Christmas in Belle Harbor

By Katie McFadden

On Sunday, December 7, Beach 129th’s commercial strip was shut down as some Christmas magic took over for the first-ever Christmas in Belle Harbor event. With the street packed with neighbors enjoying all of the activities, it was a resounding success!

In recent years, Colleen Brady of Rockaway Properties has been thinking of ways to bring some holiday magic to Beach 129th. A fundraiser to add lights to the area led into a grand plan for an event, that with the help of Councilwoman Joann Ariola’s office and the Rockaway Civic Association, became a reality on Sunday. The event included vendors from the block and beyond selling foods and goods, games, a giant snowman bouncy house, letter writing to Santa, a s’mores station, carolers, and even a train ride.

“I hope everybody had a really great time,” Councilwoman Ariola said. “It’s great to see the smiles on the kids’ faces. There’s nothing like getting together as a community to celebrate the holiday season and for such a great cause, for the people that we are honoring tonight, Pat Brady and Timmy Klein.” She thanked her Chief of Staff Phyllis Inserillo for organizing the event, along with the rest of her staff and Colleen Brady.

As a special tribute, a cavalry of light was held at the end in honor of late firefighters Patrick Brady and Timmy Klein, who both lived on the block. “We’re going to end it with something that’s so moving and will be a core memory for your children when they see this cavalry of lights that come down during the Christmas season, which is all about Christ, and honoring heroes who gave their lives to keep us safe,” Ariola said.

As guests held illuminated lanterns and Nicole Cicero sang “Silent Night,” a calvary of volunteer fire departments from Broad Channel to Breezy Point and Brooklyn, the Rockaway Nassau Safety Patrol and personal vehicles, turned their lights on bright and paraded down the block, as members of the Brady and Klein families and volunteers from JUMP Dance studio walked between vehicles, holding illuminated signs in tribute to the late firefighters.

“Thank you everybody for today,” Colleen Brady said. “The best compliment I heard was we’re now a real town, and this is like a Hallmark movie. Thank you so much. I think this is going to be yearly. Everything goes to Phyllis and Joann Ariola’s office. I can’t wait to see the lights in honor of my brother-in-law and Timmy Klein. I appreciate this whole neighborhood. This is what we’re about.”