Santa Claus (Officer Erik Larsen) entertains at Children of the City on December 19th.

Captain Cedric Raymond of the 72nd Precinct stood before a room of children when he got a call over his police radio on Saturday—a jolly fat fellow with a red suit and a big white beard was on the loose.

Raymond turned to the kids assembled at Children of the City’s annual Christmas party for help. Kids, do you know who that could be? Read the full story

Sunset Park turned out in droves Saturday at the Rec Center a gift and chance for a Polaroid with Santa at Health Plus’s annual Holiday Celebration. The line snaked out the door for the lucky who had made the cut around 3:30pm when the event began to wind down. Read the full story

Best View in Brooklyn asked me to post this flyer for Community Board 7 holiday gift drive. As everyone knows, this year is hard all over. Almost 25 percent of Sunset Park lives below the poverty line. Those are the official numbers. For those that can afford to give time or donations, this gift drive  offers one opportunity. Community groups around the neighborhood and food pantries present another. If you know of other drives to  help those in need, please let me know. I’ll happily post it for the community.