By JUDY RATTNER
Nevertheless, hundreds turned out to enjoy the company of neighbors, candy canes that were passed around and the opportunity to sip hot chocolate courtesy of Buscos and the Vineyard Christian Fellowship Church. After a blessing by Father John McCarthy from St. Agnes Parish, the audience was treated to a brief medley of the season's favorite songs arranged by Dr. Brian Zuar, Director of Performing Arts for Rockville Centre schools. They were sung by the combined South Side High School choruses, under the direction of Melissa De La Vega, and accompanied by the high school Pep Band, directed by Gene Kaplan.
Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer joined the singers and waved to the crowd. Santa Claus even made a fleeting, early-season appearance, waving to the crowd as he rode by on a Rockville Centre fire truck.
Dressed in a period-piece gown, with her hair pulled up, Mayor Mary Bossart, fresh from a dress rehearsal for the Leggz Ltd./South Shore Symphony Nutcracker Suite, spoke briefly to wish all who had gathered a very Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season. Bossart was joined by Deputy Mayor Chuck Joyce, also dressed to the nines for the same rehearsal, trustees Dave Krasula and Andrew Karamouzis, Parks and Recreation Director Tony Brunetta and Town of Hempstead Councilman Anthony Santino. The highlight of the evening came as Bossart led a countdown and Evelyn Boyle, 9, her brother Finn, 5, twins Jillian and Brian Schumacher, 7, and Danielle O'Sullivan, 6, who were randomly chosen from the crowd, threw the switch to illuminate the village's splendid tree, drawing cheers and applause from the crowd.
Following the party on the green, everyone was invited to the Phillips House on Hempstead Avenue to continue the village's holiday season kickoff with hot milled cider and cookies, and the chance to preview the Rockville Centre Historical Society's holiday exhibit.
Comments about this story? RVCeditor@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 208.
Photos by Janette Pellegrini/Herald
