By Liz McBreen
Leah Freeberg organized the Hanukkah portion of the festivities, which included a menorah lighting marking the last day of the Festival of Lights. According to Freeburg, the celebration "takes place every year and has been going on for about seven years."
Christmas music played as children huddled around the booths set up by the West Hempstead Civic Association so that they could create their own Christmas decorations and decorate cookies. The gazebo, decorated for the holidays in red bows, served as the center for the celebration and is now accompanied by a Christmas tree, creche and menorah.
Special guests Santa and Mrs. Claus took time from their busy holiday schedule to visit the celebration. Refreshments were served and baskets full of holiday cheer were raffled off at the event.
Nancy Conta, organizer of the event, said that the Civic Association sent flyers home through the schools, sent out an e-mail to the residents on their mailing list, and posted some signs around town to let everyone know about the holiday fun. Conta said the new gazebo, installed in early September by the Civic Association's Community Beautification Project, gave this year's celebration a boost. "We used to be in the front of the park, but now it's in the back near the gazebo."
