Middle Village is a strong community with families raising their children here for generations. Holidays and traditions are an important part of family life in this community.

Sal Crifasi, broker of Crifasi Real Estate and president of the Middle Village Chamber of Commerce, recently attended a Kiwanis Club of Middle Village meeting. This Kiwanis Club is new to the Middle Village area and the members were discussing the Holiday Season. Crifasi brought to their attention how we have had Christmas lights lighting up Metropolitan Avenue  for the past 25 years and how this adds to the holiday cheer of the season. “It makes children and adults happy to come to Metropolitan Avenue during the Holidays,” Crifasi told the members. He also said, “Last year was the first time in over 25 years that there were no lights on Metropolitan Avenue due to a lack of support from the local businesses.“

Al Gentile from Astoria Federal Savings Bank and Paul D’Arienzo from Nationwide Insurance agreed that this should not happen again this year and teamed up with Crifasi with a campaign through the Middle Village Chamber of Commerce to ask local merchants on the Avenue and corporate sponsors to donate so we can brighten Metropolitan Avenue and not have a repeat of what happened last year.

Crifasi stated, “The community comes first and we will not let them down. It is our responsibility as business owners to give back to the community for their long time patronage to us!”

So Christmas lights will shine brightly once again in 2011 on Metropolitan Avenue in Middle Village and Holiday time will be festive thanks to Sal Crifasi, Paul D’Arienzo and Al Gentile!