SANTA ACCEPTING LETTERS IN DIXON
Santa’s a bit busy getting ready for the Big Day, but he still looks forward to hearing from the world’s children.
Which is why his magical, red and white, Letters to Santa mailbox has been temporarily moved to Dixon’s North Pole.
You know, the other North Pole.
Headquarters is at 2035 Rehrmann Drive.
Chief Elf Loren Dougherty, known to mere mortals as the owner of Alpha Alarm & Audio in Vacaville, keeps an eye on the fire engine red mailbox. In the days since
it appeared, he’s harvested the box four times, he said. He demonstrated the ease of delivery — Simply place your missive in the top slot and hear it whisper down the chute and into the collection bin.
Then, all the helper elves pitch in, including some from Dixon High School and Rehrmann residents. They’ll make sure the letters get to Santa and that he responds in a timely fashion.
In any case, children can expect to hear back before Christmas Day.
“We’ve been doing it for four years,” Dougherty said. “Every writer gets a letter back.”
The mailbox has had different incarnations, appearing smaller and larger, light and just right. The current box is a newspaper stand donated by the Dixon Tribune, painted red, decorated with Cricut cutouts (courtesy of Megan Roberts) and boasts stenciling. It was a community project, apparently, with many helping hands getting it just right.
“The whole neighborhood is involved,” Roberts pointed out.
Including Cresco Equipment Rental in Fairfield, which donated a lift to help Dougherty decorate all the light standards, about 14.
The whimsical mailbox
fits in with the neighborhood decor, with all manner of Christmas decorations peppering lawns and trees and homes. There’s even a Santa- clad gorilla in a golf cart parked in front of one residence.
“It takes days to get it all together,” he said.
Though a lot of effort is expended, it’s worth it to see the smiles, Dougherty said.
Which makes everyone, including Santa, joyful.
“It’s something for the community,” he emphasized. “It’s been great.”
To make sure each letter is answered, there are a few requirements.
Namely, the writing has to be legible.
Place the letter in a sealed
envelope and make sure the child’s name and return address is included.
Please use black or blue ink only. When it rains, the letters waiting in the mailbox could get wet and the writing smudged.
“We don’t want your little ones to miss out,” Santa advised in a statement.
Everyone in Solano is invited to drop by, enjoy the lights and inflatables and more when darkness falls and, perhaps, submit a letter to Santa.
‘ Tis Christmas, after all, and it doesn’t hurt to believe in the magic of the season.