The brainstorm of Danile Santopietro and Joe Jones began when they opened their Lucerne Euro Market and Bistro in Nov. 2017. The two always had grander plans than the bistro and bought the red-tagged house and property next door to turn it into a community affair. Their first event at the Little Red Hen Farm was a pumpkin giveaway at Halloween. This first annual toy giveaway brought in hundreds of toys from the Lucerne community and Station 80 of the North Shore Fire Department. The question as people came in droves to have their children’ photos taken with Santa and with the Station 80 firetrucks, was, would there be enough presents for everyone?
Word of the event spread throughout the community via flyers posted in neighboring businesses, flyers given to the Lucerne Elementary School and from neighbor to neighbor. Wanting to keep the happening for local children who Santopietro feels have been neglected around the lake, she was adamant to keep all announcements local.
“The Little Red Hen Farm is for the children and people of Lucerne, Nice and Glen Haven,” Santopietro had said many times while working on the site over the summer. As a result, hundreds of children and their relatives showed up. “I’d say at least 300 kids and parents came,” said Santopietro, beaming her infectious smile. The line to Santa was marked off by candy canes and a straw pathway. It was quickly filled with eager children waiting their turn to talk to jolly old Santa, with his white beard, his white reading glasses, his black Crocs and boot tops and his red tinsel-decorated cane. “I’m getting too old to put on actual boots,” said Santa, played by an anonymous Tom, laughing as he called on the next child in line.
Kurt McKelvey of ‘Kurt At Work’ Production Studio [located in Harbor Park artists’ cottages] provided music and audio equipment. Seven carolers from the Lucerne Community Church sang throughout the afternoon. A true community effort; with teenage volunteers helping to serve food and ones dressed as elves who gave away presents to each child. “We had 250 toys and we handed out 225 of them. The remaining 25 we’ll give away later,” said Santopietro.
The 15-foot tall Christmas tree, donated by the North Shore Fire Department, via Chief Mike Ciancio, thanks to the U.S. Forestry Department, was lighted on a countdown by Jones. The wind had whipped up sending leaves flying tornado-like around the farm, with temperatures dropping, so Jones decided to light the tree earlier than expected as people wrapped themselves tightly in their coats and jackets. The tree will stay lighted for Christmas week and then be chopped up and used as mulch for the many future projects on the ‘farm’. Jones and Santopietro already painted the barn ‘farm red’ using paintbrushes rather than a spray gun offered by a neighbor. They thought it important that the neighborhood see them personally working on the farm rather than ‘farm’ out the work to others. They were visible from August on, carting away rubble from the house they knocked down, thanks to Ghillotti Construction who donated an excavator to deconstruct the house, to the post holes that Jones dug with the aid of a neighbor’s post hole digger, to both Daniele and Joe working outside and then coming inside to cook. In and out. In and out. All day. Every day.
Elf-sized Ciarriaghi Ui Bhriain, who dressed in period costume said, “I just think this is a wonderful way for the community to actually gather in the same space and mingle, maybe get to know one another a little better. It’s all about the kids, too, and the fun they’ll have to get a present right from Santa.”
Little four-year-old Taylor Harrington, in a fancy dress with red tulle peeking out of the hem, posed with North Shore firefighters John Rodrigues, EMT., Doyle Head, Battalion Chief, Brett Hughes, Paramedic, in front of Engine 853. Her grandmother, Terri and grandfather Michael Felton brought Taylor so she could see Santa. “We were just desperate to see Santa,” said grandma, “and we couldn’t take her all the way to Santa Rosa, so this is perfect.”
“The theme of the Little Red Hen Farm is to inspire children, inspire them to dig out of the inertia that Lucerne as been known for for quite some time.” Already they’ve had more volunteers come by than they can use. “We had nine people on the property before the event started.” said Jones, a tall, quiet spoken man, “They wanted to volunteer, but all jobs were already filled.”
“Jen Jooyman, our chef assisted greatly with everything, and her husband John, whose company Coastal Mountain Electric donated almost all of the decorations. The elves where Alizae Kooyman, 14, Jonathon Fabela, 14 and Isabel Barbeau, 14. When asked if they were from Lucerne, Alizae deadpanned, “We moved to the North Pole.”
Santopietro welled up, talking about how the farm is all about the children, how the children all took time to thank them for this event. “Their thanking us was monumental. This is what The Little Red Hen Farm is all about.”
