Source: Pat Dorfman
Dec. 2, 2012 By Bill Parry
Police from the 108th Precinct closed down traffic on Skillman Ave. on Thursday evening so a crowd of 250 people could celebrate the 3rd annual Holiday Lighting event.
The event, which marked the illumination of the snowflakes on Skillman Ave., took place across the street from Aubergine Café (Skillman and 50st Street), where the owner Gary O’Neill provided hot chocolate to the attendees.
“This is by far the biggest crowd in the three years we’ve done this,” Jimmy Van Bramer, the local councilman, said. “It gets better every year.”
Students from P.S. 150 and P.S.11 sang Christmas carols for the crowd of parents, elected officials and a host of civic leaders. The children sang songs such as: It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas; I wanna wish you a merry Christmas; and Let there be Peace on Earth.
About 10 minutes later, a police car pulled up and Santa emerged handing out candy.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday the Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce held its 30th tree lighting celebration at Sabba Park, which went ahead as planned despite the harsh rain.
A few dozen hardy souls braved the elements to join the Sunnyside Drum Corps and choral groups from the LIC YMCA and LaGuardia Community College.
Pastor Brian Dowd, the parish leader at Queens of Angels, was happy with the turnout despite the inclement weather. “I like to call Sunnyside a small town in the big city,” Father Dowd explained, “this reminds me of It’s a Wonderful Life.
