The Mineola Board of Trustees on Wednesday thanked the village’s volunteer fire department Wednesday night for their efforts during Operation Santa. 

The event, held every December, went on from Dec. 6 to Dec. 23 and included the volunteers paying personal visits to residents alongside Santa, Rudolph, Frosty and Santa’s elves. 

A total of 251 homes were visited throughout the entire program, Trustee Paul Cusato, a member of the department, said during Wednesday night’s board of trustees meeting.

Factoring other events like visits to the village’s apartment complexes, Jackson Avenue School and an event for Nassau County, Cusato said approximately 3,000 children were visited by Santa. 

However, it was not just the kids who had the most fun seeing Saint Nick.

“I think the parents were more excited to see Santa than the kids were,” Cusato told Mayor Paul Pereira. 

Cusato also thanked all first responders in the village for “sharing their gifts” of their services every day whenever needed. 

The event was developed by ex-Chief Gary Mazur, who was influential in rebuilding the department’s junior fire department when he was chief in 1998 and later as special adviser following his term. 

Families can either leave presents outside the door or the department will deliver small gifts to children. Younger members in the department dress up and ride the company’s floodlight car, which has been in the department since 1938, playing music with Christmas lights installed. 

Trustee Donna Solosky echoed Cusato’s sentiments, saying Santa paid a visit to her house and said hello to her grandchildren, who eagerly waiting.

“They were so excited in anticipation for Santa to arrive,” Solosky said. “And I agree with Mr. Cusato. Grandma, grandad and the parents were just as excited watching them and waiting for Santa to show up.”

In unrelated village news, there will be a modified holiday sanitation schedule in the village next week for New Year’s Day, Pereira said. 

For residents with normal collection days on Monday and Thursday, garbage will be collected on Tuesday and Thursday next week. Yard waste will be collected Tuesday, Jan. 2 and rubbish and recycling will be collected on Thursday, Jan. 4.

For residents with normal collection days on Tuesday and Friday, garbage will be collected on Wednesday and Friday next week. Yard waste will be collected on Wednesday, Jan. 3 and rubbish and recycling will be collected on Friday, Jan. 5. 

The next Mineola Board of Trustees meeting will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 3.