Halls Pond Lights Up for the Holidays

The West Hempstead community decked the Halls - Halls Pond Park that is, Sunday night as they gathered for their annual tree lighting and blessing of the Nativity.

Dozens of residents, young and old, and local officials, including Hempstead Town Councilman Ed Ambrosino, New York Assemblyman Ed Ra and Nassau County Legis. Vincent Muscarella met at the entrance to the park on Dec. 4.

A mixed accapella group from Nassau Community College, featuring West Hempstead High School alum Noah Santoro, got everyone in the spirit with a selection of holiday songs. Then, local clergymen led the crowd in prayer, spoke about the meaning of Christmas and blessed the Nativity scene placed outside the park, along with everyone in attendance. (Rosalie Norton, of the West Hempstead Community Support and Civic Association, said that a Menorah will soon be placed at the park also.)

Finally, all eyes turned to an evergreen tree standing near the pond, as it was lit up for the first time this season, filling the mostly dark park with colorful light and holiday cheer.

Check out the photos from this year's Holiday at Halls and look for Patch's video report Monday.