Howard Beach community bands together
to create ‘Holiday Lights on Cross Bay’
BY BILL PARRY
The Howard Beach community
came together this year to
create “Holiday Lights on Cross
Bay,” a dazzling display that
will illuminate a long stretch
of Cross Bay Boulevard from
156th Avenue to 165th Avenue,
infusing the neighborhood
with holiday cheer.
“The last time the community
did holiday lighting was
back in 2005,” Doreen DeCandia
said. “Around holiday time
you see holiday lights on Bell
Boulevard, Jamaica Avenue
and Union Turnpike and you
think, why shouldn’t we have
this in Howard Beach, too?”
So DeCandia, whose husband
Joe DeCandia owns
Lenny’s Clam Bar and Roma
View Catering Hall in Howard
Beach, joined Kelly Signaselli,
Mary Griffith and and Camille
Adamo formed a team to make
the event happen. The four
women walked up and down
Cross Bay Boulevard eliciting
support along the commercial
corridor.
“Everyone loved the idea.
More than 60 small businesses,
big businesses, families and
organizations either pledged
or contributed their support for
the holiday light display. Everyone
is very excited,” DeCandia
said. “We all worked very hard
and those three ladies really
put themselves out there and
they enjoyed every minute.”
Most financial contributions
ranged from $100 to $1,100
to pay for the decorations and
the cost of installation and
electricity. The names of each
business that contributed will
be posted on the fence next to
the Starbucks located at 157-
41 Cross Bay Boulevard. De-
Candia noted that Starbucks
was generously donating coffee
to the workers who were
installing the lights.
Workers are installing holiday lights along Cross Bay Boulevard
after a group of Howard Beach women decided to bring some cheer
to their neighborhood. Courtesy of Doreen DeCandia
“This will be ready for
Thanksgiving week but if it’s
ready before that we’ll just light
it up,” DeCandia said. “That
could be as soon as the weekend.
We’re not going to have
a lighting ceremony, we just
want to see how it goes.”
She added that in addition
to the support from Our Lady
of Grace Academy, which has
been an integral part of the
Howard Beach community for
more than 95 years, the project
also had the support of Councilman
Eric Ulrich, the Queens
Chamber of Commerce and the
Kiwanis Club. It also drew support
from businesses in nearby
Lindenwood, Ozone Park and
other neighborhoods.
“It’s a wonderful way to
make the holiday season a
little brighter and bring some
cheer to the fantastic neighborhood
we call home,” DeCandia
said. “In a time where our
culture and society is marred
by criticism, skepticism, competition
and negativity, this
is a wonderful way to bring
optimism, hope and positivity
to our local community. After
all, that’s what the holiday season
is all about, and Our Lady
of Grace Catholic Academy is
happy and honored to assist
in bringing those spirits to
Howard Beach.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by
e-mail at bparry@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at (718)
260–4538.
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