Thanks to the kindness of Mother Nature in providing Long Island with a great stretch of December weather, the 19th annual Carter, DeLuca, Farrell & Schmidt Ho Ho Ho Holiday Run, held on the roads of Bethpage on Dec. 16, was a tremendous success. There were 1,184 finishers in the 5K Run and more than 50 youngsters in the 1/4 Mile Fun Run that preceded the main event. The net result is that several local charities, including the Bretton Bowl fund for needy Bethpage families, the Maurer Foundation for Breast Health Education, and the Tender Loving Care Foundation for premature infants, will each receive substantial contributions. In addition, the generous toy donations by the participants will allow many disadvantaged children to have a more festive holiday through the Greater Long Island Running Club's partnership with Mercy First.

The first Farmingdale finisher was Brian McMahon, with a time of 21:20. Other finishers from Farmingdale included Justin Ripley (23:53), Jackson Weber (24:11), Paul McGinness (24:27), Karen Pinna (24:35), Tom Hanik (26:06), Mitchell Ginsberg (27:58), Edward Donohue (28:49), Tom Lazicky (29:37), Joan Ackerman (30:33, good for the second place trophy in the women's 65-69 age group), Jean Hatton (30:45), Helen Kriegstein (30:45), Linda Brownworth (31:36), Sal Scimeca (32:24), Lauren Renna (32:54), and Sarah Mae Konchalsky (40:30).

Special thanks go once again to title sponsor Carter, DeLuca, Farrell & Schmidt, and to our presenting sponsor Retail, Wholesale & Chain Store Food Employees Union, Local 338, for their generous contributions. Without sponsors it would be impossible to produce a race with this many participants and to maintain the high quality standards required to make the race a success. We were especially pleased to have Ray Farrell, Dave Carter and several other staff members of Carter, DeLuca, Farrell & Schmidt along with Local 338 Funds Administrator Charlie Hamilton compete in the Run.

Thanks as well to Whole Foods Market, Kozy Shack Pudding, and Shop Rite for the generous donations of fruit, puddings, and soda that helped made the post-race refreshments so good.

Special thanks go to Race Directors Joe Sturgess and Bob Sherman, and to all the Greater Long Island Running Club volunteers who continuously and willingly donate their time. It is these volunteers who provide the needed efforts to ensure that everyone enjoys participating in a GLIRC event.

Thanks also go to Nassau County Police and the Auxiliary Police for making the course safe for everyone. Also, John Snitko of JMS Racing Services is deserving of high praise for his thoroughly professional timing job. One of the biggest "thank yous" goes to Superintendent of Schools Richard Marsh and the Bethpage School District for allowing the Run to utilize the excellent facilities at Bethpage High School, to the enthusiastic and efficient custodial staff at the high school, and to Nassau County Legislator Ed Mangano and Bethpage Fire Commissioner Gary Bretton for facilitating our use of the high school.

The wonderful support provided by the Town of Oyster Bay and its Supervisor John Venditto deserves commendation once again. The town continues to show its enthusiastic support for running and fitness programs by both words and deeds. Thanks as well to Town Councilwoman Rose Walker and Town Councilman Joe Muscarella for being on hand on race day to support the event.