December 16, 2022
Holiday Lights Shine Downtown
The warmth, joy – and bright lights – of the holiday season are here in New Rochelle Downtown!
Our wonderful new Downtown Holiday Lights program has brought an extra twinkle to the community this December as lights in the shape of snowflakes and other classic holiday images festoon 120 light poles lining the streets of Downtown. Then, colorful orbs and sprays bring night time sparkle to the trees in Library Green’s Ruby Dee Park.
Be sure to come downtown for your holiday shopping needs. Stay for dinner and enjoy the new holiday displays with your friends and family!
Celebrating Rudolph’s Connection to New Rochelle
The holiday season kicked off in high gear on Sunday, December 4, in Ruby Dee Park as children and their friends and families joined us for a Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer celebration honoring the author of the famous story, New Rochellian Robert L. Mays.
Children of all ages turned out in Rudolph regalia – antlers, red noses, and sparkle rings included – as Mr. Mays’ name and commemorative plaque were added to Ruby Dee Park’s Walk of Fame.
The happy crowd was entertained by more than a dozen Rudolph-costumed dancers from New Beginnings Dance Studio at 2 Division St. Joining them in such merry attire was Parks and Recreation Assistant Commissioner Lauren O’Connor.
We were honored to have Mr. Mays’ daughter, Martha, attend for this special remembrance of her father. She delighted the crowd with personal anecdotes about him and spoke about his lasting legacy through this famous story.
Later that evening, Memorial Plaza became the place to be as Downtown held its annual “Holiday Lighting” of the Christmas Tree, Menorah, and Kinera sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, City, and NRBID.
There was boundless fun and holiday spirit as children from the City’sSongcatchers sang and spread holiday cheer. Dignitaries including County Executive George Latimer, Assembly Member Amy Paulin, County Legislators Terry Clements and Damon Maher, Mayor Noam Bramson, our Council representatives Ivar Hyden, Martha Lopez-Hanratty, Yadira Ramos-Herbert, and Al Tarantino and others joined others in applauding as the lights danced on and the VIP guest arrived – Santa Claus himself!
New Rochelle’s Own Resident Santa Delights the Town!
Speaking of Santa, did you know that word on the street is that he may have a home right here in New Rochelle? Ok, maybe not THE Santa, but certainly one of his doppelgangers!
Since he was 18, local resident James O’Toole has been donning that special red and white outfit to bring holiday happiness to children and families throughout Westchester.
His double-life as Santa began when asked to fill in at work by his boss at the time, Marty Lalli of Marty and Lenny’s Restaurant, which was located at 50 LeCount where the Standard apartment building is today. Forty years later, he is still doing it.
During holiday time, O’Toole’s Santa is a popular fixture around the city. He sits atop the New Rochelle Thanksgiving Parade’s Santa float, and can also be seen at the popular Parks Department’s “Selfie with Santa” event, during the Holiday Market, and on the firetruck for this weekend’s Parks and Recreation “Santa Tour”, which will be coming to Downtown’s Ruby Dee Park and other City parks.
Here in Downtown, he made his holiday red carpet entrance last week at the annual Holiday Tree Lighting.
O’Toole’s seasonal Santa schedule is booked for beyond New Rochelle, making appearances throughout Westchester at all ages’s events and parties.
Keep your eyes open for our resident Santa around town and give him a cheery “Ho ho ho!” when you do!
The Story of Our Latest StoryWalk’s Spanish Translation
When the NRBID and the NRPL began getting the pages ready for the third StoryWalk featuring the classic book pages from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, something was missing. There was no Spanish translation available for the book.
The publisher didn’t even have a copy.
Enter Library Director Tom Geoffino. With just a few phone calls, he found a terrific translation service to take on the work. And they are right here in New Rochelle.
Contreras Translation & Interpretation Services, with offices at 100 New Roc City Plaza (Rm 114), was happy to help out. Within days, the translation was completed, presented, and incorporated into the window panels for families to read in Downtown’s Main Street windows.
We offer our great thanks to owner Silvia Contreras, for donating her work to the community. The StoryWalk now proudly includes this new translation, which we will have year after year.
Gracias, Silvia, for your generosity of talent, time, and holiday spirit!
“Free” Gifts from the City and County for a Terrific Holiday Season Downtown
There are so many reasons to come Downtown and enjoy the holiday spirit.
To help with all your holiday preparations and plans, the City and the County are certainly making it easier with lots of “gifts” to help you get here.
You can take a FREE trip to Downtown with Bee Line buses this month thanks to the County of Westchester or drive yourself and enjoy two hours of FREE parking in several Downtown lots, thanks to the City.
Good news: Getting around Downtown will be relatively easy, thanks to the City’s Construction Pause this month. While here, be sure to check out the free Holiday Market at the Train Station (which has been extended to December 18), the wonderful Free Vacation week activities at the NRPL, and the FREE Storywalk throughout Main Street.
Of course, you can always stop in to some of our wonderful restaurants and merchants for their priceless attention and service with a smile!
See you around Downtown.
Karel
Karel Littman,
Executive Director
New Rochelle Business Improvement District (NRBID)
newrochelledowntownbid@gmail.com
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Photo Credits: New Rochelle Downtown BID, The City of New Rochelle, The New Rochelle Chamber of Commerce