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8 Sweet gesture full of the Christmas spirit Thanks to the dogged determination and sleuthing skills of an Acton Post Office employee ­ doubling as Santa's elf ­ a nineyear-old Acton boy will get a response to the letter he mailed to Santa Claus, even though the return address on his wish-list letter is in California, where he and his family will spend Christmas. Gavin Hogue was so excited to send his letter to Santa that he wrote it, put it in an envelope and rushed out to his community mailbox to send it, without his mother having a look at it. Because Gavin's family will spend the holidays with his grandparents in Palm Springs, California, that's the return address he put on his letter. Gavin's mom Danielle Bedard Hogue was surprised last week to get a call from a Canada Post supervisor, asking if she knew who Gavin was and what was his address. "She told me that when the letter crossed her desk, she decided to try to track Gavin down to ensure that he got a response from Santa," Bedard Hogue said on Sunday. "She went that extra mile ­ she didn't have to ­ and it was appreciated. It was a sweet gesture that will make one little boy very happy," Bedard Hogue said, adding she told her son that Santa and his elves wanted to make sure that he got his letter back from Santa, so it was being rerouted to his Acton address. On Monday, Supervisor Janet Lovegrove said they go out of their way to help Santa and his elves respond the Christmas letters ­ they process approximately 700 each holiday season at the Acton Post Office. "Unfortunately, some letters come too late, and others without a return address and there's THE NEW TANNER THURSDAY, DECEMBER 06, 2012 HOLIDAY BOUNTY: Tables of handmade crafts ­ like the wreath held by volunteer Laura Campbell ­ and delectable treats greeted shoppers at the Christmas in the Village bazaar at St. John's Anglican Church in Rockwood Saturday ­ Ted Tyler photo not much Santa can do about them, but we have been able to track down a few," Lovegrove said. Most of the letters to Santa include the prerequisite "I've been good," ­ they are wish lists ­ and Lovegrove said this year's requests, both carefully hand written and one a five-page computer printout, include requests for dolls, skinny jeans and Justin Bieber stuff. "Many of the letters ask how Mrs. Claus and the reindeers are doing, and one said, `please make sure all the good boys and girls get what they want, especially the children who have nothing,'" Lovegrove said. This is the 30th year that current and retired postal workers have helped Santa and his elves with the Christmas letter program, which will top 20-million letters this year. To get a personal response from Santa, write to Santa Claus, North Pole, Canada, H0H 0H0. Close to Home, Far From Ordinary Annual Christmas Concert Bethel Christian Reformed Church (Across from Home Hardware) Sunday, December 9, 2012 at 2:00pm I - The Christmas Story in Music II - Christmas and Seasonal Songs Glorious Carol Singing, Audience, Band, and Organ. ACTON CITIZENS' BAND Donations of Food or Funds for the Acton Food Bank greatly appreciated Christmas refreshments for all! 310 GUELPH ST. GEORGETOWN Now open Sundays 11am - 5pm (905)873-4405