By Carmine Santa Maria
OK, so here’s your last Christmas column until next year, and if the Daily News would have done their job covering the Real Santa, this might have not been necessary. But a lot of good people extended themselves with the Christmas Spirit to bring happiness this year to the Naseer family and you should know who they are. Fortunately, you are a reader of the Courier-Life Newspapers that covers all our neighborhood stories and you are kept abreast of everything that happens in the area, especially the disastrous fire that nearly killed the Naseer family. Something I cannot say for the Brooklyn Section of the Daily News. The Daily News covered the story in the front pages of the Nov.17 edition, but did not cover the story of the eight neighborhood heroes that caught four of the five children, who were cited by Assemblyman Colton, nor, were they interested in a Santa Claus story with the Naseer family during Christmas week. The Naseer Mom, Nabila Nazli, reluctantly threw four of her five children out of her second-story window to neighbors who caught her month-old twin boys in a blanket, her four-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son, before the firemen came to rescue her and her five-year-old daughter Nimrah from their blazing apartment. Nino Magali, who works for Assemblyman Colton, was on the scene that Thursday early morning offering the assemblyman’s assistance. And Assemblyman Colton and I asked NY State Kiwanis Governor Joe Corace to join us in our efforts to get some relief to the burnt-out Naseer family. Mom was still in the hospital at the time of this writing suffering with second-degree burns. Her five-year-old daughter Nimrah was released from the hospital just in time to join her brothers and sister at P.S. 128 where she had attended kindergarten, with her 10-year-brother Umer who was in the fifth grade, her sister Shamail in Pre K. I use the past tense, because after the disaster, Umer and Shamair had to be temporarily schooled in Long Island where they are staying with relatives. So when this Santa made his annual visit to the tots at PS 128 on Thursday Dec. 22nd, I invited Assemblyman Colton and Michael Rizzotto, Kiwanis President Elect of the Gravesend Kiwanis to join me. They had special gifts that they wanted to give the Naseer family. Michael Rizzotto gave Mohammed Naseer, the father a $500 Target gift certificate from the Gravesend Kiwanis and from the Cusimano and Russo Funeral Home where he is the director presented each child, including the twin infants with presents. Assemblyman Colton told Tony Chan of the United Chinese Association of Brooklyn of the family losing their home and he came along to present a $300 check to Mohammed Naseer for the family. Assemblyman Colton presented the family with a Toys R Us $200 gift certificate from his office and a Hess Truck to Umer. Umer was very upset, he missed his classmates from PS 128 and was so happy to get together with them, as was his 4 year-old Pre K sister. Not to mention the Kindergarten sister who came out of the hospital just in time for the re-union. I had called up Sears in Chicago to see if they could help out, which was no easy feat when you’re dealing with automatic answering machines. Finally after two hours of trying, and dialing consecutive numbers, I finally got a human being who answered the phone…who pushed me from department to department until I was connected to Sears’ Misty Redman, Director of Government Relations, Sears Holding Corporation who informed me that unfortunately the Sears’ Yearly Charitable Donations Budget had already been allocated. I responded to the Government relations lady, that unfortunately tragedies and emergencies do not have timetables and I thought that Sears that sells everything from clothes, to household furniture could help. She said she would see what she could do, called the Brooklyn store and came back with four $50 Sears gift certificates for the family. Compare that GIANT store’s donations with the help we got from the Kiwanis Clubs. The Ben Bay Kiwanis Club presented the Naseer family with a $1000 check at their Annual Christmas Kids Party at the El Caribe. The West End Kiwanis presented the Naseer Family with a $500 check at their meeting, thanks to Kiwanis Governor Joe Corace who’s been approaching our local Kiwanis Clubs for donations. That’s $2700 in dollars and gift certificates that the Naseer family can to use to buy clothing, furniture, appliances and everything needed to fill their new apartment at Shorehaven that the City is arranging to make a home for them near PS 128. Add to that the money that the PTA has collected for the Naseer family, and you realize that they will still need a lot more; they could spend that $200 gift certificate at Toys R Us for pampers alone for the Twin little boys. Assemblyman Colton’s staff will continue to approach the local businesses for donations of furniture, clothing and appliances for the Naseer family. If you dear reader want to help out, contact Assemblyman Colton: at 718 236-1598 or visit his newly relocated Community Office at 155 Kings Highway. On Christmas Eve