Manhattan Beach: Is There A Santa Claus Amongst Us All Year Long?

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — Manhattan Beach just may have the real Santa among us, but he wears a different suit some 360 days of the year, give or take a few. But when the holiday season hits, you can count on Manhattan Beach resident Joe Franklin to get his Santa suit on — and more than once!

"I volunteered for the Older Adults Program Holiday meal pick up last week and offered to wear the 50-year-old Santa suit my mother made for me to entertain several nieces and nephews long ago. I wear it most every Christmas to visit families in the neighborhood and even wore it my kids' kindergarten classes. My claim to Santa fame is I fooled them over 20 years ago!" Franklin, who just won a seat on the Manhattan Beach City Council and was sworn in nearly a week ago, explained.

And so began another holiday season of Franklin bringing holiday joy to all ages. "The Holiday meal was distributed at the Joslyn Center and I merrily waved to the Older Adults driving up. It was great to see their smiles generated by the holiday spirit of all the volunteers!

"An added bonus was playing Santa for many children walking by with their families. They were thrilled to see Santa! I felt badly for them because they couldn't go to the mall to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas or to have a picture taken with old Saint Nick. A CERT volunteer who lined up the children told me after one visit that the four-year-old boy looked up to his mother and said, 'See, Mom, I told you we will see Santa this year!'"

Franklin, whose own children are adults, wasn't through spreading holiday cheer. "I decided on my way home to drive through downtown and other neighborhoods. Kids, parents and big kids of all ages enthusiastically shouted out, beeped horns and waved. I pulled over many times for photos with their kids standing next to the car [a 1955 blue Thunderbird decked out with holiday decorations used as Santa's sleigh]."

Clearly, the man with a holiday heart as big as Santa's wasn't through with Santa making visits around town to spread the spirit of the season. "I lined up visits with several families I know and asked them to invite their neighbors and classmates for photos with Santa," Franklin told Manhattan Beach Patch. "We kept safely apart, I wore a mask and everyone had a great time!"

In keeping with the times, "Santa" developed a way "to let kids from the same families sit in the car" as Santa stood at the side waving for the photo, he noted. "My deepest regret was not being able to go around the entire city. I'm confident my services won't be needed next Christmas except for the fun of it all!" quipped Franklin, adding, "Please wear your mask for your family and for others. And Have a Happy Holiday Season!"