Chamber, community celebrate at Snowball Run

More than 200 athletes from across Long Island and New York City participated in one of Wantagh’s biggest holiday traditions: the Snowball Run. 

The five-mile holiday run, sponsored by the Wantagh Chamber of Commerce, was held on Dec. 10. Race Director Mitchell Rich explained that, this year, participants walked and ran along the original certified route for the first time in years. 

Racers took off near the Wantagh Long Island Rail Road station, quickly making their way up Wantagh Avenue. The route twisted onto local streets — each dotted with homes that were decorated for the holidays — like Bunker Avenue, Gaston Street, Hawthorne Drive and Briar Street. 

Mike Darnell, a 22-year-old Wantagh resident, won the race in 27:50.32. Nicole McNamara, a 36-year-old from Smithtown, won the women’s division, finishing the run in 31:41.88. The quickest racers from Wantagh and winners of different age groups also received awards. 

Whether they ran in the race or came to cheer on friends and family members, attendees did not go home empty-handed. Anyone who donated wrapped toys or money to the Toys for Tots drive at Oregano Joe’s, at 1919 Wantagh Ave., was entered into a raffle. 

Oregano Joe’s was a hub of activity during the Snowball Run. Not only did folks begin registering for the race at the restaurant at 6:30 a.m., but they also came back after the event for a lunch with Santa Claus.