The historic Tompkin’s Building on North Street in Middletown, New York, came alive with laughter and holiday cheer on Saturday, Dec. 6, as the Middletown Police Department teamed up with New Middletown for the second annual “Santa Special Patrol.”
From 2 to 4 p.m., families lined up beneath the store’s grand staircase — the very spot where Santa once greeted generations of local children decades ago — for free photos, candy canes, surprise gifts (while supplies lasted), and a chance to meet both Santa and the officers in a relaxed, joyful setting.
Police Chief: ‘It’s amazing to see the look on the children’s faces.’
Middletown Police Chief John Ewanciw said the department was proud to return for a second year, noting that community outreach is a key part of their mission.
“We try to do a lot of community outreach throughout the year to build relationships,” Ewanciw said. “We partnered with New Middletown last year, and we love the opportunity to come here.”
Gesturing toward the staircase, he reflected on the building’s legacy.
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“This is an iconic store,” he said. “Way back before my time, this was like the department store of the community, where Santa sat at the top of those steps every year. So it’s kind of iconic that we can bring that nostalgia back. It’s amazing to see the look on the children’s faces. We’re very blessed that we’re able to do this.”
Ewanciw added that such events help residents see officers beyond emergency situations. “Oftentimes police are only seen when they’re dealing with a bad situation,” he explained. “This gives the community an opportunity to see officers as normal people engaging for a good purpose.”
He also offered simple holiday guidance for families: “Listen to mom and dad. It’s a hectic season, and families should really enjoy this time together. And if anything happens, we’re here to help.”
Families: ‘We love it — it’s exciting.’
Dozens of families arrived early to join the celebration. Many were repeat visitors to New Middletown events, while others discovered the Santa Patrol through social media.
Aunt Susan, who came with her three-year-old niece Nova, said she always supports events hosted at New Middletown. “I love coming here to Middletown,” she said. “Every time they have an event, we show up. When I heard about the Santa event, I was like, I have to be there.”
Her favorite part? “Seeing Santa,” she said. “It’s great to see the community come together — it shows a sense of togetherness.”
Maria, who brought her children Matthew, 5, and Juliana, 3, along with her niece, said her family came after seeing the event posted online. “We like to support Middletown and Middletown residents,” she said. “We bring our kids so they can see Santa Claus. We love it — it’s exciting.” For her, the best part was “seeing the kids smile and enjoy Christmas.”
Miriam, who attended with her children Nathan, 5, and Scarlett, 8, also learned about the Santa Patrol on Facebook. “We do their power for the Middletown Police, so we got invited,” she said. “Our favorite part is everything — seeing Santa and taking pictures with the kids.”
She added that events like this “absolutely bring everybody together, especially this time of year.”
A historic space bringing community back together
Saturday’s celebration took place inside New Middletown, the revived international market and cultural space housed within the historic Tompkin’s Building. From 1898 to 1984, the building served as the commercial heart of Middletown — a place where families shopped, gathered, and took their holiday photos under the same grand staircase used for Saturday’s event.
Today, New Middletown continues that tradition by offering curated goods from around the world — Japanese cast-iron cookware, French and Italian home goods, artisan teas, German kitchen tools, luxury keepsakes, and more — while also serving as a community gathering place.
CEO, Lili Zhou, who regularly travels abroad to source unique products, has made revitalizing Middletown’s downtown a core mission.
“We’re trying to revive the city,” she said in an earlier interview. “We changed our products according to the needs of the community, and we source internationally to bring in things you can’t even get in Manhattan.”
Through concerts, tastings, performances, and holiday events like the Santa Special Patrol, New Middletown is helping restore a sense of tradition, beauty, and shared community spirit on North Street.
