A Special Night for the Little North Pole

Story and Photos
By Katie McFadden

After the big show for the Little North Pole on Saturday, November 29, Joe Mure and Jodi Tucci did it all again, three more times, for special groups of children. That included nearly 1,200 children on the autism spectrum, children from the NYC foster system, and on Monday evening, December 1, Rockaway’s St. Camillus Special Olympics members.

In a scaled down version of the big lighting, the evening included food, music by DJ Mugsy, which had everyone busting a move to stay warm and smiles all around. This year, the house was lit by Special Olympians Lizzie McLaughlin, who spent some time in the hospital recently, Sabrina Perrotta, who experienced a devastating house fire in Breezy Point in September, Jeff Resnick, and the nieces and nephews of the late Patrick Brady.

After the home was lit, Santa Claus arrived on a fire truck and was immediately surrounded by fans before sitting down to greet everyone in attendance, hand out toys and pose for photos. As the night wound down, everyone once again hit the street to dance and embrace the good cheer.