The holidays have arrived
December 12, 2024 at 12:28 a.m.
Family legacy was the sentiment in the air when MaryRose and John Munnick became the fixtures getting the Village of Port Chester in the holiday spirit this year.
When they attended the Village’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting event on Thursday, Dec. 5, they watched the Blue Spruce that once dominated their North Regent Street yard light up Liberty Square—bringing cheer to the community by officially kicking off the holiday season.
MaryRose didn’t think much of it when they chose to donate their tree.
With a tasty snack in hand, 3-year-old Port Chester resident Lucca Camoretti smiles for the camera after getting caught dancing around to the holiday tunes. The Salvation Army served treats and hot chocolate at the event.By Sarah Wolpoff
“My brother had texted me an article about the Village looking for a tree, because we had spoken before about how ours needed to come down at some point because it was too big,” she said. “So, I sent a quick email downtown, and before I knew it, the Village was out front and said they’d take the tree.”
But as the spruce left their property on that mid-November day, she did reflect on its life and her family connection to it.
MaryRose and John reside in the house she grew up in—where her parents, Italian immigrants who moved to Port Chester in the ’50s, created a home.
Pride of Port Chester junior mellophone player Angel Garza keeps warm in her festive Santa hat while playing classic Christmas tunes with a line of bandmates.By Sarah Wolpoff
She was around 29 years old when her mother, Maria Di Santo, seeded the evergreen 30 years ago.
“It was literally a stick. Some would even chuckle at it because it was really just a stick,” she laughed. “And my mom said: ‘just plant it and let it grow; it’ll grow.’ And 30 years later, look at it; it really did.’”
It almost did too well in their yard. The tree now lighting up Liberty Square is 43 feet tall, according to the Village.
A handmade ornament representing Park Avenue School hangs from the tree. In an initiative that started last year, local schools and groups such as the Clay Art Center and Carver Center are creating a collection of ornaments so the evergreen reflects the community.By Sarah Wolpoff
“It was in the front of my house in the corner, and to me it looked so big because it was getting too tall. It was outgrowing the space,” MaryRose continued. “But when I saw it downtown, I’m like, ‘is this really the same tree?’ It’s massive. So much bigger than I even realized.”
Both of her parents were keen on gardening. Though Maria was the one who planted the evergreen three decades ago, MaryRose said her father Salvatore was the avid landscaper. When the Munnicks gifted the spruce to the Village, she couldn’t help but think about him.
“He was so passionate about his trees,” she said. “He never wanted to cut anything down. But the tree had outgrown its space, and it was time.”
Bundled up Girls Scouts gather around to sing “Frosty the Snowman” for the crowd.By Sarah Wolpoff
The festive spirit of giving also runs in the Munnick family. John’s father Jack—a local figure who was often and fondly referred to as Deacon Jack for his role at Corpus Christi Church—was also the tree proprietor who made the Village’s holiday festivities sparkle in 1995.
Two tree donors in the same family, MaryRose reflected, was a beautiful coincidence.
At the Christmas Tree Lighting last Thursday, over 60 people bundled up to crowd Liberty Square. The Salvation Army handed out hot chocolate and snacks while members of the Port Chester High School marching band and Girl Scouts organization serenaded downtown with festive tunes.
A Department of Public Works crew works in mid-November to remove the Christmas tree from the North Regent Street home of MaryRose and John Munnick, the couple who donated their evergreen to the community.Village of Port Chester
“It’s just nice the way things worked out; we could donate it so the community could enjoy it. It was cool to see it giving other people joy,” Munnick said. “I think my father would have gotten a kick out of it.”
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