Lighting up the night in Malverne

As part of its annual, weeklong holiday lighting celebration, the Village of Malverne held dozens of festivities last week, including its main event: the annual Lighting of Malverne.

The tree lighting was held on Dec. 3 at the Driscoll Plaza fountain — where the village’s menorah has been lit for Chanukah, Dec. 1-9. Thousands of residents from Malverne and surrounding communities came out to watch Mayor Patricia MacDonald and the town board flip a switch, turning decorative lights on and surrounding the village tree. Following the lighting, Father Frank Parisi of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Malverne performed the blessing of the crèche. Other events held last week were a Gingerbread Cookie Workshop on Dec. 1; Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 3, at Grace Lutheran Church and the American Legion Hall; and Bowling with Santa on Dec. 3, at San-Dee Lanes.