About sixty youngsters and their parents took advantage of the calm but cold weather Saturday morning to attend Christmas on the Hill which began as Santa Claus flew into town with some assistance by PennStar as there was no snow on the ground just yet. After greeting the children at the Ginter Field, Santa and his helpers with the Summit Hill Recreation Commission invited the children back to the Hilltop Community Center for a breakfast, a formal visit with Santa and a reading of "The Night Before Christmas" compliments of their Northern visitor.

"I want Santa to come. I have four things on my list to give him," said Hayley Hartung of Summit Hill who was one of the children anticipating his arrival.Eight year old Panther Valley student Michael Valentine said he was looking forward to seeing Santa. "He's coming by helicopter today.""I like it," said four year old Spencer Black who was visiting his grandparents, Ron and Lauren Gower of Summit Hill.Everyone at the field waited in hushed anticipation as the eleven o'clock hour neared and then from the southeastern skies, the beating of a helicopter captured everyone's attention. The helicopter flew in toward the stadium and circled it three times before finally landing in the middle of the field. As the blades began to slow down, the pilot alighted and opened the door nearer to the crowd and that familiar cherry red suit could be seen sitting in the helicopter. Within a minute or so, Santa was on the ground and waving at the crowd as he walked across the field to where the children were anxiously waiting."It was a great flight, and I'm looking forward to having breakfast and reading to the children," Santa said after landing at the Ginter Stadium in Summit Hill. After greeting the children and speaking with them and their parents, Santa climbed onto the Diligence Fire Company's pumper and was escorted to the Hilltop Community Center for breakfast.Summit Hill Recreation Commission Secretary Jodi McAndrew and her husband David were at the field along with Summit Hill Fire Police Officer and EMC John Allesch to help coordinate the North Pole VIP's greetings."We want to thank Pennstar for sponsoring the helicopter ride and the Summit Hill Fire Company for making sure Santa landed safely and escorting him," Jodi said.When Santa arrived at the Hilltop Community Center, he was greeted by other members of the Recreation Commission who were serving a breakfast of pancakes, French toast sticks and sausage to the children. Recreation Commission Chairperson Monica Marshall greeted Santa's young guests and gave them paper to write their own special letter to Santa which they were able to give to him during the festivities. There were about ninety people at the Center."I'm absolutely happy with this event and the attendance," said Marshall. The Community Center was full of children and their families waiting to speak with Santa. "He will be reading 'The Night Before Christmas' after breakfast," she added.Marshall assisted Santa in talking with each of the children individually and helped Santa hand out coloring books to them. After each child had the opportunity to sit on Santa's lap, Claus produced Clement C. Moore's classic poem, "The Night Before Christmas" and read it to the many children seated at his feet.Everyone definitely had a wonderful time and Santa was soon off to his next stop on his busy 2012 Christmas tour.Marshall thanked the St. Luke's Pennstar team for their help in delivering Santa including helicopter pilot Vic Balliet, Flight Nurse Mark Lehman and flight medic Angelo Porrca as well as members and volunteers of the Summit Hill Diligence Fire Company #1The Commission's next event will be a teen dance scheduled for sometime in February.