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(photos by Dale Smith). To loud cheers and whistles, Santa Claus disembarks the Florida East Coast "Christmas Train" in New Smyrna Beach on Saturday morning and is swarmed by parents and children alike. In the smaller photo, Jazmine, 5, Jayden, 2, and Myron, 4, children of Jessica Dubois of New Smyrna Beach, wait for Santa's arrival.
Editor's note: The following story was submitted by contributing writer Dale Smith:
NEW SMYRNA BEACH – A preview of what’s to come this Christmas was played out Saturday morning when several hundred families with wide-eyed and fidgety children in tow excitedly welcomed Santa Claus during a brief stop here.
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In the far left photo, Flare Elliott, local merchant and ardent supporter of train travel and Amtrak’s bid to locate a stop in New Smyrna Beach, greets Santa Claus, aka, Jim Hertwig, president and CEO of Florida East Coast Railway . Elves on the FEC Christmas Train unload boxes of toys destined for distribution in communities where the train stopped, including the tracks at Canal Street and U.S. 1 in New Smyrna Beach.
The jolly old elf, along with Mrs. Claus and a bevy of helpers traveled in style as part of Florida East Coast Railway’s Toys for Tots Christmas Train jaunt from Jacksonville to Miami. The train made eight stops down the east coast, including New Smyrna Beach, delivering toys for children in each of the communities through the auspices of the Toys for Tots organization.
Andy Wilbert, Jr., Volusia County coordinator and representing the Marine Corps, helped unload and then reload box after box of toys onto pickup trucks destined for Edgewater’s Gifts of Love Food Bank organization.
Marilyn Bader, director of Gifts of Love, said more than 800 Southeast Volusia families have already registered for the train-shipped toys for their children this Christmas. She said the toys would be handed out next weekend in Edgewater.
Newcomers to New Smyrna Beach, Jessica Dubois and her three children turned out for the big event Saturday.
“They have been so excited to see Santa,” the mother said, said talking about her children, Jazmine, 5, Jayden, 2, and Myron, 4, all sat on the car hood, sipping chocolate milk and waiting for the big arrivalc.Asked why they were there with their mom, Jazmine said, “Santa’s coming.”
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After about a half hour stopover in New Smyrna Beach, Mr. and Mrs. Claus wave to the crowd to say good-bye as they prepare to travel to their next stop enroute from Jacksonville to Miami.Andy Wilbert Jr., Volusia County coordinator for Toys for Tots and representing the Marine Corps, talks with FEC’s Bonnie Hatfield who served as one of the elves giving out balloons to children. Toys in boxes are loaded into the backs of pick-up trucks for local distribution.
Like the Dubois family, dozens of families lined the FEC rail yard anticipating Old St. Nick’s arrival.
Right on schedule, the freight train engine rumbled to a crawl and with a toot of the air horn, Santa’s elves and helpers streamed off the train with hundreds of colorful balloons for the children.
Finally, Mrs. Claus disembarked followed by Santa himself. Cameras snapped, children reached for the balloons and Mr. and Mrs. Claus scooped up the children for official Santa portraits.
Even the adults got into the picture with Santa. FEC president and chief operating officer Jim Hertwig and his wife, Deb, participated in the Christmas train ride. Though they didn’t identify themselves by wearing corporate attire or name badges, the Hertwigs were front and center as Mr. and Mrs. Claus.
FAST FACTS
- Gifts of Love will distribute the toys for needy families 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 1180 North Ridgewood Ave., Edgewater.
- More than 800 pre-registered families will receive free toys.
- FEC is a regional freight railroad extending 351 miles between Jacksonville and Miami.
About the contributing writer:
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Dale Smith is a resident of New Smyrna Beach, who has reported on local news in Volusia County since October 2009. His writing background includes a mix of journalism and public relations in several community newspapers and a p.r. firm in northern Virginia. He attended Barton Academy in Barton, Vt., and the Cambridge (Mass.) School of Broadcasting for radio & TV broadcasting.