A decade ago, Garden City South Community League attendance was dwindling. After the death of their president, Pat Friedman, in 2018, the league began preparing for new leadership. That’s when Marge Kelly stepped into the presidency. The league asked to plant a tree at the front of the park, which became the centerpiece for revitalizing their tree lighting tradition.
Six years later, the tradition remains. The league held their annual Christmas tree lighting at Garden City South Park on Dec. 7. Festivities began at 6 p.m. and featured several performances, a DJ, a food drive run by VFW Post 2718, hot drinks and food, and a special visit from Santa and Mrs. Clause.
According to Kelly, a lot of work goes into a large event like this. “Everything you see is done by seven people,” she said.
The league starts planning as early as April. While Kelly’s team only consists of a handful of league members, she does get help from the community. Local businesses donate food for the event, Kelly said, and there are park employees who help them decorate.
The Garden City South Community League was the first civic association on Long Island, and they just celebrated their 95th anniversary this year. According to Kelly, Pat Friedman, who was president of the league for 40 years, led the fight to preserve Garden City South Park during her tenure.
“They originally wanted to make this park a strip mall,” Kelly said. “But Pat fought to make this a community park. And she won.”
However, Friedman died in 2018. By that point, Kelly said, community meeting attendance was declining. That’s when Kelly decided to revitalize the tree lighting, and the league asked to have a tree planted in the front of the park.
This is the tree they decorate each year and light up for the community.
Since then, the event expanded and became a collaborative effort in the community. With dance performances from the Tip Tap Toe Dance Studio, multiple songs performed by Apollo theater winner Sogna Santana, a VFW Post 2718 food drive, and appearances by the Franklin Square and Munson Fire Department, Toys for Tots, and Girl Scouts Troop 1045, the tree lighting has become an event made possible by local neighbors and friends.
Christine Hillaris, president of auxiliary to VFW Post 2718, said the community league has always supported their veterans. She said the league’s ability to draw in many visitors from all over the town helps their cause significantly.
“I like to see the big turnout in the community,” she said. “If it wasn’t for the community, none of these nonprofit organizations would be able to survive. The community league makes our veterans feel proud.”
While Kelly has done a lot of work restoring this community tradition, she said she would be stepping down from the community league in February. That makes this year’s tree lighting her last as president of the community league.
“It’s bittersweet,” Kelly said. “But I’m a little exhausted from it.”
Luckily, she said, the league will be in good hands after she steps down. Angela Romano will be taking over as president in early 2025.
“It’ll be up and going,” she said. “I expect it to be here for another 95 years!”
