US Coast Guard Cutter SPAR conducts outreach with residents of Old Harbor, Alaska

Santa gives a present to a student in Old Harbor, Alaska, Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012. The Coast Guard Cutter SPAR delivers Santa and his elves to Old Harbor annually and prior to the SPAR the now decommissioned Coast Guard Cutter Firebush delivered Santa to Old Harbor. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Klingenberg.

KODIAK, Alaska — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter SPAR brought Santa Clause, presents and a career fair to residents and students of Old Harbor, Alaska Dec. 4.

As part of the annual Santa to the Villages event, crewmembers aboard the SPAR, along with Santa Clause and his elves, carried clothing, books and other presents through the village of Old Harbor where they were greeted by children and parents in the Old Harbor High School gymnasium.

“Bringing Santa to the Village of Old Harbor is a great way to continue the tradition of Coast Guard cutters, and previously Revenue Service cutters, visiting and delivering supplies to Alaskan villages,” said Lt. Gordon Hood, executive officer aboard the Coast Guard Cutter SPAR. “There's nothing like an early visit from the Santa himself to bring holiday cheer.”

During the gift-giving event, the children of Old Harbor were called up by age,  and one-by-one they sat on Santa’s lap to receive a wrapped present. Then they chose one book and a set of hand-knitted scarves, hats and mittens with the elves.

“Every year, the crew of the SPAR brings a sense of unity to the community of Old Harbor, as well as the Christmas spirit for the children and families,” said Jim Cedeo, the Old Harbor public safety officer. “When the SPAR comes through, it really is a big cornerstone of our holiday season.”

The crew of the SPAR also hosted a career fair aboard the cutter for middle school and high school students. The crew established different stations aboard the cutter where students learned about the Coast Guard’s roles, missions and careers along with vocational opportunities outside of the village. The vocations discussed included becoming a welder, an electrician, a mechanic and a nursing assistant.

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter SPAR marches with Santa, elves and presents through the village of Old Harbor, Alaska, Tuesday, Dec. 04, 2012.   U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Klingenberg.

“We do all of these jobs and more aboard the ship and we're able to offer insight about vocations that are available both in the Coast Guard and in the civilian workforce,” said Hood.

“The kids are still talking about what they saw aboard the ship,” said Cedeo. “It is good that they can see something else outside of the village, something that they can see as a future career field. It really is a wonderful thing, and it gives them hope.”

The crew of the SPAR crew has been involved in the Santa to the Villages trips since 2003.

NORAD Gears Up to Track Santa

Every year on Christmas Eve, Santa leaves the North Pole and travels across the world to deliver gifts to homes where there are children who believe in him. Here’s information to help you find out where Santa and his sleigh are throughout the night:

• Santa is tracked by satellites, just like a rocket in space is. The satellites pick up the heat from Rudolph’s nose to find out where Santa and his sleigh are throughout Christmas Eve.
• Santa Cameras are placed all over the world so you can see pictures and videos of Santa in different countries at any time at www.noradsanta.org
• United States jet fighters welcome Santa into North America and fly with him across the country, getting even more information about where he is as he delivers gifts.
• Santa arrives at houses only when you are asleep. If you are still awake, he will come back later once you have gone to bed.

Have fun tracking Santa this Christmas, and share the fun with your siblings and friends.

Rockland's Trap Tree Lighting Ceremony

Rockland, Maine - On a clear Friday evening after Thanksgiving it was time for the annual trap tree lighting in Mildred Merrill Park overlooking Harbor Park. The trap tree lighting is an annual event to celebrate the start of the Christmas season. This celebrating of lighting the trap tree is a great way for people to gather together as a community for Christmas music, cookies, coca and holiday cheer. Trap tree lighting is apart of Rockland Main Street Inc Festival of Lights events. Rockland Main Street Inc does a wonderful job with all the Festival of Lights events during the weekend after Thanksgiving. As tradition it is not a trap tree lighting without Santa Claus who arrives by trolley to turn the lights on with two lucky young kids helping. Mildred Merrill Park was crowed with young. old, family, friends, co-workers and city leaders like our new mayor William Clayton.

Reminder: Saturday, November 24th is Festival of Lights parade lights starting at 6pm on main street in Rockland, Maine.

About Rockland Main Street Inc

Rockland Main Street, Inc. is one of 10 Main Street Communities in Maine. Affiliated with the National Trust  for Historic Preservation's Main Street Center and the Maine Downtown Center ( Maine Development Foundation ), it is a national non profit program to sustain vibrant downtown's through historic preservation, economic restructuring, promotion, design and organization.

Using the National Main Street Center's 4 point
approach it protects the communities sense of place, creates jobs, generates new business, and brings investments to the local economy.

Community Building Events organized by Rockland Main Street, Inc., Summer Solstice ( mid June) Picture this .. A Day in the Life of Rockland  ( October ) Lobster Trap Tree and  Festival of Lights ( Thanksgiving Weekend)