Bay Ridge, Dyker celebrate
with trio of tree lightings
BY JESSICA PARKS
A southern Brooklyn community
group made their end
of the borough much brighter
this month with a trio of spectacular
Christmas tree lighting
celebrations.
This year marked the triumphant
return of the annual
tree lightings, which — like
many of the borough’s extravagant
holiday celebrations —
were put on hold last year due
to the pandemic.
“During this season of giving,
NIA is incredibly proud to
once again offer these beautiful
and fun Christmas Tree
Lighting ceremonies to the
people of Bay Ridge and Dyker
Heights,” said NIA President
Michael A. Bové and NIA Chief
Executive Offi cer Mary Anne
Cino in a joint statement provided
to Brooklyn Paper. “We
had a wonderful time joining
our elected offi cials, Investors
Bank, Santa, and carolers in
spreading holiday cheer to the
hundreds who attended, especially
after last year’s pause in
celebrations. We at NIA wish
everyone a happy, healthy,
and safe holiday season!”
NIA Community Services
Network kicked off its series of
three Christmas tree lighting
on Dec. 2 in Shore Road Park.
The event, which featured a 10-
foot tree in the park’s gazebo,
drew approximately 250 attendees
for a night of music, fun,
cookies and chocolate milk.
All three annual events
are put on in partnership with
Councilmember Justin Brannan,
state Sen. Andrew Gounardes,
For the Treatment of Varicose Vein,
Leg Swelling and Leg Wounds
COURIER L 12 IFE, DECEMBER 10-16, 2021
National Grid and Investors
Bank — whose Dyker
Heights location served as the
venue for the Dec. 3 Christmas
tree lighting.
“After the past two years we
had, keeping even these small
traditions alive takes on a new
meaning and importance,”
Brannan told Brooklyn Paper.
“I was thankful to again work
with our local partners to
make this possible. This truly
is the most wonderful time of
the year and I hope these lights
will bring smiles and cheer to
everyone during these enduringly
tough times.”
Christmas carolers sang
to a crowd of about 100 people
who gathered at the 13th
Avenue money lender in addition
to remarks from Brannan,
Bovè and Investors Bank
President Domenick Cama.
The organization’s third
and fi nal Christmas tree lighting
on Dec. 7 at Dyker Park
saw another appearance from
Santa Claus who this time was
joined by his friends Sandy
the Seagull and her adopted
son Peewee, who helped Saint
Nick entertain the kiddos.
HO HO HO: (Top) The Shore Road Park Gazebo Christmas tree all aglow. (Bottom) Councilmember Justin Brannan,
pictured here with santa, kids and fi rst responders. Photos by Arthur de Gaeta, courtesy of NIA
THE VASCULAR INSTITIUTE
OF NEW YORK
Dr. Natalie Marks:
The First Vascular Medicine
Specialist in Brooklyn
DIRECTOR OF THE VEIN CENTER
718.438.3800
960- 50 St., Brooklyn, NY 11219
www.VascularNYC.com
NATALIE MARKS, MD
Established 1992
Clinical Associate Professor
of Medicine at the NYU School of Medicine
/www.VascularNYC.com
/www.VascularNYC.com