Firefighters, friends go caroling, caroling
BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer

WOODBRIDGE - Members of the Avenel Fire Department, along with their families and friends, brought smiles to members of the public with their dulcet voices of holiday cheer over the weekend.

The group of approximately 45 people, including Earl Runkel as Santa Claus and his wife, Marge, as Mrs. Claus, caravanned in three of the department's fire trucks, the fire chief 's truck, and personal vehicles on Dec. 16 to bring cheer by singing "Silent Night," "Jingle Bells" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" to local residents.

The evening of caroling began at Jim Thorn's residence in Sewaren for his daughter Christine, 42, who has cerebral palsy and is wheelchair-bound, which has been a tradition for the past 37 years.

"This is the start of our holiday season," said Thorn, who is a retired Woodbridge Township police officer. "It has been nice watching the kids grow up and now having them bring their own kids."

Thorn also decorates his home with train displays, which he has been collecting since 1980.

The department has followed the Thorns through their various moves from Colonia, Avenel, Iselin and now Sewaren.

The department's second stop was made to the home of Firefighter Darren Holland's grandmother, Anne Safko, who is 92 years old, in Woodbridge Proper.

"This has been so beautiful," said Safko, who divulged that she had danced and sang at Carnegie Hall, was in the church choir and also was a New York, New Jersey registered nurse for 70 years.

Connie Manente, who lives in Colonia, loved seeing all the people.

"It was really a treat, and it gives me the joy of Christmas, seeing all the children," she said.

About 40 seniors of the Maple Tree Manor in Avenel gathered to listen to the carolers.

"This was great and has lifted everybody's spirits," said Terry Fedkow.

The seniors provided the carolers with hot chocolate and cookies.

Next stop was to Karl and Fran Morley's Avenel home.

"It is a thrill to have the carolers come every year," said Fran.

Runkel, who is the "official" Santa Claus for Woodbridge Township, has played the role since 1995.

"My father used to do it," said Runkel, who starts growing his white beard during the second week of November. "My first gig is the last week of November, and the gigs, which are in Woodbridge and surrounding counties, last through January. If people ask, we will come."

Runkel, who has been with the Avenel Fire Department for 36 years, gets his Santa look perfected at Albert's Beauty Salon by Alice Sinatra on Main Street in Woodbridge.

"It takes eight hours in two weeks," he said. "The salon donates everything, and also if anybody wants to make donations, I just tell them to make a donation to the Avenel Fire Department."

Carmela Tusa, who is in her 80s, sang along with Santa and Mrs. Claus and the carolers, as she sat in her living room with her family in Woodbridge Proper.

"When they sang to me, I felt very happy," she said afterward.