Residents Brave Cold For Annual Festival of Lights

A brave crowd of West Islip community members battled chilly winds and freezing temperatures to attend the ceremony on Sunday.

"It is always notoriously windy and cold for this event," said Kathleen Gagliardi, who was there to sing "Let There Be Peace On Earth" for the crowd.

Other residents were there because their children were participating in some of the ceremony's events.

"My son, Joseph, who is a junior, is playing in the band and my daughter, Anna, who is a freshman, is a member of the kick line," said Grace Byington.  "After this she has dance rehearsal because she is going to be in "The Nutcracker" ballet at Hofstra in two weeks."  She was also at the earlier in the day because her daughter played the cello with the W.I. Chamber Orchestra.

Toni and Josh Buccino came with their three children, ages six, four and two. "Our six year old daughter is a Daisy so she is singing with the Girl Scouts," Toni said.

The Girl Scouts, featuring the Daisies and the Brownies, sang "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" for the crowd while the W.I. High School Kick Line danced to Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You."

The program for Sunday's event, which was co-sponsored by the and the W.I. Chamber of Commerce, was done by Beach Street Middle School student Hillary Marroquin, who was presented with an award by First Vice Commander Joe Faccibene of the American Legion.

The speakers who addressed the crowd kept their speeches short in view of the weather. The guests included Councilman Gene Parrington, Assemblyman Thomas Barraga, Suffolk County Treasurer Angie Carpenter and Rev. Michael Betrano from Our Lady of Lourdes Church, who gave a prayer of unity to the crowd. 

After the lighting of the tree and menorah, the crowd was invited to a reception at the American Legion Hall. The West Islip Fire Department showed up to officially end the day's events with a very special couple in tow, Santa and Mrs. Clause.