By Karen Wolitzer
The homes done in just one color are dramatic, yet the houses lit up with reds, greens, blues and every other color of the rainbow are gorgeous too. I just can't get enough of it. So,when I heard that Jones Beach has a light-park, with over a million lights and more than 100 displays, I had to see it. And it turns out that the Holiday Light Spectacular is just that...spectacular. In its third season, the 2002 Spectacular provides a two- mile drive, where you'll see Santa's workshop, Rudolph and friends, snowmen, 10 Lords a leapin' and a patriotic display that will bring tears to your eyes.Most of these incredible displays were done by professional designers, but ten of them are based on sketches by Long Island's most talented teens. Clear Channel Entertainment, Jones Beach State Park and the New York State Parks Department invited the students of Long Island to design their own holiday light displays. A total of 34 schools were mailed information during this past summer and 45 sketches were submitted.The ones proposed by Danid Chait and Craig Klasson of Calhoun High School, Shirley Pezua of Sewanhaka High School, Kristen Schreiner of Bethpage High School, Marie Farina of New Hyde Park Memorial High School, and Christina Ferrara, Angela Finochio, Michelle Schumacher, Jessica Verdichizzi and Michael Impollonia of Farmingdale High School were chosen. Then the brilliant lights people turned their drawings into fantastic displays...and you can see them as you drive through this miraculous place.When you're done seeing all there is to see, stop into the Holiday Village to say hi to Santa and have some delicious holiday treats-and maybe pick up a last minute gift or two.The park is open Monday through Sunday from dusk till 10:00 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from dusk till 11:00 p.m. Admission is $12 during the week and $15 Friday, Saturday and Sunday.A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Natural Heritage Trust, which is administered by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. This marvelous Trust is used to fund nature walks, seashore walks, fishing clinics, birdwatching walks and bird checklists, beach grass planting for dune stabilization, nature hikes, forestry walks, geology walks and exploring freshwater wetlands and rivers, owl prowls, exploring reptiles and amphibians, recycling projects and many more programs. A vast array of cultural arts programs and recreation programs are also funded through the Trust...like the Games for the Physically Challenged, Empire State Games, Senior Games, Children's Jubilee, Captree Carnival, Wildwood Fall Festival, Mardi Gras Gala and the Winter Arts Festival Cultural Arts Concert Series. It also funds polo tournaments, fishing contests, tennis clinics, basketball clinics, holiday tree lighting ceremonies and many other worthwhile activities.Over the past two years, The Holiday Lights Spectacular has raised and donated over $53,000 to local charities. So, while you take in all the breathtaking sights, you can know that you're helping your neighbors.
