Baldwinites gather for Christmas tree lighting

Joan Giles has had the massive grand fir tree in front of her house adorned with Christmas lights for the past six years, but she thought it went unnoticed by other Baldwinites.

Her neighbor Christine Deluca knew otherwise, though. “People park in my driveway, and they’ll take their holiday photos right in front of it,” Deluca said.

Standing more than 80 feet tall, the lighted tree can be spotted from the Baldwin Long Island Rail Road platform, about a mile away. Last year, Deluca made it clear to Giles that people were aware of the tree by gathering a small group of people at the corner of Harte Street and Irving Place to watch as the tree was lighted.

“We just called around and told a few people,” Deluca said. “It was great. She absolutely loved it.”

This year’s lighting ceremony, though, was not as much of a secret. Groups including the Baldwin Civic Association and the Chamber of Commerce advertised the event, and people who attended last year’s lighting brought more people with them. Deluca had to ask the Town of Hempstead to close down the streets, a request the town granted.

This year’s event also featured a special guest who helped light the tree — Santa Claus, who was driven down the block by the Baldwin Fire Department. “This is just great,” an emotional Giles said as she watched children cheer and wave at him. For his part, Santa encouraged the crowd to thank Giles for decorating the tree, and stuck around after the lighting to pose for pictures with her and other residents.

For Giles, who is in her 80s, the event was even more special because her daughter Liz could see the decorated tree for the first time. Liz Giles lives and works in Morocco, and though she spends Thanksgiving with her mother, she has never been in the country to see the lights set up. “I’m so excited right now, and honestly I could cry,” Liz said. “It’s super-festive.”

Deluca said that she and Giles have been neighbors for 14 years, and have become good friends. “I would snow-blow for her and always just check in on her,” Deluca said. She said she noticed last year that Giles wasn’t feeling well, and felt a little down because she thought no one appreciated her work with the tree.

“We had to do something to show her people do know,” Deluca said. Seeing people await the lighting, Deluca said, lifted her friend’s spirits. “She realized people in the community do like it and do appreciate that she does this.”

This year, Giles and Deluca also offered attendees hot chocolate. People were asked to bring unwrapped presents, which will be sent to St. Christopher Roman Catholic Church in Baldwin and donated to families in need.

“We called the church, and they said they would absolutely take them,” Deluca said.

Giles explained that her late husband, who died in 1994, had wanted to have the tree decorated. About six years ago, she found a company that would do it for her.

She said she hopes to make the lighting an annual tradition. “As long as the tree stands up,” she said.

Her favorite part of the event, she added, is seeing strangers come together and greet one another. “These people here, I’ve never seen before,” she said, “and they’re all talking to each other, which is great. We don’t get to see each other outside our houses, and this way we do.”

Deluca said that she, too, met many new people while organizing the lighting. “It’s nice to see so many new people here,” she said.