_______________ east meadow ______________
HERALD $1.00
‘1 sport, 1 town’ championship
Clarke swimmer April Chun honored
Allstar Children’s Center opens
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VOL. 21 NO. 51
DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2021
Salisbury tree lighting draws a merry crowd By LAURA LANE llane@liherald.com
Sue Grieco/Herald
Ringing Comet’s bell Children were given an unexpected treat at the East Meadow Fire Department’s Breakfast with Santa in Salisbury on Sunday. Santa brought along Comet’s bell, and let Winter Grande, 4, and her brother, Grey, 2, tested it out. More photos, Page 16.
Kelly Greff is a lifelong Salisbury resident, but until recently, she had never attended the neighborhood Christmas tree lighting on Carman Avenue, held this year on Dec. 10. Her son, Danny, 14, insisted they go because he wanted to watch the Clarke select chorale perform. He’s in chorus at Clarke High School and hopes to become a member of the audition-only chorale, she said. Her other children, Riley and Casey, 12 and 8, wanted to go as well, Kelly said, so that sealed the deal. Her fiancé, Craig Sanchez, came along too, bringing his 3-year-old, Eva, who sat on her father’s shoulders, smiling
broadly. “We didn’t realize how big an event this is until we couldn’t find a place to park,” Greff said. “Fortunately, it’s warmer tonight than the last few days.” This year, there were more people at the tree lighting on Carman Avenue than in years past, said Helen Meittinis, president of the Community Association of Stewart Avenue, which sponsors the event. Last year it was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the year before, when just minutes before it was to begin, rain poured down. Perhaps that was why so many people came this year, Meittinis said, or maybe they just wanted to get out and celebrate the holidays together CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
PAIGE FANANG, 3, hung an ornament on the blue spruce tree, which was later lit for Christmas.
The holiday spirit is alive in E.M., with a big helping of giving back By MALLORY WILSON mwilson@liherald.com
Joe Gargiulo, 63, had long dreamed of decorating his house for the holidays in an over-thetop way, and for more than 30 years, he has made that dream come true. The Salisbury resident, whose home is covered inside and out with Christmas lights and decorations has been affectionately nicknamed “Mr. Christmas” by friends.
The Gargiulo family doesn’t stop at decorating their home at 2714 Hyacinth St. They’ve hosted a Christmas party for friends and family for years and go one step further. For the past 20 years, they have collected toys and money for American Giving Project/Toys of Hope at the party. The Huntington-based charity is entirely volunteer-driven. Toys of Hope founder Melissa Doktofsky has attended the Gargiulo family’s Christmas party
for years. Her organization, started in 1994, collects toys and money for distribution locally, with all proceeds going to people in need. “The party started out small with about 15 people,” Gargiulo said. “Now it’s grown to over 100. It’s a lot of family and friends, and friends wind up bringing friends and so on.” Gargiulo cooks everything for CONTINUED ON PAGE 11
Sue Grieco/Herald