Christmas Tree Lighting
On Friday, Dec. 4, all of Manhasset came out for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting at Mary Jane Davies Park. The turnout was phenomenal. With the good weather, young and old alike wanted to be out and soak in the joy in the atmosphere. Supervisor Judi Bosworth opened the festivities with good cheer and Fr. Bob Romeo of St. Mary’s Church gave the blessing.
The gazebo was adorned with lights and a crèche was set up behind plexiglass. Nearby, a menorah stood ready to be lit on the first night of Hanukkah on Sunday, Dec. 6. Everyone who came enjoyed this wonderful Manhasset holiday tradition of music, hot chocolate and goodies. Friends and neighbors came together on this mild December evening to “ooh” and “aah” over grand works of art created by the next generation of Manhasset artists from grades kindergarten to sixth grade had submitted to the Manhasset Chamber of Commerce Poster contest.
“The Chamber’s contest had a record 130 posters submitted from Munsey Park, Shelter Rock, St. Mary’s and Our Lady of Grace. We had prior contest participants help judge and get every poster up along Plandome Road thanks to Alexandra Penzi, Emily and Amanda Harragan and more. All the work is worthwhile when you have a parent like Risa Waltos thank you for bringing out a talent in her daughter, Gabrielle, that she didn’t know existed,” said Nancy Morris. “Hearing that and also how families make it a tradition to walk Plandome Road at Thanksgiving to find their children’s poster make my 13 years as poster chair extremely rewarding.”
The traffic on Plandome Road was cordoned off so that residents were able to safely cross Plandome Road and have a fantastic view of the grand entrance Santa Claus made on his trusty fire truck. The children were ecstatic and greeted the jolly ol’ elf with cheers.
Commuters and residents alike were thrilled by this hometown event which brought together folks of all ages. Neighbors stopped to chat in the park about upcoming socials and where they going to buy their own Christmas tree. Diane Garnjost commented “my kids are all grown, but I still come because I love this event.”
This special hometown event was sponsored by the Town of North Hempstead, the Manhasset Chamber of Commerce, the Manhasset Park District and Manhasset-Lakeville Fire and Water Department.
