Festival of Lights Brightens Holidays at The Long Island Home

Christina Massoni collects snow globes. The 11-year-old West Babylon resident has 30 of them. But she never imagined being inside one.

That was the big draw at The Long Island Home’s Festival of Lights on December 16. The courtyard of Broadlawn Manor Nursing & Rehabilitation Center on the grounds of the Amityville campus was adorned with an estimated 50,000 lights, several inflatable holiday figures, a snow machine and life-sized snow globe.

“It was awesome!” said Christina. “Except it was freezing.”

Despite frigid conditions, about 100 children of Northwell Health employees attended the family event, including Maria Massoni, works in the finance department. “We just had to bring her,” Ms. Massoni said.

Lenny Nartowicz, executive director of The Long Island Home, which oversees South Oaks Hospital and Broadlawn Manor, said the light show was a new addition to what had been an annual holiday tradition.

“It was a collaborative idea. The team got together and said, ‘What can we do a little bit different this year to showcase this facility and make it more special for our staff?’” said Mr. Nartowicz. “I kept insisting, ‘Put more lights! Put more lights!’ This is it.”

While face painting, craft table, gingerbread house competition and holiday desserts kept a large crowd warm, engaged and well fed inside, the impressive winter wonderland outside drew the most praise. It was the work of Lead Groundskeeper Richard Cerra and Groundskeeper Greg Mercado.

“Actually seeing the kids running around the snow machine and the globe is a big part of this,” Mr. Mercado said.

Just as significantly, Broadlawn Manor residents will enjoy the Festival of Lights three times a day for several more weeks. The dining hall faces the lit-up courtyard.

For more information about South Oaks Hospital, including Outpatient Chemical Dependency and Substance Abuse programs, call 631-608-5028.