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Santa Visit Deadline Looms

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: November 3, 2007

OLDSMAR, Fla. - OLDSMAR, Fla. - It's not too early for parents in this city to start pondering a visit from Santa.

Oldsmar Fire Rescue is making its list and checking it twice to determine which children get a personal visit from Santa in December.

The municipal fire unit already is planning its yearly tradition of ferrying Santa through town to homes of all the good little boys and girls to present gifts.

Dates of visits are established by a lottery-type system, said Holly LiBaire, city communications coordinator.

Residents who want to welcome Santa have until Thursday, Nov. 15, to mail or drop off a 3-by-5 card with their name, address and daytime phone number to Oldsmar Fire Rescue, 225 Pine Ave. N., Oldsmar, FL 34677.

After Nov. 15, cards will be drawn to set an appointment for the Santa visit. Those who don't make the deadline will not be eligible for a visit from Santa, his reindeer or even one firefighting elf.

Parents will then have from Dec. 4 until Dec. 10 to bring a small, gift-wrapped present to the fire station for Santa to bestow on their child.

Then between Dec. 11 and Dec. 15 Santa will travel through the city atop a fire truck, with his elves handing out gifts.

Santa's visit, LiBaire said, has become a city tradition.

It has also become a seasonal tradition for the department to participate in the Marine Corps Reserve's Toys For Tots program to help less fortunate children up to age 16.

There is a Toys For Tots collection bin at the fire station.

For more information call Oldsmar Fire Rescue at 813-749-1200.

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