Residents of Valatie in Upstate New York take pride in their Santa Club tradition
This article first appeared in the December issue of The Family Beat, Berkshire County's free family monthly newspaper.
Tucked within the rolling hills of Columbia County, New York lies Valatie (vah-LAY-shuh), a village where tradition runs strong. Considering the happiness and smiles the Valatie Santa Claus Club brings, that's a good thing.
Every Christmas, in Valatie, the sons, grandsons and nephews of World War II soldiers gather and continue the work started by their fathers, grandfathers and uncles. In 1945 Valatie veterans returning from the war were concerned that the needy local children would be getting little or nothing for Christmas in the post-war economy. The mills drove the local economy, and millwork was dying out. The holiday looked bleak in the village.
The story goes that four soldier vets were in a local tavern listening to the bartender tell a story about a child next door dying of leukemia. The soldiers immediately went out and bought a doll from the local five & dime store. As one man dressed up as Santa Claus, the others watched as Santa gave the doll to the elated little girl. Watching her reaction gave them the inspiration to do the same for every child in town. And in doing so, a legacy was born.
The Valatie Santa Claus Club prides itself as the first club of its kind in the nation, the seed of an idea that has inspired others to form. In the words of one member the club is "often imitated, but never copied." The villagers in Valatie in 1946 were so appreciative of the efforts that support grew into a work supported by the entire village that continues to this day.
In a short time, reportedly by 1947, every single child in Valatie was receiving a gift and a visit from Santa on Christmas Eve. For almost 60 years, the club has given Christmas presents to each and every child in the entire village of Valatie. Members make a great effort, beginning in November, updating records for a complete and accurate census of every village child by name. Originally the members themselves funded the club out of their own pockets.
It now depends on donations and raffles to raise the money needed to keep Santa giving annual gifts to the village children. Last year the club spent approximately $8,000 on toys and stocking stuffers. Children receive stockings with treats such as Cracker Jacks, fruit, a book or toy and sometimes a toothbrush, all suitable for their ages. Fifty-five years ago, a piece of fruit was considered a special delicacy in the winter, and so, according to tradition, children still receive a healthy orange or an apple. Also in accordance to tradition, on Christmas Eve, Santa arrives on a horse-drawn sleigh to begin the special holiday in the village. Of course, since all children then believe that Santa lives in Valatie, many letters are received at the Valatie Post Office addressed to "Santa, Valatie, New York." A special mailbox is always set up at the Valatie Post Office by late November especially for these letters. A member of the club tries to make sure that either the wish is granted or the letter answered.
This year, just like every year, the spirit of Christmas will be handed down through the generations. The same men who received presents themselves as children and have fond memories of the village Santa from their own childhood, will load their cars, SUVs and mini-vans with presents. They will deliver them for Santa and gather for the holiday festivities on Christmas Eve. Santa will arrive at the Village of Valatie Park Gazebo on December 24 at 2:00 PM to meet the children. At 4 p.m. the Santa Parade begins at Valatie Rescue and proceeds through the town with the fire truck leading the parade and with Santa pulled on his sleigh to the tune of Gene Autry's "Here Comes Santa Claus." After the parade, Santa distributes gifts on a house-by-house basis throughout the village until his "route" is complete and every child in Valatie feels special.
Valatie seems to have an almost magical connection to Santa Claus. In 1897 an eight year old girl named Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to The New York Sun, the paper that her parents usually read, asking if there really was a Santa Claus. The Sun responded with the famous editorial that has been published again and again over the years, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus."
Little Virginia grew up to become a teacher in the New York City school system for 47 years. She spent her retired days in Valatie, and in May of 1971, Virginia O'Hanlon Douglas died at the age of 81 in a nursing facility in Valatie, New York. How fitting that the little girl who inspired the column that has been printed each holiday season many times over and that has touched so many lives, ended up in the very village where the true spirit of Christmas lives on within the hearts of its villagers.
Valatie is located in Columbia County, off Routes 203 and 9 in the town of Kinderhook.
The Valatie Village Square Park gazebo is located across from Martin H. Glynn School on Church Street, one block north of Main Street in Valatie.
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Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.
Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.
The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.
Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.
Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.
Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.
Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.
The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.
The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.
Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.
Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years.
He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.
Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.
Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.
Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.
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