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Kicking off the holiday season for a cause

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The Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City will be transformed into a winter wonderland from Nov. 28 to 30 as part of the Festival of Trees, thanks in large part to an East Rockaway resident.

Anne Schmenti has volunteered with the festival, which benefits the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County, for nearly 20 years, helping to construct the Dept. 56 Christmas village display and gift shop.

“It really is such a rewarding thing,” Schmenti said. “To know your helping kids with this disease, to see their faces light up when you help is really amazing.”

The festival, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, hopes to raise $10,000, according to organizer Karen Kiefel. It is the United Cerebral Palsy Association’s largest fundraiser of the year, and includes a gingerbread village, live entertainment, a vendor marketplace, visits from Santa Claus, a display of designer Christmas trees and the holiday village.

Each of the three days of the festival will also have a unique theme. Friday will be Italian Fest, complete with food and music, Saturday will bring visitors to a galaxy far, far away with Star Wars Saturday and on Sunday attendees will be transported to Margaritaville, with live music from Jimmy Buffet tribute band the Parrott Head Band.

The village, which includes small figurines arranged in a holiday scene, will be sold at the Festival. All items in the village are donated by local residents and businesses, meaning that all money collected in the sale can be donated directly to the association.

Kiefel said the annual festival would me nearly impossible without the aid of Schmenti.

“I really don’t think I could do it without Anne,” she said. “She really is just a true workhorse, she never stops. It takes a lot of work, a lot of man power, and a lot of hours to set up that village and make it look as it does each year, and I don’t think that could be done without her.”

Schmenti began working with the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County nearly two decades ago after a conversation with Kiefel, and has volunteered at the festival ever since, even as the number of volunteers dwindled.

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