Friday, Dec. 4, was unseasonably warm but it still felt like Christmas at the bandstand in Mary Jane Davies Park on Plandome Road in Manhasset. The Manhasset Park District once again sponsored our official tree lighting and there was a record crowd on hand. Estimates ranged from 1000 to 1500 in attendance. It was a representative crowd as the youngest and the oldest residents mingled, enjoyed the Park District's hot chocolate and donut holes and the music. The music was especially good this year, with St. Mary's orchestra, the Manhasset High School Brass Ensemble and singers from both schools contributing to everyone's enjoyment.

The Manhasset American Legion Post #304 opened the proceedings with its Honor Guard and the invocation was given by Monsignor John J. McCann of St. Mary's.

Town of North Hempstead Supervisor May Newburger was on hand as were Council members Doreen Banks, Angelo Ferrara and James O'Connor. We also saw Receiver of Taxes Ann Galante and Town Clerk Linda Green. In fact, the list of local celebrities is too long to mention.

The Manhasset Chamber of Commerce once again sponsored a poster contest, the posters having been on display throughout Manhasset for the past few weeks. Chamber President Betsy Chesebrough gave the grand prize to Jessica Law, a sixth grader at Munsey Park School, for her presentation.

Other winners were:

Division K-3: Gold, David Peterson, Munsey Park second grader; silver, Cara Schwartz, Munsey Park second grader; bronze, Kevin Law, Munsey Park third grader.

Division 4-6: Gold, Elaine Conte, Munsey Park sixth grader; Katherine Despagni, Munsey Park fifth grader; Lauren Lucente, Munsey Park fourth grader.

Division 7-8: Gold, Emily Geller, Manhasset Middle School seventh grader; silver, Gregory Amend, Middle School seventh grader; bronze, Asif Mansoor, Middle School eighth grader.

At five o'clock, Manhasset Parks Commissioner Michael Adams began the traditional countdown with everyone present helping him. When the countdown reached "one," as if by magic the lights on the trees in the park, at Town Hall and at the station went on. And then in the distance came the familiar sound, not of sleigh bells, but of the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Engine and along came Santa, to the delight of everyone.