BEACON RECORD The Village
Mount Sinai • Miller Place • Sound Beach • rocky Point • ShorehaM • Wading river • leiSure country December 24, 2015
Volume 31, No. 22
$1.00
Holiday Memories also: ‘Star Wars: The Force awakens’ review, ‘In the Heart of the Sea’ in Cold Spring Harbor, Wildlife artist Roger Kramer
PagE B1
Photos by giselle Barkley
clockwise from above, a little girl plays with a balloon during rhonda klch’s holiday dream event; presents line the tables; and klch, on right, poses for a photo with volunteer Priscilla arena.
Rhonda Klch’s holiday event reaches hundreds cilwoman Valerie Cartright (DPort Jefferson Station), as sevFor the past eight years, eral children ran around with Rhonda Klch and her company balloons in the background afEquity First have made many ter receiving their presents and dreams come true. meeting Santa. This year is no different with Cartright was one of many Klch’s annual Holiday Dream people Klch called this year event, which provides Christ- when searching for families mas gifts for Long in need of some Island families in cheer. Lo‘The outpour from holiday need. On Sunday, cal schools and residents who reg- the community has churches were also istered for the event been tremendous contacted to find picked up their these families. Christmas pres- and I’m hoping that While the famients at the Coram it’ll only increase lies don’t need to Fire Department be homeless to headquarters from next year.’ participate in the — Priscilla arena program, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. many Klch, a Miller Place of these families resident, and event volunteers are financially unable to afford upped the ante this year by get- presents around the holidays. ting gifts for around 250 families People like Gordon Leonard from Mount Sinai, Miller Place, of Selden said with the recesPort Jefferson, Port Jefferson Sta- sion it’s harder to live on Long tion, Selden, Medford and other Island, making special seasons towns across the Island. like the holidays more stressful. “These kids feel like they’re “We came here because some walking on a cloud,” said Coun- Long Islanders understand By giSelle Barkley
SWR student raising funds for memorial Ryan Ledda uses Eagle Scout project to build monument for Tom Cutinella
PagE a8
the plight of many other Long Islanders, and they’re giving because they know people are struggling just to be New Yorkers,” he said. “We don’t want to leave. What choice do we have.” While his son Devon received several gifts from the program this year, he said his favorite part about Sunday’s
program was spending time with his family. According to volunteer Priscilla Arena, of Mount Sinai, the event was a success this year. “The outpour from the community has been tremendous and I’m hoping that it’ll only increase next year,” she said. HOLIDaY DREaM continued on page a4