Tree Lights Glow In Neighborhood’s Hearts
By Rabia W. Noorstani

Although the neighborhood of Sunnyside may be small, its size does not diminish the value of its large heart and the camaraderie among its neighbors. On Tuesday, November 29 at 6 p.m., residents joined together in the Joseph Sabba Park located on 49th Street and Queens Boulevard, to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season. Along with the delightful Sunnyside Drum and Bugle Corps, dignitaries from the Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce joined in on the celebration.

John Vogt, president of the Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce, who was looking forward to lighting the tree, didn't get the chance to do so, due to electrical problems; but that didn't spoil the evening one bit. In fact people were enveloped in the aura of the Christmas spirit and didn’t need lights at all. Father Joseph Jerome, pastor of the Sunnyside Episcopal Church, who has appeared and spoken at this event for seven years, stated, “I apologize to not be able to have the tree light up, but what we are celebrating is the light of God, which cannot be found in a tree, and this week begins a new year.”

“You don't need lights on a tree after a prayer like that.” Vogt said. No one disagreed. The atmosphere was amiable and the combination of pleasant weather, friendly people and good entertainment made for a successful gathering.

“The Joseph Sabba Park is the best choice [for the tree lighting] because it is exactly at the beginning of Sunnyside, and also Joe Sabba was the original founder of the Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce, and we'll make the best of it,” Vogt explained. They certainly did. The Drum and Bugle Corps of Sunnyside performed an array of wonderful songs. Singer Patricia Dillon, who has been entertaining at this event for four years, now said, “It’s enjoyable to see the community get together.” Dillon's pleasant voice filled the air with holiday songs as children had their pictures taken with Santa Claus and enjoyed the cookies, cider, hot chocolate and other assorted refreshments that were provided by White Castle. The V-Cops, who are war veterans who formed a neighborhood patrol group, kept watch over the area while the ceremony was going on. Locals were enjoying themselves. Ona Whitman, a resident of Sunnyside since 1976, said, “This is a wonderful event. People don’t know what they're missing.”

Luke Adams, a Chamber member and one of the photographers for the event, commented, “You know, Sunnyside is a small town in a big city and I have been attending this event for about 30 some odd years and I love the people that come to it.”

Triada Stampas, a representative of City Councilmember Eric Gioia, said, “I’ve been here in years past, and it’s sweet. You've got the Drum Corps, with kids who have practiced for this event for hours, and people come from all around the neighborhood to get together.”

Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce Secretary Terry Facciuto summed up, “We’ve had many, many tree lightings here, and it never mattered what the weather was, rain, wind, snow, we were here. This is the first year that the lights are not working, but you know what? We illuminated the tree, instead of the tree illuminating us.”

Lily Gavin, a former president of the Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce, reported that according to Gioia, Christmas lights will be hung on utility poles along the stretch of Queens Boulevard that runs through Sunnyside next year. High winds brought about the technical failure on November 29, according to Gavin, owner of Dazies Restaurant on Queens Boulevard, where a post-event get-together was held. “The lights went on later that night, but the real lights were already on in our hearts,” she said. “The lights in our hearts shone brighter than any we could have put up. It was a happy time.”