Children from the center's five daycare facilities in Katonah, Bedford Hills and Yorktown Heights were bused in for the centers' annual Polar Express Holiday Party, where they met the visitors from Antler Ridge Reindeer Barn in Buffalo.
Farm site director Noreen Cotter's son Taylor was back from college for Christmas "and she's already putting me to work" as Frosty the Snowman, he said. Taylor teamed up with head preschool teacher Megan Beirne as Rudolph to guide the preschoolers around the exhibits, which included a ride-along train, a rabbit pen and a barn full of Christmas decorations and animatronic amusements.
"The reindeer have been coming here for 10 years," said Chris Geisler, who handles maintenance at the farm. On Thursday, Geisler was dressed as a tin soldier to assist the preschool teachers with their charges.
CCC executive director Polly Peace donned her flannel gown and granny glasses to read Chris Van Allsburg's Christmas classic “The Polar Express” as the children sipped hot cocoa. Peace's husband, Rick, made several surprise visits as Santa during the day.
The holiday party also featured a scale model of the Polar Express train itself in a display created by Katonah resident Fran Resch.
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