Bay Ridge

Adelphi Academy students make Little North Pole come to life

December 21, 2015 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Dozens of volunteers from Adelphi Academy worked at the Little North Pole event outside attorney Joseph Mure Jr.’s Neponsit Beach home. Photos courtesy of Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn
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Students and teachers from Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn traveled out to Neponsit Beach in Queens to help a school benefactor make holiday wishes come true for kids with diabetes.

Adelphi volunteers helped lawyer Joseph Mure Jr. set up a Winter Wonderland for a holiday block party on the block outside his Neponsit Beach home on a recent Sunday. From unloading 18-wheelers filled with larger-than-life Santas and two-story-high toy soldiers to designing, building and hand-painting giant dreidels from scratch, the students contributed to the holiday extravaganza.

Now in its 20th year, the Winter Wonderland, also called the Little North Pole, draws thousands of residents to the block and attracts celebrities — all for a good cause.

Mure, who has been a supporter of Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn for many years, turns the Christmas-Hanukkah block party into a fundraiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

“There is nothing more important in life than putting smiles on the faces of children. Adelphi does it every day and they helped me do it for thousands of kids this year at the Little North Pole,” Mure said. Adelphi Academy is located at 8515 Ridge Boulevard in Bay Ridge.

The Neponsit Beach event was a smashing success, according to the participants.

The celebrities taking part included “The Sopranos” stars Tony Sirico and John Ventimiglia; “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” stars Teresa Aprea, Rino Aprea and Nicole Napolitano; radio host Joe Causi; and radio personality “Goumba” Johnny. The musical guests included Lucas Prata, CNR Trilogy, George Lamond, Christopher Macchio and France Joli.

Each special guest posed for photos with fans at a special tent designed and operated by Adelphi volunteers.

Adelphi’s Student Chorus, accompanied by staff members Christine Colacrai, Nikki Fregara and Robert Bates, performed classic holiday songs in front of a crowd of thousands.

Albert C. Corhan, director of academy operations, said the students were happy to help set up the event and were thrilled that they also had the opportunity to perform.

“I’m proud to say that not only is Joe a longtime supporter of Adelphi, but he is a close and personal friend of mine as well. He never says no to anyone and would quite literally give you the shirt off his back. He is a wonderful example to our students of what dedication, community and charity truly mean, and it is our honor and privilege to support him always,” Corhan said.

“Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn is honored to have been featured among so many talented performers and entertainers, and we are proud to be a contributor and supporter of Joe’s Little North Pole,” said Head of School Iphigenia Romanos.

 

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