Bayside Hills Civic Holiday Festival



The sounds of the season will be heard on Dec. 5, as the rings in the holidays with their annual Menorah and Christmas tree lighting.

The will take place at Bell Boulevard and 53rd Avenue at 5 p.m.

Participants include the Gloria choir of St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, the students of the Oakland Jewish Center Hebrew School and the husband and wife performing duo Michael and Cathy Chimenti.

Politicians expected to to attend include Senator Frank Padavan, R-Whitestone, Senator-elect Tony Avella and City Councilperson Dan Halloran. There might even be a special appearance from the one and only Santa Claus.

Oakland Jewish Center has been participating in the event for over five years. Rabbi Michael Ehrlich and their Hebrew School children do the honors of lighting the Menorah and sing Chanukah songs.

The interfaith celebration will begin with a benediction from the Rabbi and Reverend Monsignor Martin T. Geraghty, the pastor of St. Robert, followed by the lighting of the Menorah.

This is followed by a performance from St. Robert's Gloria Choir, a group which represents Bayside's Korean community. Geraghty noted that they will be singing Christmas carols, and may sing a Korean song or two, as well.

After that, it's time to light the Christmas tree, decorated by the Bayside Hills Civic Association Beautification Committee.

The Chimentis will provide the tunes, as they do every year.

"It's an honor to participate because it gives us the chance to give something back to the community and a chance to perform in our neighborhood," Michael Chimenti said.

Song sheets will be provided for the audience to sing along.

Geraghty enjoys this annual event as he believes that, "It's very important that we realize we're one community…It's important to do the work of dialogue and have moments like this where we take some time and celebrate traditions."