The Little North Pole Lights Up!
By Katie McFadden
A house so bright, you can probably see it from space, and spirit so strong, it could warm the real North Pole! Joe Mure’s Little North Pole is officially lit for the season!
On a chilly Saturday, December 7, Joe Mure and Jodi Tucci, welcomed neighbors near and far to their home at 144-03 Neponsit Avenue for the annual lighting ceremony for The Little North Pole, Rockaway’s most impressive holiday display.
The event began with a stage full of talented singers and dancers. Crowds got to hear the voices of Officer Castro, who sang the National Anthem, Scholars’ Academy Chorus, Patti Blue, Sunshine Studios, Jolie Rose, Angelo Venuto, 8-year-old Marcello DiGregorio, Jordan Rayne, who lives with Type 1 Diabetes and wrote an original Christmas song for the day, Rockaway’s own Alyssa Marie, jazz singer Carl Alfino, Mark Vincent on guitar, Isabella, TES, pop singer Oso, plus more! And Power House Dance Company and Fazio Dance just may be future Rockettes in the making with the moves they pulled.
The whole show was emceed by radio personalities Joe Causi, Goumba Johnny and Broadway Bill Lee. Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello led a prayer. The Best Dressed Man in Rockaway, Roger the Elf, and even Tommy Trump, a Trump impersonator, made appearances in the crowd. Meanwhile, food vendors, including some locals like Whit’s End and Rocco’s of Roc Beach, were dishing up food in exchange for donations for BreakthroughT1D (formerly Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation).
Madison, a young girl diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at age 3 and who will be going to congress soon to advocate for funding for diabetes research, was given the special honor of pushing the magic button to light up the entire Little North Pole at the end of the countdown.
Kelly Borzell, Associate Executive Director for the Greater New York City Chapter of Breakthrough T1D was on hand to speak on behalf of the organization that Mure raises funds for each year through the Little North Pole. “I want to thank Joe Mure,” she said. “There is no bigger champion for the T1D community.”
Although going on later than anticipated due to some travel troubles, ‘80s disco stars Lime closed out the show with the crowd dancing along, including Santa Claus himself, who arrived in style as usual, led by a parade of police, fire vehicles, truck and more. After dancing with Lime, Santa and his helpers gave out toys to every child in attendance.
After Saturday’s big show, Mure did it all again with smaller gatherings with a group of autistic children on Monday morning, St. Camillus Special Olympics on Monday evening and a group of foster children on Wednesday.
As another special treat, The Little North Pole will also be appearing on new show “Ready, Set, Glow!” with Wes Brown, streaming on Hallmark+ this holiday season. The three-episode show premieres Thursday, December 12, with new episodes on Thursdays.
The Little North Pole, located at 144-03 Neponsit Avenue, will stay lit every evening through early January. To help support its charity, BreakthroughT1D, please visit: http://littlenorthpole.org