as is the custom for this Santa, right after Dinner went to four houses with my entourage to visit the very impatient children waiting to see the Real Santa. First I visit the Cabonaro family, where four generations wait for Santa after their typical Italian Christmas Eve fish dinner that stretches everyone’s bellies to near explosion. That’s where I get to see my daughter Dana, son-in-law Michael and three grand children Alexa, Michel and Vanessa, their cousins, aunts, uncles. Great Aunts and Great Uncles, Grandpa Joe and 92 year old Great Grandma (who is still waiting for Santa to bring her a 19 inch TV.) My 5 year old grandson Michael told Santa he wanted a real Reindeer for Christmas. He promised to take care of him in the backyard and could drink water from the pool. Wouldn’t you know it, I’m fresh out of Real Reindeer and I needed mine to visit the world’s children. The family had a tough time blocking Little Michael from the door, he wanted to see Santa’s Reindeer and Sleigh when I left. Whew! After that photo taking frenzy, I went with my entourage to visit Vivien, my co-worker at the Graphic for many years to visit her home on West 6th Street, where her 4 year old Triplet Granddaughters: Devyn, Dilynn, Dominique that live in Brooklyn and nine of their cousins and friends: Alaina and Esabella, sisters who live in LI. Their gifts were left in Grandma’s house. Joseph & Nicolas live in NJ, Michael & Matthew live in Rockaway, Justin, Jared and Gianna live in Staten Island were waiting since 2 PM. Vivien sent Santa this note, after I told her I would be able to visit her Christmas Eve dinner party for her family and kids.” Thank you for this – I can't wait to see the big red man, I'm so excited.” Here’s her list of Santa’s List of good boys and girls, and what Santa should know and say. 1. Matthew 2 years old from Rockaway, He is a good little boy. Santa likes to hear him sing his songs. Santa knows he wants Thomas the Train toys. 2. Isabella 3, from Commack, Long Island. She loves to do puzzles. Santa knows you’re not going to be home so I will bring your presents to Nanna and papa's house. She wants make-up and a computer. Santa wants her to start eating all she food. 3. Dilynn 4 from Brooklyn, New York. She loves to write her letters and loves to play dress up. Santa knows you want to be first when you go skiing with daddy. She wants an American Girl Doll and new dresses to wear to school. 4. Dominique 4 from Brooklyn, New York. She loves her baby doll. Santa remembers when she lost her in Lancaster. She can’s wait to go skiing with daddy. She loves to sing. She wants an American Girl doll and Ariel DVD. 5. Devyn 4, from Brooklyn, She loves her yellow puppy dog and skiing with daddy in Pennsylvania. She wants an American Girl Doll. 6. Jared 4, from Staten Island, He loves to cook. Santa watches him in cooking class and says he’s doing great. He wants a drum set. 7. Alaina 5, from Commack, Long Island. Santa received your letter and knows I have to leave your presents at Nanna and Papa’s house. Santa knows you want make-up a computer and video games. 8. Nicholas 6, from Freehold, New Jersey. He loves the Jets and the Mets. Santa knows you love Pirates he saw your Pirate room. He wants a metal detector and a guitar. 9. Justin 7, from Staten Island, He is very good in Karate and loves science. He wants his own science lab when he grows up. He also wants Santa to bring him a guitar, Heelys and PSP but Santa thinks he’s too young for PSP. Maybe there is another video game he could bring. 10. Michael 8, from Rockaway, Great in Soccer and Basketball. I know that you wanted the Nintendo DS, but your mom called and said that you couldn’t have it but I think you will like what I bring you. 11. Gianna 8, from Staten Island, Excellent in Karate and art work. Wants Santa to bring her a guitar and Heelies. 12. Joseph 10, from Freehold, New Jersey. Loves the Mets, plays good ball. He just did his room in a Mets baseball theme, and Santa thinks it look great.” After that photo frenzy, we went to Bay 47th Street to visit the Petrosino family, where the kids were waiting for Santa in the Garage. Santa’s too old to climb those thousand steps, so the kids meet me downstairs in the garage. I guess I’m still the real Santa, because Frankie still didn’t recognize me. Photos with all the kids and then back to Bay 40th Street with the family to open our gifts. But not before Santa posed with everybody for their picture with the Real Santa. ITEM: The Most Absurd Question of the Year…Was Santa Claus busy tonight? The second part of this column was inspired by Mark Treyger who called Santa at 8 PM to see if I was busy tonight (Christmas Eve.) Seems that Mark plays Santa for his friends and neighbors every year too and needed a Santa outfit. Was I using mine tonight? Is he for real? Could he borrow it? No! Did I know where he could get one? “Mark, are you kidding on Christmas Eve at 8 PM the whole world is closed. I suggested Party Fair on 20th Avenue, but they should be closed. I wonder how Mark made out. Mark, next year do your homework a little earlier… like November. Screech at you next week!
