Sachem North Hosts Annual Festival of Trees and Lights

and the Fathers' Club presented the second annual Festival of Trees and Lights Craft Fair at the high school on Saturday.

It showcased an assortment of decorations that were designed and handcrafted by student clubs and organizations including singular trees, wreaths, gingerbread houses and garlands that were decking the halls along with oversized icicles descending from the ceiling; all representing an even wider variety of cultures, nationalities and specialties.

Admission was free for anyone who brought a toy for the Sachem North Toy Drive to go directly to Sachem students in need this holiday season; or a bag of clothing to benefit the Lighthouse Mission.  Each paid admission entitled patrons to one free raffle ticket which could be used to vote for a favorite tree.  The winning selection will be donated to Stony Brook Children's Hospital in the name of Javier, a six-year-old boy with muscular dystrophy, and The Muscular Dystrophy Foundation.  Tickets purchased also entitled participants the chance to win a basket of gifts.

This student driven, community supported exhibition of holiday spirit was designed to raise money not only for student groups and scholarships, but for local charities such as the Sachem North Food Pantry, which was able to give out over a thousand meals for this year; Cleary School for the Deaf; Hope for Javier; Stony Brook Blood Bank; Strike Out Diabetes; and the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation with the remaining funds going toward the efforts to support our troops.

"It began with the Fathers' Club, they came up with the idea to set up trees,"said Sachem North assistant principal Jose Cruz, who helped run the event. "We thought the best thing was to make sure every club and organization in the building got involved; let's support all the causes.

"We do this thing for a common goal and a common cause, and have fun doing it.  It's for the entire Sachem family, and the whole district; not just one side doing wonderful things for ourselves and our kids."

There were dozens of vendors in the hallway and gymnasium selling jewelry, scarves, hats, bags, posters, snow globes and other seasonal items, floral arrangements and more.  Professional face painting and caricatures were being done by Shelley Belly, and plenty of sweets and snacks were offered to enjoy while taking in all the festivities.

Paul Chiarella, one of the founding fathers of the Fathers' Club was at the event spreading holiday cheer dressed as Santa Claus, and taking pictures with the children. 

"Our organization is working to better life for the community in Sachem for kids and needy families. We try to reach out to everybody," said Chiarella. 

Last year the philanthropic organization gave out 19 scholarships and worked with several school food drives.

"The kids work very, very hard here, the kids and the teachers.  It's a very rewarding thing for us," Chiarella.

One of the highlights of the two-day extravaganza was the auxiliary gym which was filled with one of a kind decorative trees done up by different school clubs.  The most unexpected contribution belonged to The Recycle Club.  It was made out of the plastic from bottles, glued together and capped with a star assembled from can tops.

"This place is wonderful.  Mr. Cruz is doing a nice job," said Ken Costa, another Sachem North assistant principal.  He was exploring all the diverse trees with his three delighted little girls. 

"Over the past month everyone has been pitching in:  There's the toy drive, food drive, clothing drive; and everything culminates with this event," said Costa.