Greenbelt Santa Alert

Hot off the presses, Greenbelt’s Recreation Supervisor Greg Varda just confirmed — Santa is indeed getting ready to make phone calls to children in Greenbelt very soon.

Over 100 children will get a direct call from the North Pole starting Tuesday night. And the calls will continue rolling in through Thursday.

While the elves are busying themselves with toy making, Santa is still deciding who gets what. Actions that are big with the bearded reindeer rider, according to Varda, include keeping a clean room, being nice to brothers and sisters, doing well in school and, not to be forgotten (especially in Greenbelt), — eating vegetables.

Asked for an inside scoop on which vegetables Santa smiles on, Varda couldn’t comment for all children, but he said Santa rewards his own kids for eating broccoli.

Varda also got word from Santa on toys that are in high demand this year. Lots of requests have come in for Legos, LeapFrog and Angry Birds, among other toys and goodies, Varda reported.

When the Greenbelt phones start ringing on Tuesday, Santa will not be alone on the line, Varda said. Mrs. Claus and a couple of friendly elves will be talking to children as well. 

Families who wanted a call from Santa signed up with the Greenbelt Recreation Department in advance. Those who hear from him, may not get long phone calls because Santa has a lot of children to talk to. But he'll do his best, Varda said.

The important thing to remember is that even with all the toy making, reindeer readying and preparations going on in the North Pole, Santa still made a point to take time out for the kids of Greenbelt.

And he's doing this for one reason, because even up in the frosty hinterlands word has reached him that there are a bunch of kids here who have been much more nice than naughty.