Warmer temperatures held on and record numbers turned out for the Levittown Chamber of Commerce Holiday Tree Lighting on Dec. 5. Local school music gro
ups and dance studios along with a church choir performed to the enjoyment of the crowd, who waited excitedly for the visit by Santa, who arrives each year with the assistance of the Levittown Fire Department.
Performances were given by Northside School’s Instrumental Ensemble directed by Jill Castillo and the school’s Holiday Singers directed by Jacklyn Salnier, a student teacher; Holiday Cheer Kidz of Neighborhood Entertainment Arts and Theatre (NEA
T) directed by Watson Miller; the Island Trees High School Chamber Orchestra directed by Leiann McGrory; Dance Force directed by Haley Rodolfy; and, St. Bernard’s Church Adult Choir and volunteers directed by Mary Jane Witte, who led the crowd in singing traditional songs.
Among the dignitaries at the event were New York State Assemblyman Tom McKevitt; Nassau County Legislator Dennis Dunne, Sr.; and, Town of Hempstead Councilman Gary Hudes. Also, seen in the crowd were heads of local organizati
ons, businesses and establishments and hundreds of smiles of people enjoying the event that has become a Levittown tradition.
Radio stations WKJY 98.3 FM and Fresh 102.7 FM were on hand with a prize wheel and giveaways. Coffee was donated by Levittown Starbucks in the King Kullen Shopping Center and hot chocolate was provided by the Levittown
Public Library.
