New Haven Independent

The sleigh arrival will occur later next month, but only if you’re not naughty and read to the end of this article —

Thousands of people, many remarkably under three feet in height, had begun to gather as early as 4 p.m. for the event on Thursday. Kids like five-year old Takuma Muto, who got himself a ride on battery-powered Mr. Moose, accompanied by Mr. Moose’s creator Bob Myer of Safari Bob’s of Wallingford. Mr. Polar Bear and Ms Reindeer are rounding the far turn, on a delightful track set up around the historic World War One flagpole. So hold on to those antlers, Takuma!

The Unity Boys Choir, and groups from Cooperative Arts High School, Career High, New Haven Ballet’s Nutcracker cast provided entertainment. But by far the biggest line was forming at the Santa house.

Santa arrived about 30 minutes late at 6 and had to leave by 7. (One Scroogey wag on line wondered if the elves had unionized.) So it was to that modest abode that Acampora quickly made his way to begin the fine business of granting wishes.

A letter carrier in his other profession, and so a natural Santa by training, Acampora was not nervous at all. Even he might have been though, since he was taking the place of the much beloved Stephen Papa, who had been New Haven’s Santa on the Green for 59 years (and needed no artificial beard).

Last year Papa, 90, broke his leg. Acampora, a man with excellent Santa cred from West Haven, took his place. Acampora said he got into the Santa spirit not only because he loves kids’ smiles, but because he’s a big guy and the family prevailed on him, and then the neighborhood, and then the big time. Take one Jewish reporter’s Santa assessment: he’s a really good Santa because on Christmas morning this fellow, having delivered the goods, will be visiting the kids in the children’s psychiatric floor at St. Raphael’s.

Thursday night he granted Samuel Galizza’s wish for some Pokemon item, and three-month old Nicolas Blanco’s wish for good health, translated by his mother Morelia. The Blancos are from Venezuela; the dad is an internist at St. Raphael’s. Morelia said they were enjoying the Santa-esque public displays, much different from the Baby Jesus displays in the more Catholic public squares of her native Caracas.

Meanwhile, Santa was being urged to cut the conversations short in order to grant as many wishes as possible. That was difficult; Acampora struck this reporter as an earnest and candid Santa who enjoyed making connections with each little human placed on his knee. Four-year-old Caitlin Diaz (pictured below), for example, couldn’t decide between wanting a Hannah Montana or a Baby Wets and Wiggles. It was a tough call for Santa too; the mom lobbied for Wiggles.

Here’s a list randomly chosen of requests discretely overheard and, naturally, granted: One little girl asked for a cat that walks and talks, but Acampora wasn’t sure if that meant a live cat or not. A boy named Josh considered himself too big to sit on Santa’s knee, but Santa said you’re never too old to believe. One kid couldn’t decide, so Santa said to send a list, and include a sandwich, preferably reindeer, because wish-granting builds an appetite.

There were requests for dolls granted; trains, a new DVD player; a Barbie phone, a bike, Legos, and a real horse. A kid with a long list ended by asking Santa for a Diego. “A what?” said Acampora. Not even the dad knew.

Everyone, short and regular-sized thanked Santa on the way out the door, which was opened by curly-shoed elves. One dad whispered to Santa, as he left, “A flat screen TV, please. Very large.”

“No problem,” said Acampora. “You got it.”

Although Santa would not admit to any nervousness or pressure, he did reveal that last year one child had pointed out that he was wearing inappropriate boots — something like engineer’s footwear. This year Santa was definitely styling, from the tassel of his cap down to his shining boot toes.

Outside, a young adult, 20-year-old Laura Dalton (on left in photo) of New Haven, was asked if she were young enough to sit on Santa’s lap again, what would her wish be. She did not hesitate: “I have three friends overseas,” she said. “One in the Air Force and two in the Army. All in Baghdad. My wish would be for the war in Iraq to be over, instantly.”

Could this fine new Santa grant that? We can only wait and see. In the meantime, shortly after his arrival, and to the delight of everyone, the large Norway spruce was illuminated at the center of the Green.

This festive event was organized by the New Haven Office of Cultural Affairs, the Department of Parks, Recreation & Trees, and the main sponsor, AT&T.