SMALL NEWS IS BIG NEWS

For most, the day before Christmas is a time to fetch any last-minute gifts or bring home food items from the store and prepare for the holiday.
Last Friday, Robert Tomasulo and Junior Susca were hard at work completing hundreds of “burpees,” a strenuous exercise that combines a jump, squat and pushup.
The nearly herculean efforts of Tomasulo, the owner of Level Up Strength & Conditioning in Yorktown Heights, and Susca, one of his coaches, helped raise more than $1,400 for Love Holds Life Children’s Cancer Foundation, a lower Hudson Valley-based nonprofit organization.
“It was definitely challenging but doing it for the kids kind of helps you mentally to keep pushing through, and then the community that we have here at the gym helps us even more,” said Tomasulo, who completed 600 burpees while Susca did 520. “So to have support of my gym and all the coaches and everything makes it that much easier.”
After their grueling hour-long activity, two of the families that Love Holds Life helped this holiday season arrived at the gym as part of a brief presentation. Amanda Dumont, who recently moved from Cortlandt to Newburgh, was presented with a $1,000 check as part of the foundation’s effort to help other families in need.
Then Jaya Karnani of Edgewater, N.J. came with her seven-year-old daughter Kiah and older son Zehn and received $2,500 and a gift for each child. For more than a year, Kiah has battled a rare bone cancer in her jaw, which has required doctors at Sloan Kettering’s pediatric unit to take bone from her leg. Her treatments can take up to 12 hours per visit.
“All this means the world to us, first getting to see Santa,” Karnani said. “She’s almost lost her childhood. I would wake her up at seven in the morning and I’ll say, ‘Kiah, do you want to wake up and see Santa?’ She’ll say yes because she doesn’t know what tomorrow will be. She knows that maybe tomorrow she’ll be stuck in the hospital.”
Richard Senato, who founded Love Holds Life nearly 10 years ago, said there was a third family that was helped this Christmas but they were unable to come because their son was completing treatment.
Aside from bringing joy during the holidays, Love Holds Life helps families throughout Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, northern New Jersey and Tampa, Fla. the rest of the year, he said.
“It’s all monetary assistance that we provide families during their time of treatment, and each family we’ll help for two years,” Senato said.
Dumont, a single mother, was overcome with emotion when she learned that she would be a holiday recipient. Someone on Cortlandt Manor Moms had contacted Love Holds Life to let them know of the financial challenges she faced. It was important to have an enjoyable Christmas this year.
“They got a hold of me,” Dumont said. “I was thinking this can’t be real.”
For Tomasulo and Susca, they had agreed to do one burpee for every dollar raised at the fitness center from members who would put donations in their stockings. Then Tomasulo’s father, Joe, matched those donations through his company Madison Environmental & Tank Services in Somers.
That required Susca to do 520 burpees and 584 for Tomasulo, who decided to round it up to 600. It was tough but they each hit their number. A third coach raised additional money but wasn’t there to participate.
“I’ve never gone over 160 before,” Susca said. “At the end of the day, I kept reminding myself what I’m doing it for, for a good cause, especially when I saw these young ladies. I said, alright, I’ve got to keep going.”
To learn more about Love Holds Life Children’s Cancer Foundation, visit www.loveholdslife.org.
An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Amanda Dumont’s daughter had battled cancer. The Examiner regrets the error.
 
 
 
 
 
