News

December 2007

CSI's Alternative Incarceration Center in Bridgeport provides Community Service to PAL

It's been 25 years since hundreds of people gave their time and money to pull off the so-called Christmas Miracle, the emergency rebuilding project that followed the disastrous fire that leveled the Police Activities League Christmas Village in Beardsley Park in Bridgeport.

Today at noon, the PAL Christmas Village, which has brought holiday glee to children since 1950, will open, with its mechanical holiday displays, lights, decorations and seat time with Santa Claus.

The village is now located at the PAL headquarters on Quarry Road in Trumbull, just over the Bridgeport line; it moved there from Beardsley Park in 1999.

On Friday, volunteers were busily preparing the village displays, which are expected to attract about 5,000 children who will be accompanied by 3,000 adults, according to Mike Marella, Bridgeport PAL executive director.

Many of the workers are from the Alternative Incarceration Center, where lawbreakers pay their debt to society through community service. Marella said that they have been doing a "fantastic" job.

"We have about 12 to 15 people who'll have to wrap 3,000 gifts," he said. "When they start to run out, we'll probably have to pick up another 2,000, like we did last year."

Children will see the familiar mechanized village displays again this year - Santa's workshop, sleeping Santa, the Bake Shop, the Village Square, the Fire Station, the Gingerbread House and the carolers, to name a few - while walking the circuitous path that will eventually take them to the lap of Santa Claus.

Marella, who has intimate knowledge of what the man in the red suit hears from the children, said that some of the requests can be heartbreaking.

"The saddest request is when they ask Santa to bring their parents back together again," he said.

Today's opening features a performance by the Park City Pride Brass Ensemble, Mayor Bill Finch, former Mayor John Fabrizi, and Trumbull First Selectman Ray Baldwin, who will read Clement C. Moore's "The Night Before Christmas."

Also, the Police Department's mounted unit will be there as will Engine Company No. 6, the first responder to the 1982 blaze.

At 2 p.m., Santa will make his grand entrance with a police escort, Marella said.

Admission is $2 for everyone. The PAL Christmas Village is located at 7 Quarry Road, Trumbull, off of Old Town Road. It's open daily from 1 to 8 p.m. until Dec. 23. Call 576-7604 for more information.