This year will be a return to tradition for the annual Holidays in Oyster Bay. Local retailer Vangie Kohn of Second Impressions & 'Tiques is chairing the event on behalf of the Oyster Bay Civic Association and Chamber of Commerce since she is a member of both organizations. Ms. Kohn has decided to bring back the holiday lights that decorated the poles in the hamlet for many years.

"We are restoring the Christmas lights. It will be really nice to have a remembrance of Christmases long ago in Oyster Bay. Chris Briggs of Outlaw Motor Sports and Bob Liebold of Gooseberry Grove volunteered to refurbish the multi-colored lights that had been stored by Tom Reardon. The holiday banners are also going up," said Ms. Kohn.

The town is dressing up for the holidays as Jamie Archdeacon chairs the PTA Window Wonderland Committee again. She said, "This year 68 windows of local business were signed up to be done and about 240 kids did the work. They started on the weekend of Friday Nov. 19, Saturday, Nov. 20 and Sunday Nov. 21. Students from Roosevelt, Vernon and the high school are doing the windows. Last year we had a blizzard and this year we had rain so some of the windows are still coming. The weather really determines when we can do it. We had a great response from everyone." (Next week we will include further coverage of the project.)

Ms. Kohn said the crèche purchased by the Holidays in Oyster Bay Committee is being taken out of storage, courtesy of John Specce of State Farm Insurance and is being set up in Townsend Park by Tony Verrelli of Verrelli's Market.

The festivities will get off to a great start on Sunday, Dec. 5 at 4 p.m. with a holiday parade. Ms. Kohn is working with Reggie Butt, Nassau County American Legion commander who will organize veterans to lead the march from Church Street and East Main Street and travel down Audrey Avenue to the Derby-Hall Memorial bandstand. Joe Mimmo is working with the Atlantic Steamer Fire Company for their participation in the parade. You can be sure Santa Claus is coming to town! The Scout troops will be marching too.

"Town of Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto will preside over the tree lighting ceremony and the Oyster Bay High School Chamber Singers will perform," said Ms. Kohn.

The festivities will continue with a menorah lighting on Monday, Dec. 6 at 5 p.m., with Rabbi Marvin Demant presiding. The Chanukah menorah lighting will also be held at the Derby-Hall Memorial Bandstand on Audrey Avenue.

For more information, contact Vangie Kohn at 922-9080.