76. Santa brings toys for tots to NSB via train

 

Videos produced by Sera Frederick / Dylan Mathewson, 4, and his 2-year-old brother, Tyler, meet Santa on during the Florida East Coast Railway's annual Toys for Tots trek from Jacksonville to Miami with stops along the way, including this one in New Smyrna Beach. Below, James Hertwig, president of FEC and dressed as Santa, poses with 6-year-old Nakya Jones of New Smyrna Beach.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Six-year-old Nakya Jones is wise enough to know the real Santa Claus rides a sleigh when he comes to town. The so-called Santa she saw Saturday came to town in a train.

"I know he isn't the real one because that's not what Santa looks like and he doesn't have any reindeers," the New Smyrna Beach girl said, after sitting on Santa'a lap and receiving a small stuffed teddy bear, with her grandma taking pictures for the special occasion.

And the little girl was right. This Santa is really Florida East Coast Railway President James Hertwig, who along with wife, Debbie, and several of his employees, served as volunteers in delivering Toys for Tots presents for several thousand children during a daylong trek Saturday from Jacksonville to Miami, with stops along the way, including St. Augustine, New Smyrna Beach, City Point, Fort Pierce, West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale.

The story comes in at No. 76 on the countdown of Headline Surfer's top 100 local storis of 2012.

Don and Kim Sullivan, who live on the beachside, brought their granddaughters Marli, 7, and Reese, 4, both wearing candy cane-colored dresses for the occasion.

"This is awesome," the grandfather said.  

Merli and Reese Sullivan tell Santa what they want at train stop in NSB.Toys are stacked up for delivery during FEC train stop in New Smyrna Beach.Headline Surfer photos by Henry Frederick / Marli Sullivan, 7, sits on Santa's lap while kid sister, Reese, 4, sits with Santa's wife, in matching candy cane dresses while grandparents Don and Kim Sullivan who live on the beachside, snapped as many photos as they could. Though toys were delivered for needy children throughout Southeast Volusia, every child who wanted to see Santa got the chance and a teddy bear, too. The Toys for Tots presents were loaded into a truck as shown here by a host of volunteers for delivery near Christmas by volunteers with the Edgewater-based Gifts of Love program while Santa entertained the little ones.

The Sullivans were among a few hundred people -- adults and children alike -- who attended the mid-morning whistle stop near the railroad crossing on West Canal Street just west of US 1.

It was here where hundreds of toys were unloaded from the train and into a large truck by volunteers from the Edgewater-based Gifts of Love who will distribute the Toys for Tots presents to needy children throughout Southeast Volusia.

The train stop program is promoted locally by Flare Elliott, a Canal Street merchant, who took countless photos of little ones with Santa. 

Big crowd for Toys for Tot train rin in Nrw Smyrna BeachDJ Big Tom at Christmas train stop in NSB.DJ Big Tom entertains the crowd with holiday tunes while Santa does his thing at the FEC Toys for Tots train stop in New Smyrna Beach. Santa is really FEC president and CEO James Hertwig and Mrs. Claus is his wife, Debbie.

While volunteers unloaded more than 600 presents from the train, Santa played host to the children, ranging from infants to even a few pre-teens, who preferred to stand by Santa's side for a few pictures.

Each of the children received a little stuffed bear while Santa queried little ones who were old enough to understand the question as to what they wanted for Christmas: The younger the child the more simplistic answer like a doll or a toy truck. Those 7 and up were pretty clear on wanting electronics -- games and gadgets to play them on.

Among the last children to see Santa before he hopped back on the train for his next stop were Dylan Mathewson, 4, and his brother, Tyler, 2. 

Dylan Mathewson, 4, of Daytona Beach, meets Santa in New Smyrna Beach.Tyler Mathewson, 2, of Daytona, meets Santa in NSB.Dylan Mathewson, 4, shown at far left, and his 2-year-old kid brother, Tyler, meet Santa.

Their grandmother, Denise Datillio, was frustrated that she couldn't get the camera on her phone to work in the precious time left for shots of the grandkids. But Headline Surfer told the Daytona Beach grandma not to worry as she would have an early Christmas present of her own.

The 24/7 Internet newspaper already had shot video of the boys and informed Datillio their precious time with Santa would be showcased at the top of the story in their own video, which put a big smile on her face. 

Top 100 Countdown Recap:

76. Santa brings toys for tots to NSB via train
77. Ocassional NSB resident Johnny Damon signs with Cleveland Indians
78. NSBHS students of driving age learn importance of organ donation
79. Edgewater man killed after being struck by train while throwing rocks at it
80. County Council breaks bread with Daytona Area Chamber of Commerce
81. Body of 55-year-old DeBary man found in charred remains of home
82. Crossdresser rebuffed in trying to rob Deltona pharmacy of pills
83. Deltona pit bull 'Snoopy' back home
84. Ormond Beach cops: Man driving upwards of 150 mph in Lamborghini killed on US 1
85. NSB cops: Motorist arrested on fourth DUI charge
86. Postal truck becomes engulfed in flames in Edgewater, but mail salvaged
87. New Smyrna Beach Finance Dept. wins national award
88. Sad irony: Elderly man drowns in river named for death
89. NSB Fire Chief Dave McAllister among community award winners by Volusia League of Cities
90. Unlicensed 17-year-old Orange City boy runs over and kills 84-year-old woman in Deltona shopping plaza
91. NSB City Clerk Johnny Bledsoe gets new contract; 20 weeks compensation if canned
92. Votran bus operator drives 2 million miles on Volusia County roads without an accident
93. Jason McGuirk gets Jim Hathaway's seat on NSB commission
94. Holly Hill woman calls in bomb threat at work forcing evacuation of 300; tells cops she was bored
95. Sheriff holds open house in Oak Hill six months after taking over law enforcement duties
96. Audio: Cop pursuit in New Smyrna Beach with speeds clocked at 100 mph-plus ends with stop sticks
97. Ponce Inlet Councilman Joseph Perrone holds onto his seat by one vote
98. Edgewater's Tia McDonald featured in book while visiting Australia
99. Gene Emter wins Edgewater City Council seat by 12-vote margin in special election Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/410884-99-gene-emter-wins-edgewater-city-council-seat-12-vote-margin-special-election
100. Chip Ganassi cars finish 1-2 in Rolex at Daytona
Headline Surfer is the 24/7 Internet newspaper in New Smyrna Beach covering Volusia County and beyond accessed for free via HeadlineSurfer.com, NSBNews.net and VolusiaNews.net. Headline Surfer is a registered trademark.
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