Bayside families took time to enjoy the simple pleasures of the season at Sacred Heart School’s annual Breakfast with Santa, last Saturday, Dec. 7.

Parishioners chatted and reconnected with each other over hot coffee and a hearty breakfast, while children created gingerbread men, mixed reindeer snacks and played holiday games with friends.

Model Train Exhibit

Young and old alike were delighted by a model train exhibit, featuring six different postwar Lionel trains, courtesy of Arthur Miller and monitored by Robert Miller. Everyone stared in awe as the 665 Hudson, 1615 Switcher and 2355 F3s huffed and puffed their way around a 15-foot by 5-foot display consisting of three mainlines.

This year, Arthur Miller was inspired to create a one-of-a-kind Christmas train, hoping it would bring smiles to all of the children. Over the last five months, he built from scratch six articulated cars, each carrying two of Santa’s reindeer and the final car with Santa Claus in his sleigh. He also created a New Year’s train complete with bells, lights and a New Year’s baby in top hat with a 2014 sash.

Sleigh bells were a sure sound that the man all were waiting to see had arrived – ready to hear what the boys and girls wanted for Christmas this year and pose for photos.

Meanwhile, parents won over 25 raffle prizes, including a date-night dinner for two at one of Bell Boulevard’s finer restaurants.

Before heading back to his sleigh, the Big Man checked his “Nice” list and had an early Christmas present to deliver to Arthur Miller – an engine for his roundhouse.

This school fundraiser was made possible by Anna Rodriguez, chairperson, and her team of elves – school parents, seventh-graders and community volunteers who helped plan and conduct the event.