By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
OLEAN — More than 300 children and adults lined the front lawn at 660 Main Street Saturday night as Santa Claus and his special guests entertained the crowd from the rooftop.
Everyone was bundled up in warm coats and mittens or gloves to ward off temperatures in the upper-30s. Cups of free hot cocoa also helped stave off the cold.
The main attraction instantly brought warmth to the hearts of the young girls and boys in the audience, as it had years ago for some of their parents when they saw Santa on the rooftop across the street at 617 Main St. Many parents held their children on their shoulders so they could see Santa.
Beginning in the 1950s, the late George Pancio of Olean, the official Santa Claus in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for 11 years beginning in 1963, would appear as Santa on his rooftop at 617 Main St.
George Pancio, a longtime Olean City Schools official, died in 2023. His grandson, Dr. Stephen Pancio, first climbed out onto his roof as Santa at 660 Main St., in 2022. Saturday night was his fourth appearance as Santa.
Santa greeted the hundreds of children on the ground below with a “Ho, Ho, Ho!” He said he’d just landed his sleigh on the ninth green at the Bartlett Country Club.
Santa also brought his favorite reindeer, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. His nose shined bright red.
Santa ticked off the names of some of this year’s popular toys including dump trucks, dinosaurs, La Bu Bu toys, football and baseball cards and Buffalo Bills jerseys — especially Josh Allen’s No. 17. A Spider-Man action figure is also a popular toy, Santa said as he held up one of the boxed toys.
In a phone call from Mrs. Claus at the North Pole told Santa “the elves are working hard and everything is on schedule.” How about the Pokemon games and La Bu Bu’s? He asked.The elves have also been making bicycles — both pedal-powered and electric — radio-controlled helicopters and drones.
Santa’s first special guest was Buddy, the head elf. His first task was tossing Christmas candy on the ground. He then proceeded to recite ingredients for his favorite cookies.
Santa’s second guest on the rooftop was The Grinch, who proceeded to display his wrapping prowess by wrapping a coup-le of presents for Santa — badly. “Don’t quit your day job,” Santa warned. “Keep practicing. You’ve got some work to do.”
The Grinch asked if he was on the good list this year. “So far, you’re on the good list,” Santa replied.
“Well, my heart has grown six or seven times this year,” The Grinch said.
“Six or seven?” Santa said moving his opened hands up and down in the now familiar gesture. “Listen, six or seven. How many times has his heart grown, six or seven?”
“Six or seven,” came the reply from the audience — including children, as they laughed and gestured up and down with their hands too.
The Grinch joined Santa and the audience below in singing “Jingle Bells,” before passing out presents — some chocolate chip toothpaste for Buddy the elf and some “poop-pery” for the grinch.
Santa then unfurled his “list” of good and bad little boys and girls. He urged them to listen to their parents, brush their teeth and keep their rooms clean.
