Page 30 - North Haven Magazine Issue 21 Holiday 2021

The Story of by Jill DeChello

The Magical Elf House

am thrilled to announce the third Magical Elf and live among us to report back to Santa on
I House this year on Saturday, December 4 and who is been good and who’s been bad. I grew up
Sunday, December 5. Since the Elf House is a believing that and it stuck with me. As soon as
elf-guided tour, with Covid last year we were I met Ramona and Jennifer from Design House
unable to do it. But, this year I was offered the Interiors, I knew that they would become my Mark and Mary Minotti in their
Johnson Mansion in Wallingford for the elves Christmas Fairies and bring my story to life. alter ego elf roles
and it is absolutely perfect. I peeked in the win- Each year, I seek out the perfect house and they
dows of that house for years and to finally see create beautiful magic. In the past Mark and
the inside was so special for me. It is stunning Mary Minotti, from The Music Center have
inside! been my touring elves. This year Santa added
two new touring elves to the schedule Andrea
For those of you who are unaware of The Mag- Knapp and Jeff Deluca. Andrea is a Mom who's
ical Elf House story, let me enlighten you. My daughter helps at the events. Jeff who owns In-
sister and I are many years apart and I’m sure finite Nutrition and has been such a big part
I was an unexpected handful for my mom with of every event I've done. I'm thankful to them
the age difference. I can remember always ques- both. If you’ve never been to the Elf House you
tioning how Santa Claus knew if you were good should come. It really is magical and what the
or bad. The elf story just never sat well with me. holidays are all about. It brings out the child in
One day in an A&P, I was about 8 and I can us all, for me, not far to go! Group size will be
remember being in the shopping cart trying to smaller this year.
grab everything I could. That day, my mom fi-
nally had enough. She pulled the cart aside, and Keep track of
in frustration said, “I’m gonna tell you the se- Facebook.com/TheMagicalElfHouse Ron Iannucci from RVI Computers
cret.” She proceeded to tell me the secret of the poses with Jennifer Napolitano,
magical elves and how each year right before Tickets sell out quickly. I’m a head elf so I’ll one of the very talented Christmas
Christmas Santa Claus allowed his special elves see you there! fairies.
to go all over the world, look like real people

30 North Haven Magazine - Holiday Issue 2021