Community Corner
Photos, Videos: Lindenhurst Holds Annual Tree Lighting
Lindenhurst residents gathered in the heart of the village to celebrate the holiday season by watching the Lindenhurst Fire Department Christmas parade and attending the Village tree lighting ceremony.
The and the recently held the annual Santa in the Park Christmas on . Hundreds turned out in Village Square to see Santa, and stayed to see the tree lit on Wellwood Avenue, just south of the railroad tracks, behind the World War I Memorial.
The kicked off at 1 p.m. in the park on the corner of East Hoffman and North Wellwood Avenues where Lindy families and children of all ages gathered to see Santa Claus arrive at the park on an elaborately decorated Lindenhurst Fire Department truck.
Though the weather remained unusually warm throughout the December afternoon, everyone still enjoyed hot chocolate, cotton candy, hot pretzels and other refreshments provided by the , which held its own Christmas Party for the children in the community earlier in the day at the American Legion Hall on Herbert Avenue.
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Santa in the Park continued throughout the afternoon, and was hosted by Chamber President JoAnn Boettcher, as well as other Chamber members. Then after Santa had seen all of the children, everyone packed up and moved down Wellwood Avenue for the tree lighting.
Music was provided by Steve Kaplan, music director at and his choir. They played all of the Christmas and holiday favorites, including Let It Snow, The Twelve Days of Christmas, Joy to the World and Silent Night. While the choir performed, children skated around the blocked-off area of South Wellwood Avenue.
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The Lindenhurst Fire Department's Christmas parade began slightly after 6 p.m. It featured decorated fire trucks, blow-up Christmas decorations and children on-board the trucks tossing candy canes to the crowds of Lindenhurst residents.
As the parade moved closer to the tree that was about to be lit, local officials, such as Village Mayor Tom Brennan and Shawn Cullinane, Village Administrator, Suffolk County Legislator Wayne Horsley and New York State Assemblyman Robert Sweeney, awaited its arrival.
Mayor Brennan gathered with the children and asked them what they wanted for Christmas; many said they wanted an X-box and iPad 2.
"We're so happy to be gathered here tonight to light our tree. I want to wish everyone in Lindenhurst a Merry Christmas. We have a lot to be thankful for: Our families, police force, fire department, our troops overseas and most of all, our children," said Mayor Brennan.
Lighting the tree this year was Norma and Herman Oswald, who are long-time members of the , which also held a wreath contest prior to the tree lighting. Society President Marian Santoli was with the couple at the lighting.
Both Herman and Norma Oswald graduated from in the 1950s. They held hands as they lit the tree for all of Lindenhurst to see.
Take a peek through the to see video and photo highlights of this year's holiday event in the heart of Lindenhurst Village. And feel free to add your own images to this gallery; simply click the upload button. Also click for a quick visual tutorial if you're still unsure how to do that.
In addition, click here for Lindy Lens highlights of the Santa in the Park fun, and look for Lindy Lens highlights of the Lindenhurst Kiwanis Club party.
