By John Cerini
The Holiday Lights are up! As one of the volunteers who collect for the lights, we need the residents of Throggs Neck to understand how these lights are put up. Many, but not all, business owners contribute to the lights. You can look in next week’s edition of the Bronx Times and Penny Picher to find a list of contributing merchants who have given a minimum of $135 and up to $1000 to help pay for the lights. We all know that we are in a tough economy right now, and we can understand how it is difficult for businesses to participate in fundraisers such as the Holiday Lights. Therefore it is very important for residents to express how the lights make them feel. If you like the lights, please express that to the business owners who have contributed. Let them know you want them to contribute again in the future. When you go shopping in Throggs Neck, please look for the signs that express Holiday Light Contributor. If you do not see this large green sign that has a woman holding presents, please ask those storeowners if they have contributed. We all want Throggs Neck to continue to be bright and beautiful for the holidays, but we can’t do it without the business owner’s contributions. The lights are spread from LaSalle Avenue all the way through Miles Avenue. We actually have many businesses who have contributed at least $135, that don’t even have stores on East Tremont.
These stores are: Scaduto Roofing – Gold Level, Sanitation Salvage – Bronze Level, NDS-Websites.com – Basic Level, A-1 Food Distributors – Basic Level, DetorDesigns.com – Basic Level, Throggs Neck Homeowners Association – Basic Level, and FigTreeWellness.com– Basic Level. You can find these and all other contributors on the website at www.ThroggsNeck.org Thank You for your support of all our local merchants.
The Throggs Neck Tree Lighting is coming this Sunday! We hope you can make it out to join in the festivities. The lighting of the tree is a long time tradition which was started by the Menna Family. Don’t worry if it’s cold, the Menna Family will be providing free hot chocolate and cookies to keep warm. Assemblyman Michael Benedetto now sponsors the Christmas Tree Lighting. Our Throggs Neck Merchant Association is proud to be participating with the Assemblyman and the Menna Family for the second year. This year we will again have the great voices of the St. Benedict’s Choir lifting our spirits with their Christmas carols, and the blessing of the tree and holiday season by St. Frances de Chantal Church. After the tree is lit, Santa will be arriving on the Edgewater Park Fire Truck and be giving the first 200 good boys and girls toys. The toys have been donated by the Throggs Neck Merchants along with a photo with Santa, which will be available on our website for download at www.ThroggsNeck.org There will also be a raffle held that night for a $75 value gift basket made of all sweet treats for one of the lucky adults who is present. The raffle will be no cost to the adults. Bring your children, and tell your family and friends.
As always, please remember to do your holiday shopping as local as possible. The holiday season allows many local businesses to stay open. They depend on a good holiday season to get them through their slow months. In any community vacant stores would not be attractive. As local residents we need to remember that shopping locally keeps our local economy going strong. Many local businesses hire area residents and keep the local unemployment rates down. As our motto say “Unity for the Community” Happy Holidays!
