Saugus reverses Santa decision

SAUGUS – It turns out Santa Claus is coming to town after all.The nearly 50-year-old tradition of Saugus firefighters and Santa Claus delivering coloring books to elementary schools is back on.Firefighters union president Bill Cross made the announcement Monday afternoon, just three days after he said the event would be canceled due to a lack of volunteers.?We?re good to go and we worked it out,” said Cross after a meeting with Saugus Schools Superintendent Richard Langlois. “I got more help than I could ever ask for. I think this was falling on deaf ears and guys were thinking that someone else would do it. They realized everyone has to pitch in. When in need, firefighters always come to the rescue.”Cross said it takes at least four volunteers over three days to visit all four elementary schools. Santa Claus will be making the rounds on Dec. 17, 19 and 20, he said.?I have that and more now,” said Cross.It?s the second year in a row the event was briefly canceled and then reinstated. Superintendent Richard Langlois initially canceled it last year, but reversed his decision later in the day, sparking national media attention.This year, residents and local media outlets once again reacted to the news, which Cross said he expected after canceling the event Friday.?Of course (I expected it),” said Cross. “I was disappointed too. That?s not the news I wanted to deliver to anybody. It gets harder and harder every year, and when you have less guys and a smaller pool to pick from. Guys, when away from this job, have lives ? I have so much help now, almost every guy on the job called and wants to help.”Cross said he was confident there won?t be a third year in a row when Santa Claus puts Saugus in the news again.?I told the superintendent we?re going to hammer this out in August next year,” said Cross. “It?s going to be a non-issue. It really shouldn?t have been an issue this year, but I don?t think it will be ever again moving forward. It?s been going on for 40 years and it?s taken on a life of its own.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].