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November 20, 2008

Santa Night to raise cheer, funds for charity

By KEVIN COUTURE

PLATTSBURGH — In more than a dozen cities this holiday season, men and women will dress as Santa's elves, board buses and sing — maybe a little off-tune — for Santa Night.

In Plattsburgh on Friday, Dec. 12, about 40 people will be chauffeured in two limousine buses donated by Ground Force to about 20 Plattsburgh restaurants and taverns.

To raise money for the Clinton County Christmas Bureau, the group will sing two or three Christmas songs, collect donations from the restaurant patrons, get back on the buses and do it again at the next place.

Chris Huchro, who started Santa Night in Plattsburgh in 2000, said his involvement in the event happened purely by chance.

"I was on my way to Vermont for a meeting, and I was listening to a radio station, and one of the guys that was on the radio program who was talking about Santa Night was going to be at the meeting. So I asked him about Santa Night."

Two days later, Huchro was sold on the idea of a Plattsburgh Santa Night.

Maureen Carlo, who works closely with Huchro on the project, explained that all the money goes to the Christmas Bureau, and most of it is raised before the people even get on the buses.

Individuals go out and collect pledges from people and corporate donations.

Carlo explained that Alice Heckard of the Christmas Bureau makes a wish list, and she and others go shopping for the children after the event.

Getting people involved in Santa Night isn't difficult, she said.

"I have found that once you do Santa Night, you fall in love with it for what it does for the community. All you have to do is tell your friends about Santa Night and how people are eagerly giving. It doesn't seem like work."

Last year, many local artists recorded "Santa Night: the CD." This year, volume 2 will be released, and a reprint of volume 1 will also be available.

Corporate sponsorship is available until this Friday. Businesses wishing to participate may call Tyler Spiegel or Huchro at 561-9674. Businesses will have their logos printed on the Santa Night posters.

People who want to join the bus of singers may call that same number for information.

"The goal of Santa Night is to help less fortunate families in the North Country, with an emphasis on families with little children, to make sure that Christmas comes to their home on Christmas morning," Huchro said.

E-mail Kevin Couture at: kcountry@primelink1.net

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