Dear Santa,
This is my annual letter in which I gently remind you that I’ve been very good this year. Through this column, I’ve mentioned as many Noteworthy Neighbors as possible. I’ve hopefully inspired others to become good neighbors, too. Since I’ve kept my end of the bargain, I’m hoping you’ll keep your end of the bargain.
Signed, Sue

Now, I’ll drop this note (along with a return address) before Wednesday, Dec. 10, into the Santa Express mailbox at Roselle’s Clauss Recreation Center, 555 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. I know I’ll receive a reply for the North Pole.

Likewise, I know that Santa will be welcoming in holiday season by riding around Roselle on a firetruck. The annual trek will occur Saturday, Nov. 29. Sirens will fill the air to announce Santa’s arrival.

At 1 p.m., the firetruck will stop at the Roselle Public Library, 40 S. Park St. Santa will lead the 19th annual holiday sing-a-long and kick off the village’s annual U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign. The Roselle Village Hall, library, and Police and Fire stations are drop-off locations for new, unwrapped toys that will be presented to needy children in the neighborhood. Questions? Call (630) 980-2000. 

Donations of colorful new mittens, gloves, hats and scarves will help decorate the Roselle library’s Mitten Tree. The library will donate the cold weather necessities to needy local residents through the Bloomingdale Township general assistance office.

Speaking of Bloomingdale, the village is hosting its free annual holiday open house from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, at the Bloomingdale Public Library, 101 Fairfield Way. The festivities begin with the lighting of the village Christmas tree. Then, there will be music by the Trinity Lutheran School hand bell choir, craft projects for children, refreshments and a visit from the Sugar Plum Fairy.

At the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy will fill the stage as the von Heideke Chicago Festival Ballet Company presents the Tchaikovsky classic, “The Nutcracker Suite.” The Friday to Sunday, Dec. 19 to 21, production features local ballerinas of every age.

A very reliable source told me that during the 2006 “Nutcracker,” there were two celebrity ballerinas — Malia and Sasha Obama. The president-elect and first lady-to-be Michelle were sighted backstage.

“They were delightful,” said ballet company founder Kenneth von Heidecke. “I introduced their proud father, Barack, to (the legendary prima ballerina absoluta) Maria Tallchief. After the introduction, Maria’s comment was ‘that man is going somewhere.’”