New Haven Independent

Tayvon Goodwin (left to right), Alex Rivera, and Christopher Coughlin were among some 70 kids and their parents on hand Sunday night to revel in the tall tales, traditions, and joys of an early Christmas preview at the 8th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting in City Point.

Neither Kris Sainsbury, the chief organizer of the much-anticipated annual event through the Hill/City Point Neighborhood Action Group, nor Hill Alderman Jorge Perez, holding four-month-old reveler Eduardo Crespo, wanted to dwell on local political concerns: The DOT’s mauling of the trees in Bayview Park. Or an anticipated sale of the adjacent public marina to a Bridgeport-based private yacht club. (Click here for the Reg story on that.)

“Tonight is all about joy, friendship, and illumination, and recharging our energies,” said Sainsbury, who had corralled toys for each of the kids, along with snazzy flashlights.

In addition to Santa, the star of the evening was Sage’s owner and perennial magnanimous host for the event Dave McCoart (on the left in photo). Lee Cruz of the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, which provided a significant grant for the event, was on hand to congratulate the debonair Mccoart.

“I heard you speak at the Chamber of Commerce,” said Cruz, “and the way you talked about the intersection of service to the community and business was exactly right. It removes the idea of ‘charity’ from the discussion. You’re really a model for the community.”

Mccoart’s sense of caring was seconded many times over by this happy crew of kids, as well as their adults, City Point mail carrier Calvin West (on the left) and Kimberly Square area carrier Carl Sampson.

The kids they had in tow, including Brianna West, Corey Sampson, Alex Suarez, and Anasia West, were looking forward to the presents, and to Santa. They also looked forward seeing the snow drop from Sage’s second story onto the trees at the much anticipated moment of lighting.

However, the usual Sage outdoor tradition of the kids’ dropping the faux snow on the lighted trees was suspended this time due to the slippery weather. Still, on cue, after the countdown, the nine trees lining Sage’s deck were lit, and McCoart’s friend Donna Vendetto made sure that the 120 candy canes she had fitted out as goofy reindeer were distributed to all the kids.

Between supervising the replenishing of trays of pizza, fries, carrots, and butterfly crackers to guests such as 7 year-old Jessica Abel (she liked the butterfly crackers best) and her aunt Norma Dichello, McCoart did reflect briefly on the imminent change of ownership at the adjacent marina.

“I really think it’ll be fine,” he said, referring to the anticipated sale of the marina to the Pequonnock Yacht Club of Bridgeport, which is being evicted from its site due to development there. John Izzo, the current owner of the marina, is expected to close a deal with Pequonnock, McCoart said, by mid-May.

“They’re very nice people,” McCoart said, “and they’re going to spruce up the marina too. It shouldn’t affect our business. I mean things will be the same, or even better.”

Jorge Perez and Kris Sainsbury both agreed that a change of marina ownership shouldn’t affect the local community, as long as Sage continues to thrive. Local activist Dominic Giulietti and local grandma to many at the event, Cheryl Wilson (pictured hamming it up with Tayvon Goodwin) said they expet Sage’s event, along with Dave McCoart’s other philanthropic involvements with the community, to continue.

McCoart said he rents some parking from the marina He owns the pier and the building in which Sage resides, and has since 2008. He expects none of that to change. However, he did refer to a potential cloud that might affect Sage and the prospect of its continued beneficent relation to the community.

“I think everyone wants the restaurant to remain public,” McCoart said. “I mean it’s conceivable they could approach me and want the restaurant for the yacht club. They have two small buildings that they’re going to fix up,” he said. There have been no discussions on Sage changing hands, he hastened to add.

Still, you never know.

In the meantime, Robert Cook was thrilled with the flashlight he’d received and the DVDs and the nerf basketball and hoop. And even Santa had dispelled transient rooftop parking concerns and was now explaining how his belly could move in opposite directions at once while laughing.

In addition to the Greater New Haven Community Foundation, support for the 2008 Annual City Point Christmas Tree Lighting and Holiday bash was provided by Columbus Auto Body Works; Private First Class Chauffeuring; Schooner Incorporated, and the Sound School.

Santa, meanwhile, didn’t get towed. This time.