Santa’s Second Home On The North Fork

Like so many other folks, Santa Claus has a second home on the North Fork. Or at least I think he does. How else can we explain the frequent glimpses of him – once in Riverhead, then in Cutchogue, now in Southold. Santa certainly couldn’t commute on a daily basis from the Arctic to Aquebogue. So he must live here at least part of the time.

And do you blame me for wanting to make his acquaintance? A cuddly guy who delights in gift-giving? That’s my kind of man. But he’s hard to pin down. I discovered that while he’s here on the North Fork, he goes by various names other than Santa Claus. Maybe he wants to go a day or two without receiving hundreds of letters addressed to Santa. Or maybe he thinks the South Fork will be upset he doesn’t spend his precious hours there. Well, Santa’s one wise man. That’s why he’s here on the North Fork.

Anyway, I first approached Santa in Cutchogue. He was standing outside Old Town Art and Crafts Guild on Main Road. Waving and smiling, he distributed candy canes. I accepted one and thanked him. Then I waited for a moment alone with him. This is what he told me.

In Cutchogue this Saturday morning, his name is Santa Brendan Purcell. He’s established a very credible cover, holding a job in Greenport’s IGA as well as a diploma from Greenport High School (dated last year). Santa Brendan is certainly a jolly young St. Nick. Lots of people seemed to recognize him as they stopped at the traffic light in front of the Guild. “Hi, Santa Brendan” came the greeting from little children – and from his IGA manager who happened to drive by.

The next time I had the opportunity to talk with Santa he appeared a bit older than Brendan and was using the name Jamie Davis. Santa Jamie said his North Fork home is in Southold and while he’s here he works as owner and operator of the Maritime Pirates for the Greenport Maritime Festival as well as Maze Marshal in Harbes Family Farm’s Wild West Maze.

Our meeting took place at the Christmas Fair in the Mattituck-Laurel Historical Society’s Tuthill House on Main Road in Mattituck. Santa Jamie seemed to enjoy being photographed with kids of all ages (including me) and he did the candy cane thing just like Santa Brendan.

Mattituck’s Allie Piscatelli, six months old, visited along with her mom, Heather, and dad, Mike. Santa Jamie sang the alphabet song to Allie. Santa has a pretty good voice though I didn’t think his selection was particularly Christmassy. But it worked like a charm on Allie. No tears and lots of smiles for the camera.

Also six months old and visiting Santa Jamie for the first time was Megan Denise Scovanni of Medford. She brought along her parents Denise and Rob, as well as her delighted first-time grandma, Dolores Boeje of Mattituck.

Santa Jamie’s unique in several ways. He’s intensely interested in the North Fork environment and affordable housing, Unusual subjects, indeed, for Kris Kringle. Then he spoke of his mother and I’d never even heard of Santa’s mom before. Seems she too lives in Southold in a house built in 1674. Finally, Santa Jamie has a Web site. Can you imagine? Yes, Virginia, you can Google Santa!

There’s another Santa to tell you about though I haven’t met him yet. He’s taken the name Bobby Kosciusko and he lives north of Main Road in Cutchogue. Story is each Christmas Eve for years he sits down as Bobby with 20 other family members and shares a meal of shrimp cocktail, salad and lasagna. Then he leaves the table and heads to the garage where he quick-changes into that red suit of his.

Now back to the house where he knocks on the door and is admitted by little Courtney who shouts out, “It’s Santa Claus.” Cheers from the other kids – Marissa, Zachary, Jessica, Alex, Tiffany, and Jonathon. Each child receives two gifts from Santa Bobby and then everyone enjoys dessert – ice cream cake, pies, and cookies. I may just head up that way on Christmas Eve. Ice cream and Santa!

Can you understand my dilemma? Just where does Santa have his second home? Perhaps it doesn’t matter. North Fork or North Pole, there’s some Santa everywhere, in everyone, when, in comfort and joy, he makes his home in our hearts.