38 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • DECEMBER 10, 2020 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
buzz
‘New York Santa’ sets up shop
in Bay Terrace Shopping Center
BY GABRIELE HOLTERMANN
fi rst responders. His assistant told him
pandemic, he had to become a socially
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that his was physique was jolly enough to
distant Santa.
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be Santa, and aft er scoring a Santa suit at
With the help of Cord Meyer
Rubie’s Costume Company at a discount,
Development Company, owner of Th e
Santa Claus is in a bind this year. During
“New York Santa” was born.
Bay Terrace Shopping Center in Bayside,
a holiday season marked by COVID-19,
Th e fi rst year, he spread joy to the families
Friedman opened up a “workshop” in a
he has to come up with creative ways to
of fi rst responders and the victims of the
vacant store where people can drop off
spread holiday joy to children and adults
World Trade Center attacks. When hospitals
toys or a monetary donation.
alike and fi nd out who is naughty or nice
like Jamaica Hospital, St. Mary’s Hospital
What is most important to Friedman
while keeping a social distance.
for Children, and Blythedale Children’s
is that the kids can see him through the
A trial lawyer by trade, Dana B.
Hospital learned about his charitable work,
large window front while he is inside
Friedman, became “New York Santa” aft er
he began spreading his holiday cheer to children
working.
9/11 when he was brainstorming with his
at hospitals and orphanages.
“Just as important, if not even more
assistant about ways to give back to the
But this year, due to the COVID-19
important, is that the kids can see Santa
is there for them and they can get their
picture with Santa,” Friedman said. “Th e
kids have hope. Th ey know that there is
a sense of continuity that all good things
will prevail in time. As long as I can get
that across, I’ve done my job.”
If you wish to donate unwrapped toys
or monetary donations for the children
at St. Mary’s Hospital for Children and
Blythedale Children’s Hospital, you can
do so at Santa’s workshop, located at 212-
09 26th Ave. at Th e Bay Terrace Shopping
Center. Th e shop will be open on Dec. 12
and 13, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Photos by Gabriele Holtermann
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