The 2008 Christmas Tree Lighting brought Glen Covers together in Village Square on Saturday, Nov. 29 for music, dance, horse and buggy rides, cocoa, a little fa-la-la-la-la, and a visit from St. Nick.

Families enjoyed and sang along to holiday tunes by the Downtown Village Carolers under the direction of Susan Challender as well as carols by members of Girl Scout Troops 1467 and 128. Students of the Glen Dance Studio performed scenes from their production of The Nutcracker. The traditional candlelight remembrance of the U.S. Armed Forces was led by Mayor Ralph V. Suozzi and Downtown BID Executive Director Francine Koehler, and members of the Glen Cove High School DECA Club, always ready to help, were on hand to take pictures with Santa and perform whatever other duties needed to be done.

As darkness approached, revelers sang Here Comes Santa Claus while wide-eyed children watched and listened in anticipation for the flashing lights and sirens of a Glen Cove fire truck announcing the arrival of Santa Claus. As Mr. Claus has a very special relationship with the city's volunteer firefighters, Glen Covers have been promised that Santa Claus is coming to town every year. A loud and laughing "ho, ho, ho" drowned out the sound of the fire engine, and a cheer went up from the crowd as the jolly old elf appeared, waving and smiling as he climbed from the truck, only to be enveloped in a crowd of good little boys and girls.

Santa assisted Mayor Suozzi in the lighting of the Christmas tree, donated by Mr. and Mrs. Giuseppe Izzo and family, then sat and listened to Christmas wishes from excited children. Fortunately for those children not quite ready to approach the bearded man in red, Santa understands, and will certainly grant their wishes as well. Happy Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!