Press Room

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ABINGTON TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT BRINGS SANTA TO TOWN
FOR 2010 KESWICK VILLAGE HOLIDAY PROGRAM DECEMBER 12. 2010

GLENSIDE – Santa Claus came to town on Dec. 12th as part of the 2010 Keswick Village Holiday Program and arrived on a shiny red Weldon Fire Company truck to the delight of children and families eager to visit with jolly ol’ St. Nick.

Presented by the Keswick Merchants and the Abington Economic Development Office, the festive celebration included holiday music as well as free carriage rides. Weldon Fire Company, which is part of the Abington Township Fire Department (ATFD), joined in the celebration by bringing Santa into town in one of the company’s fire trucks. Volunteers at the event said fulfilling a role in the holiday celebration is important for both the department and the community.

“Events like this get the community together to celebrate with us,” said Captain Chris McLoone of Weldon Fire Company. “We have put this event on for over 15 years and have enjoyed watching it expand into a larger event. Bringing in Santa
shows that we are an active part of the community. This is our way of thanking the residents for helping us out in the funding of our new fire truck. They can see their tax dollars at work.”

Weldon Fire Company Vice President Ben Melissen, who plays Santa, enjoyed seeing the smiles on children’s faces.
“Events like this make it so worthwhile,” he said of volunteering. “It keeps us a small, tight‐knit community.”

Matthew Lahaza, Assistant Township Manager and Economic Development Director, said the Keswick Village Holiday Program benefits both the community and businesses since it brings everyone together.

“This event shows the businesses we are partners in promoting them,” he said. The ATFD is an all‐volunteer force made up of five fire companies all operating within Abington Township. The five companies that form the ATFD are Abington, McKinley, Weldon, Edge Hill, and Roslyn. The service area is made up of approximately 15 square miles of Abington Township and is comprised of residential, commercial, educational, medical, light industrial, and other suburban properties. The ATFD serves approximately 56,000 residents.

The ATFD headquarters is located at 1176 Old York Road in Abington. For more information, call (267) 536‐1055 or visit AbingtonFD.org.