FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM DECEMBER 10, 2020 • THE QUEENS COURIER 35
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Ridgewood family decks out home with Christmas display
BY ANGÉLICA ACEVEDO
aacevedo@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
A longtime Ridgewood family wants
to help spread holiday cheer amid the
COVID-19 pandemic with their fi rst
Christmas extravaganza.
Giovanni Perna, who ran for Assembly
District 38 in this year’s election, said he
and his family wanted to give back this
holiday season. He said it was his mother,
Cathy Mazzarella, who not only thought
of the idea, but also decorated most of
the home.
“I’m in shock,” said Perna, adding that
their family has lived in Ridgewood for
more than 40 years. “My mother decorates
every year … every year she would
buy more and more, and it came out to
this.”
Th eir home, located at 1715 Summerfi eld
St., features colorful Christmas lights as
well as infl atable snowmen, candy canes
and Santa Claus.
What sets their home apart is that while
visitors can marvel at the outside of their
home, they may also walk through their
decorated driveway and into their backyard
for an intimate and immersive experience.
Th ey also set up a donation box in order
to collect toys to give to Toys for Tots.
Th ey will be collecting toys until Dec. 20.
“Th is is to put a smile on kids’ faces,”
said Mazzarella. “I know a lot of people
lost their jobs. I have four boys. Th ey’re
all grown now, but I always wanted them
to have gift s too.”
Th eir home, driveway and backyard is
open to the public from 6 to 8 p.m., and
the lights will be on from 5 to 11 p.m.
throughout the weeks in December.
Th e family asks visitors to wear masks
and social distance, and will provide hand
sanitizer before and aft er entrance to their
driveway.
“If you have nothing to do or want
something for your family to
get into the hol iday
spirit, you can
come by and
check it out,”
said Perna.
“If you want
to donate, that’d be
awesome too.”
Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
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