Paul Curiale, chair of the Mill Basin Civic Association and executive director of Millennium Development, welcomed and introduced Community Board 18 District Manager Sue Ann Partnow, NYPD 63rd Precinct Community Affairs Detective Thomas Podd, and Donald Cranston representing Assemblymember Jaime Williams, D-59.
Cranston presented certificates on behalf of Williams to Salta and Trotta, thanking them for uniting the community and organizing the “Avenue N Holiday Celebration.”
Curiale introduced the performers from the Dance House of Brooklyn, Midwood Older Adults Center Choir and P.S. 236, P.S. 203 and P.S. 312 from the Bergen Beach Youth Organization and Millennium Development programs. They sang carols and danced to holiday music on the corner of E. 59th Street and Avenue N.
Traditional and contemporary music was played by DJ Ross. Curiale thanked him and all those who helped, including the Knights of Columbus and the Kings Plaza–Canarsie Kiwanis Club for bringing the zeppole truck and Santa to the event. Hot cocoa added to the warm welcome.
Jen Kepler brought her 5-year-old daughter, who ate her first zeppole at the event and said she liked the sugar on it. “We’re excited that the community has such nice things for the people who live here,” Kepler said.
Participating businesses each contributed hundreds of dollars toward the cost of the lights rental and made various contributions as a way of giving to the community, which sits on the border of Flatlands and Old Mill Basin.
Many of the merchants on the avenue are family-run businesses that have been there for generations, known for specialty gourmet foods, restaurants, quality services and merchandise. They have become a tight-knit community who have formed strong bonds with schools, churches, charitable organizations and each other.