Editorials

Editorial: Lighting the way

December 3, 2014 Editorial Staff
BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP/file photo
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LIGHTING THE WAY

The holidays are upon us and, here in Brooklyn, we know how to celebrate.

Already, the round of tree-lightings has begun, with communities gathering together to share cups of hot cocoa and glimpses of Santa as they celebrate the magic of the season.

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And, that’s just the beginning. Across Brooklyn, residents who love the holiday and their community go the extra mile, adorning their homes with dramatic displays that never cease to amaze.             Particularly, we are awed by the glittering displays in Dyker Heights, where residents annually transform normally quiet side streets into a winter wonderland inhabited by Santas galore, wooden soldiers, characters from fable and story, and cartoon favorites. Catch their efforts now through the end of the year, joining the crowds who make annual pilgrimages to this most magical of neighborhoods.

Across the borough, on a street corner in Canarsie, is another amazing sight – a house so brightly lit that plane passengers flying into Kennedy Airport can pick it out. That’s the law office of longtime community stalwart Frank Seddio, who has continued and built on a tradition begun years back by a relative to bring joy to neighborhood children.

The lights go on at Seddio’s place Flatlands Avenue and East 93rd Street — on Sunday, December 7 at 5 p.m., with a grand neighborhood celebration that includes an appearance by Santa Claus and a selection of musical performances to delight young and old. Like the lights of Dyker, it’s a spectacle not to be missed.

SHARING THE LOVE

Again, The Home Reporter and The Brooklyn Spectator want to remind our readers that this year we are holding a toy drive for two tremendously worthy causes, Reaching-Out Community Services and the Secret Sandy Claus Project.

New, unwrapped toys for boys and girls from infant through teen can be dropped off at our office, 9733 Fourth Avenue (corner of Marine Avenue) through December 18 for Reaching-Out and through December 20 for Sandy Claus.

Reaching-Out will use the donations it receives to provide toys to underprivileged children through two events – the annual Operation Christmas Smiles party on Saturday, December 20, which will be attended by 600 area children, and Santa on Wheels, the following day, when volunteers will deliver toys to approximately 200 additional children.

The Secret Sandy Claus Project — which began in 2012 as a way of making the holiday season special for kids whose families were devastated by Superstorm Sandy — is expanding its goals this year, and will deliver toys not only to children affected by Sandy but also to children who are battling cancer, disabled, economically disadvantaged, in a foster home or homeless.

We hope you will join us in helping make these children’s holiday wishes come true.


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