A new tradition launches

Posted Thursday, December 17, 2015 12:00 am

Standing beside the first Christmas Tree of Hope are Juana Gauthier, who helped organize the event, left, Hempstead Town Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby, center, and Alfredia Fairnot, president of the Baldwin Oaks Civic Association.

Photos by Maureen Lennon/Herald

Town of Hempstead Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby presented a citation to the members of the Baldwin Oaks Civic Association.

Budding star Cenee Lee, 17, sang at the Baldwin Oaks Civic Association’s tree-lighting.

Liana Harper Cruz, sang John Lennon’s “Happy Christmas” for the crowd.

The Christmas Tree of Hope was recently planted in Coe’s Neck Park. The decorations on it are minimal because it is still growing roots, but holiday lights on a gazebo nearby shine down on the young tree.

By Adrienne Lyons

A new Christmas tree now shines in Coe’s Neck Park with the start of a holiday tree-lighting ceremony that North Baldwin can call its own.

Members of the Baldwin Oaks Civic Association and the York College chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success joined to put together the celebration, which also commemorated the passing of Dejah Joyner.

Joyner, 12, died in October when a stray bullet entered her Hempstead home.

Organizer Juana Gauthier said organizers hope the joint venture will be “a blueprint for other communities to come together, and advocate for a stop the violence movement.”

Besides the tree-lighting, other highlights included performances by vocalists Cenee Lee, 17, and Liana Harper Cruz. Gospel singer Carol Maraj, mother of superstar Nicki Minaj, was to appear, but bowed out after her son was arrested in connection with a sexual abuse case earlier this month.

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A new tradition launches

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