Salt Marsh Center Has Holiday Lighting Ceremony

(Clockwise from top left)Graceful dancers strut their stuff; Santa Claus greeted children and stayed for the tree lighting; local youngsters braved the chilly weather to attend the ceremony and a small Chanukah menorah was displayed, too. Last week the Millennium Development Corporation, the New York City Department of Parks and Urban Park Rangers combined to conduct a holiday lighting ceremony at the Marine Park Salt Marsh Nature Center, at 3302 Avenue U, just a few miles west of Canarsie.

In addition to Christmas tree and Chanukah menorah lighting, the small crowd that attended, despite the cold weather, was entertained by a group of dancers from a local studio and the P.S. 222 After School Program chorus, which sang a variety of holiday tunes.

A very special guest, to the delight of young and old, was a surprise appearance by Santa Claus just weeks before he begins his annual rounds of gift distribution.

State Senator Marty Golden, who represents parts of Marine Park, was in attendance, along with Millennium and Parks Dept. personnel.

Photos by Barry Fischer