, the WOR radio host of years ago at this time of year. We both lived in Munsey Park. He was a member of the village board and called me to a special meeting at the mayor’s home. A Santa suit package had arrived and was opened. The board wanted to see if it fit me. The suit fit perfectly with a pillow tied around my belly. The hat with beard attached looked great. I pulled up the boots and was almost ready to go when one of the ladies took me aside and rubbed my cheeks and nose with a dose of rouge. That was a finishing touch. One of the residents in Munsey Park, who owned an auto dealership, provided a convertible with sound system to play Christmas Carols for the ride through the village of the site where Santa would greet the children with a small gift. We hoped every child in our village would join our cavalcade and meet Santa under the huge Christmas tree of beautiful, blazing lights.
My daughter, Wendy, was six years old; she came with friends to see Santa. Her friends were surprised when Santa greeted them by name. After the line of children vanished, our convertible took us to the home of a bedridden youngster to deliver a little gift of good cheer. For the two succeeding years we again did the “Santa visit”but instead of a convertible auto, a fire engine led the cavalcade to the point on Bellows Lane where Christmas joy took place. If you have never taken that exit to Bellows Lane off Manhasset Woods Road, I suggest you do it some day. It’s not the Grand Canyon—but close. To sum up, I have never seen our beloved Manhasset so beautifully gleaming with Christmas lights.
Bob Lubbers