Community Corner
Santa's Last Stop Before Christmas Eve
With his sleigh parked in front of Culver City Hall, a visit from Santa Claus brought back memories for some and, for others, a chance to make gift requests and photo ops.
During the holidays, Culver City police officers make a special tour around the neighborhood dressed as Santa Claus. A red and green siren is a signature feature of the sleigh on wheels.
The Santa Sleigh, a tradition of the Culver City Police Officers Association, has been taking place for at least 14 years, Detective Robert Garrido told Patch.
After two weeks of touring the local neighborhoods, Santa and his crew of elves made their final stop at Culver City Hall on Sunday evening to the delight of many children.
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Seven-month-old Max Hardy had his first photo with Santa Sunday night. His father Scott Hardy is part of the Culver City Community Emergency Response Team and wanted to come to City Hall for Max's first Santa experience.
"We didn't want to wait in line at the mall," said his wife, also a CERT volunteer with the city. "We wanted to do something different."
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The sleigh is the brainchild of local police officers who volunteer every year to help create the event. A plaque on the sleigh bears the name of Lieutenant Curtis Massey, a 17-year-veteran with the police force who died in 2009 in a head-on collision on the 10 Freeway. From checking the tires or putting on a fresh red coat of paint, "he helped prepare this and get it all fancy," said his mother Padric Massey of Santa Barbara, who made the trek to City Hall Sunday with Massey's wife and three children.
"My husband never missed a year [of Santa Sleigh] even when we had babies," said his widow, Melody Massey.
Detective Roy Lopez, dressed as Santa, said he liked bringing joy to children especially in these tough economic times. His mother said, "It makes me happy to see my son give his heart to the kids in the community."
One little boy who saw Santa earlier on tour but missed the chance to meet with him finally caught up with him at City Hall. While the Nintendo DS and American Girl dolls are among the most requested items this year, his mother said he wanted a iPad.
"But I told him Santa would go broke," she said.
Holding a new Hot Wheels car given to him by elves, he seemed content after he made his personal request to the man who would be dropping off a gift at his house on Christmas Eve.
Others wanted the impossible. Four-year-old Brisais Garrido was among them. She said wanted a dinosaur, specifically a Brachiosaurus.
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