Mineola Holds Annual Christmas Tree Lighting

The Village of Mineola held its annual Christmas tree lighting and party Friday night at the  as the community's children were exciting to see Santa Claus, who made an appearance with helpers including Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

Mineola  threw the switch to light the tree, located along Jericho Turnpike in between the  and . For Martins, it would be the last Mineola Christmas tree lighting in his career as Mayor as he has been .

Among the other dignitaries present were Mineola Deputy Mayor Larry Werther, Trustees Paul Cusato, Tom Kennedy and Paul Pereira, acting Village Justice Richard O'Callaghan, Village Justice John O'Shea, former Mineola Deputy Mayor and Trustee John DaVanzo, , American Legion Mineola Memorial Post #349 Commander Sal Cataldo, Mineola Veterans of Foreign Wars Private Adolph Block Post #1305 Commander Manny Grilo and Principal Dr. SueCaryl Fleischmann.

In anticipation of the tree lighting, the  string ensemble pumped out Christmas carols while Hampton Street School students sang into the night

The Mineola Fire Department used its communications to reach out to the North Pole and was able to invite Santa Claus to stop by for a visit. Just after Martins pulled the lever that lit the tree, Old Saint Nick showed up with his helpers and was greeted by the community's children whose eyes were all aglow.

The crowd then filed into the  for refreshments and for the children to meet Santa.

As an addition to this year's holiday celebration, many residents reached into their own cupboards in order to help those less fortunate, donating packaged food into boxes provided by the village at the lighting ceremony.