Forecast says: It’s raining chocolate in Port Chester
December 21, 2023 at 12:17 a.m.
Port Chester volunteer firefighters Matt Ganz (left), Brian Benjamin and Julian Silva toss chocolate coins from their perch atop an engine ladder high in the air as children scramble to gather them at Port Chester’s first Chanukkah Gelt Drop on Thursday, Dec. 14. Outside of Village Hall, families gathered on the chilly evening for the event which featured live music and snacks. (David Tapia/Westmore News)
Port Chester firefighters Julian Silva (left) and Matt Ganz smile for the camera in the bucket of a firetruck. Ganz holds a box full of Chanukkah gelt, preparing to drop it for the children. (David Tapia/Westmore News)
King Street School fifth-grader Arianna Butkiewicz helps herself to some of the sweets available after the gelt drop. (David Tapia/Westmore News)
Ringing bells along to the tunes, Port Chester residents Ryan Allen (left), 7, and Sophia Labrusciano, 8, join New Rochelle-based children’s musician Zev Haber for a performance. (David Tapia/Westmore News)
Donning his festive menorah hat, Congregation KTI Rabbi Ben Goldberg says a few words before leading the Chanukkah blessings and lighting the menorah to kick off the gelt drop on the last night of the Festival of Lights. (David Tapia/Westmore News)
With the chocolate coins raining down, Port Chester Trustee Phil Dorazio (not pictured) joked “One of them is real gold,” as the kids rushed to collect as many sweets as they could carry. (David Tapia/Westmore News)
Nathaniel Butkiewicz, 3, looks up at the firefighters who are tossing candy down while his mom, Marissa Torento Butkiewicz, watches over him. The Port Chester resident has his pockets stuffed with chocolates. (David Tapia/Westmore News)