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Purchase large double-faced balsam wreaths; 28″ Yuletide swags here:  http://theputnamchoraleholidaysale.company.site/  
Diaper Drive to support Westchester County Diaper Bank until Dec. 11 Donors eligible to win a $50 Genesis Jewelers Gift Card  
Experience what life was like in 1877.  45-minute tour of 6 fully restored period rooms, including Yonkers’ favorite dollhouse, Nybelwyck Hall. Paintings, sculptures, decorative arts on view, & a dynamic table setting designed by Debra Blair Design. Capacity  limited to
Peter Sis’ newest book, Nicky & Vera: A Quiet Hero of the Holocaust and the Children He Rescued Registration with a valid email address is required; register at www.mahopaclibrary.org, or call 845-628-2009, ext. 100.
OPEN AUDITIONS for “PRISCILLA: QUEEN OF THE DESERT” The Musical  From the book by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott E-mail/Questions:  harrisonplayers@yahoo.com
Morin’s  sensitive depiction of backyard birds. 61 images on display through Dec. 29. Meet the artist Dec. 12, 2-4pm
Orchestra 914 performs holiday favorites: First Noel, Winter Wonderland, classics from Bach, Handel, a Hanukkah medley & festive sing along
A funny, thought provoking film on consumerism. Panel discussion follows. 6:30 for mulled cider & cookies on the lawn. Bring your own mug.
OPEN AUDITIONS for “PRISCILLA: QUEEN OF THE DESERT” The Musical  From the book by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott E-mail/Questions:  harrisonplayers@yahoo.com
Steffi Nossen Dance Foundation presents  choreography by 6 diverse artists. Performances every hour in groups of twenty-five audience. COVID safety guidelines. 914-328-1900
4-time Grammy winner Sarah Jarosz performs for a Benefit Concert in collaboration with City Winery. All concerts take place in the Rosen House Music Room.  
Two legendary bands  engage on-stage, a musical ‘showdown’
OPEN AUDITIONS for “PRISCILLA: QUEEN OF THE DESERT” The Musical  From the book by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott E-mail/Questions:  harrisonplayers@yahoo.com. callbacks same day 4-5 PM
See beautiful 24-foot holiday tree in Fountain Park (Renaissance Plaza) Main St. between Court Street & Mamaroneck Avenue.  White Plains High School Marching Band performing.
Discussion of  the book “The Last Night in London,” by Karen White.  Meeting  via Zoom and in-library. programs@carmellibrary.org  
Support Connection, Inc. free program call by 5 pm (NY time) on Mon., Dec. 6.
A virtual program. explore functions,  background of female birdsong worldwide. Program is pay-as-you-wish starting at $5 info@teatown.org
With Bernstein’s legendary score & Sondheim’s ultra-brilliant lyrics. The reimagining of the  show stars Ansel Elgort, Ariana DeBose, the legendary Rita Moreno shows also at 12pm and 3:30 pm. Tkts $8-15
Join Victoria Lily Shaffer at the library to discuss her book on adopting and caring for rescue dogs. For more info contact cpaulsen@wlsmail.org or jkuhn@wlsmail.org
Fokine’s solo exhibit of her favorite visions from over the years.  Through Dec. 30
New York Polyphony, a cappella vocal quartet returns to Caramoor for two concerts on December 11th (5PM and 7PM)  The program is called “Sing Thee Nowell”:  a program of sacred Christmas music spanning seven centuries. 
The first game will begin at 2:00.  Eventbrite reservation or $40 for walk-ins. make a reservation: https://bit.ly/30ssXO1 questions: ladieskofc@gmail.com
Join NewWSO in a Messiah Singalong of nearly every chorus, a few arias from Handel’s holiday classic.  $10 score deposit.  newwestsymphorch@gmail.com
Revisiting the glory years of George Balanchine’s New York City Ballet through the remembrances of his former dancers . Screening followed by panel discussion with filmmaker Connie Hochman, artistic director Kaatsbaan & others.
A booster clinic for Moderna, Pfizer vaccine.  Appointment must be made, no walk-ins. 1. Must be 18 years and older 2. Received the Pfizer or Moderna initial vaccine series at least 6 months ago OR Received the J&J vaccine at
16th-century Catalan songs; traditional Christmas carols; Poulenc’s Ave Maria; and a premiere of composer Julie Dolphin’s HineMa Tov/Sim Shalom, Hebrew hymns of unity and peace. Free
1 hour, condensed, narrated version of the full story.  Second show at 5 pm Tickets at buy.tututix.com/danceforjoy Studio:  914-526-4486, Studio cell:  845-554-2151
Using the magnificent organ at the church, holiday concert features Handel’s , Part One of Messiah,  “Christmas” portion.  of the work, although much of the text is derived from the Old Testament. The program will also include one of Handel’s delightful
1 hour, condensed, narrated version of  full story. Tickets at buy.tututix.com/danceforjoy Studio cell:  845-554-2151
A booster clinic for  Moderna and Pfizer vaccine. Appointment needed, no walk-ins. https://yorktownny-booster-21dec.youcanbook.me/ Must be 18 years and older & received Pfizer or Moderna initial vaccine series at least 6 months ago OR Received the J&J vaccine at least 2
Perfect Winter Break activity for kids! Thousands of more lights, magical holiday animations and a live Santa!  New Year’s Eve  a continual ball drop the entire night to ring in 2022! Bigger and better snowstorm central that the whole family
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