Editor’s Note: This article was written and submitted by Chris Boyle.
A frosty sheet of December rain wasn’t enough to deter the Bellmore Chamber of Commerce from holding their Christmas Tree Lighting and Holiday Extravaganza, nor was it enough to deter Bellmore residents from coming out to enjoy the festive annual tradition with their families.
Chamber president Debby Izzo oversaw the lighting ceremony and welcomed the cheerful crowd packed into the Veteran’s Memorial at the corner of Bedford and Broadway in Bellmore Village.
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“I want to welcome you to the Bellmore Chamber of Commerce’s 16th annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Holiday Extravaganza,” Izzo said. “We hope you all enjoy the evening that the Chamber has put together. Please show your appreciation for all that’s happening here tonight by patronizing all of our Chamber members and local merchants of Bellmore, not only this holiday season, but throughout the year.”
Attendees were treated to hot chocolate and popcorn sold by the Bellmore Kiwanis Club (with proceeds going to assist victims of Hurricane Sandy), horse-drawn carriage rides along Bedford Avenue, holiday music and an overall yuletide cheer.
Legis. David Denenberg, D-Merrick, spoke at the lighting, and pointed out that Bellmore residents have a great deal to be thankful for this holiday season after making it through the onslaught of Hurricane Sandy.
“For the last month-and-a-half, we were battered a little bit,” Denenberg said. “But we’re helping each other, neighbor helping neighbor, come through this disaster and that’s a lot like the holiday season. You’re with your loved ones, you’re with your neighbors and you put your priorities straight, which are family and friends. And I know that we’re going to emerge from this disaster ever stronger. Bellmore will never be better.”
Hempstead Town Clerk Mark Bonilla also attended the lighting ceremony and gave a special piece of advice to all the children in attendance.
“I need for you to give the best Christmas gift that you can to your parents...not fighting with your brothers and your sisters,” Bonilla said. “Can you do that for me? But what we in government want more than anything is for you to have a good, safe holiday season and to always remember how blessed we are.”
After toe-tapping caroling performed by a quartet called Sound Approach and a huge choir from the North Bellmore school district, the crowd counted down the seconds to the lighting of the Christmas tree. When the count reached zero, the 2,700 bulbs sprang to electric life, signaling that the holiday season was truly here.
Nancy Kincaide is a regular at the Chamber’s Holiday Lighting Extravaganza, and said that this year’s was one of its best ever.
“I love all the effort that the Chamber puts into the lighting ceremony year after year,” Kincaide said. “It’s a beautiful event that’s loaded with fun and personality. My kids and I come every year and we always have a great time!”
What did you think of this year’s event? Tell us in the comments section below.
MORE HOLIDAY STORIES
Bellmore Village Hosts Tree Lighting
(Credit: Chris Boyle)
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Pat Boyle Egland May 20, 2013 at 04:06 pm
The NBUFSD BOE has not mentioned cutting bussing in over a year, it is not a part of the 2013-2014…Read More budget.
The pensions and benefits are not regulated by the BOE it is a state mandate.
Greg Bashaw May 20, 2013 at 12:50 am
Well for starters, why not give candidates 401K's and only pay a proportion of their benefits...Hire…Read More teachers and adm that actually live in our district...... Has anybody proposed dismantling the high school district......From the way I understand they have tried unsuccessfully to combine, well then how about saving moneu and splitting up the 3 high schools...This was we wont need 2 administrations...... I will try and I will think out of the box!
Dan DeLilla May 18, 2013 at 10:40 pm
So Lu Scala never had any children so it might be safe to say you have never been to a PTA meeting…Read More or a School Board meeting or a budget presentation so then you would have no idea how the money is spent good or bad. I'm sorry that your neighbors make more than you but like anything else you get what you pay for there are educational requirements for teaching and administration jobs, I'm sure you would be happy if all the school personnel could be replaced by minimum wage earners or better yet we could close all the schools after all you have been out of school for 40 years so you don't need them anymore, but thats not how it works. Why is always the uninformed that speak loudest and longest?
Lu Scala May 17, 2013 at 08:49 am
I never had any kids.. and am the last kid who went to to the Bellmore Merrick school system.....its…Read More been almost 40 years since I was a Mempham grad..and it is very disharting to hear that my many many high tax dollars..are not enought for these kids I have been sororting all these years!!! Who is getting all the money??? Its all bull.. aI live inbetween teachers.. how is it they can afford high end cars, housekeepers, landscapers, ect??????... the money is being spent in the WRONG WAYS TO THE TEACHERS, AND MOST OF ALL THE ADMISTRATION, THE SCHOOL BOARD ECT... I AM CALLING FOR A MASSIVE AUDIT AND GET0 per year.. they afe not worth any more then that.. THE MONEY BACK FROM ANYONE WHO WAS PAID MORE THEN $75,00....
patti May 16, 2013 at 08:28 pm
A bit of a surprise considering kids come home with a supply list a mile long (and average $40-$75).