Christmas spirit shining bright in Howard Beach

Hot chocolate was the drink of choice for hundreds of Howard Beach families and friends as they braved chilly temperatures to usher in the holiday season together at the Howard Beach Columbus Day Foundation’s (HBCDF) first annual tree lighting ceremony.
Held on Cross Bay Boulevard this past Sunday, December 3, the event began at 6 p.m. and police estimated that approximately 600 people followed a set of swiveling searchlights to its location outside of the Starbucks between 157th and 158th avenues. There, a towering but unlit Christmas tree watched over the festivities as families mingled and a line of young people snaked a path toward smiling Starbucks employees dispensing complimentary hot chocolate.
Pat Adams, HBCDF vice president, said the Foundation organized the entire event in about one month’s time and that its success sent a strong message about the community’s character.
&#8220I think it was, as was the Columbus Day Parade, another demonstration of just what type of community Howard Beach is,” Adams said, noting that neighborhood residents and merchants made the evening possible. &#8220We are unified, we are proud and when we work together we can accomplish tremendous things.”
Attendees found it to be an unequivocal success.
&#8220It’s nice to show people outside of Howard Beach who we are and what we stand for,” said Howard Beach Civic Forum Vice President Nina DeBlasio. &#8220It’s like our own little Rockefeller Center.”
Marianne Kaplan, who said she has lived in Howard Beach for 14 years, might even donate a tree next year. &#8220Everybody came together. It’s like one big family,” she said.
&#8220I think kudos to the Columbus Day Foundation and the entire community for coming together like this,” said City Councilmember Joseph Addabbo. &#8220Howard Beach is known for many things, some of them not so great. This shows that the community has a lot of heart.”
Adams gave the evening’s opening remarks followed by blessings said by Father Joe Gibino of Our Lady of Grace Parish and Monsignor Richard Marchese of St. Helen’s Parish. Next, St. Helen’s Choir sang &#8220Silent Night” and students from the Fazio Dance Studio followed with a jazzy routine done to Mariah Carey’s &#8220All I Want for Christmas.”
The evening’s impromptu master of ceremonies, Frank Gulluscio, district manager of Community Board 6, then introduced Nicole Spirito, 13, as &#8220Howard Beach’s own American Idol” prior to her Whitney Houston-esque rendition of &#8220Oh Holy Night.”
St. Helen’s Choir next sang &#8220Deck the Halls” and &#8220Oh Christmas Tree.” In-between, Stanford Dance School students wearing flouncy, red mini-dresses and carrying enormous evergreen wreaths strutted Rockettes-like in a precision dance number.
Fazio Dance students dressed as toy soldiers danced again and, in what was the high point of the evening for many children there, Santa Claus arrived to hand out candy canes.
Shortly after 7 p.m., Pat Adams started a countdown to light the tree ending when 2006 Columbus Day Parade Grand Marshals Joe &#8220Mecc” Meccariello and Mary Grosso switched on the colored lights that decorated the 26-foot, star-topped spruce. The lights sputtered and went out as a jumbo jet roared overhead.
After several teasing attempts to get all the lights functioning together, it remained in a partially-lit state for the remainder of the evening.
According to Adams, the HBCDF members came together just over one year ago in planning the community’s first Columbus Day parade in 2005 and is currently seeking new members to get involved in various projects that will contribute to building pride within the community.
In addition to the large tree lighting, the group also organized for 50 Christmas trees to be planted along the Cross Bay Boulevard median between 156th and 165th Avenues thanks to help from local sponsors, Adams said.
Those interested in becoming members of the Howard Beach Columbus Day Foundation should call 718-738-7035 to learn more.