18 When the Newcastle Santa Claus Parade had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a local business decided to find a safe way to bring Santa Claus to town. "I started wondering how we could do something to help bring a little extra community spirit this holiday season," Cheryl Ricker from Wicked Winks eyelash salon said via email. She found an old McLaughlin sleigh (built in Clarington) and restored the 1890s-era sleigh with the help of friends and volunteers. The antique sleigh was placed in front of Wicked Winks, which operates from a Newcastle heritage home built in 1832. Santa visited on Saturdays in December, with the last visit on Dec. 18. Children could speak with Santa and get their pictures taken. To follow COVID-19 safety protocols, kids who wanted to get in the sleigh with Santa needed to wear face masks, or they could stand in front of the sleigh with their masks off. There was no cost to families and donations were accepted for the Clarington East Food Bank. "We will be making this an annual tradition for our community. So far residents have filled my van twice with non-perishables and we've raised over $700 in cash donations," Ricker via email. COVID-19 COULDN'T STOP SANTA IN NEWCASTLE JENNIFER O'MEARA jomeara@durham region.com Santa and his helpers, (from left to right) Raquel Summers, Dawson Brown, Sebastian Miranda, Hannah Devries and Jonah Ricker, in front of the Wicked Winks eyelash salon in Newcastle. Cheryl Ricker photo NEWSWE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU SUBMIT YOUR LETTER TO THE EDITOR TODAY! SAVING YOU MORE ON NOW AT THE BRICK! SAVING YOU MORE SAVING YOU MORE Visit thebrick.com for more details and locations.