Santa Comes to Grand Terrace Early

Santa came to town a little bit early this year to visit the children at Grand Terrace Child Care Center on Thursday night, Dec. 4. Groups of children of all different ages and from all different classes brought their families with them to enjoy holiday snacks, sing Christmas songs and share an exclusive meet and greet with Santa Claus himself. After each class performed a handful of Christmas songs for their parents, which they had been practicing for weeks, the children grabbed Christmas cookies, cupcakes, and other snacks before heading into the break room where Santa was hiding. Little did everyone know, Santa Claus was actually former Grand Terrace Mayor Walt Stanckiewitz and his personal elf helper, his wife Monique. Children were escorted in the break room individually with their parents so they had enough one-on-one time with Santa to tell him what they wanted for Christmas. Santa was sitting on a rocking chair right in front of a large, decorative, festive Christmas tree. After one of the many eager yet happy children told Santa that he wanted a certain video game for Christmas, Santa responded, “Ok I think I can arrange that for you... but you have to listen to your parents before Christmas.” Monique the elf added chuckling, “Well after Christmas too. Always listen to your parents.” Many of the children entered the room surprised and star-struck that they were looking at Santa himself. One family brought in two brothers: the youngest, Grant, walked in and immediately yelled behind to his older brother Luke, “It’s Santa!” They both jolted over and hopped on his lap to share what is on their Christmas list this year. “Now, I really like chocolate chip cookies. So make sure to keep at least one cookie out for me on Christmas Eve for me,” Santa said. As both the boys stared at his long white beard, they replied, “Yes, Santa.” As they started to leave they stopped to give the elf a goodbye hug. Monique handed out candy canes to every child as they left the room. “The kids just go crazy over Santa, it is so great to see them get this excited,” said Linda Phillips, Director of the Grand Terrace Child Care Center.