Westbury Avenue looks a little brighter as the Carle Place community held their annual tree lighting ceremony this past Sunday, Dec. 7.
Despite the cold, hundreds of families and community leaders came out to the corner of Westbury Avenue and Cherry Lane to usher in the holiday season by lighting the tree in front of Gino’s. The Carle Place High School brass band played for the crowd and the choir ensemble sang classics such as “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.”
As in past years, the Civic Association held their window decorating contest where the storefronts of Westbury Avenue were decorated by local students. In the 10th through 12th-grade category, Barbara Curran and Michelle Winter won for their minions and Olaf design, and Natalie Garcia and Katelynn Mazzeo won for their Snoopy artwork (both in the Gino’s windows). In the seventh through ninth grade category, Danielle Grima, Ava Passariello and Ruby Tirone won for their decoration of the Carvel windows; Maya Aleman and Emily Szalkowski won for their Savoire Faire Beauty Salon art and Skylar Reed, Trinity Reed and Emiline Biggin won for their Flappy bird/frog decoration at Gino’s.
John Heslin, president of the Carle Place Senior Center, lit the tree and much to the delight of children, Santa and Mrs. Claus were then escorted down Westbury Avenue with the help of the Carle Place Fire Department. The festivities ended with free baked goods and refreshments in the Cherry Lane cafeteria.
The festivities were hosted by the Carle Place Civic Association and president John Hommel emceed the event.
“The Civic Association provides this event each year to bring the community together and provide a kick-off to the holiday season for all,” said Hommel. “This has been a tradition in Carle Place for many years. Going forward to next year we will make it even bigger and more festive with some new decorations and lights for the tree. The free hot chocolate, desserts and raffle that follow at Cherry Lane school are also a great way for neighbors to greet one another for the holidays!”
