[November 21, 2008] Light up the night Tweet NEW HAVEN, Nov 21, 2008 (New Haven Register - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The lights are on at the 14th annual Fantasy of Lights display at Lighthouse Point Park, and that's no small miracle. Actually, it's no miracle at all. It's the result of some last-minute generosity plus even more donated electrical work than normal from the big-hearted folks of Local 90 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, who scrambled to rewire about a dozen of Fantasy's 68 light displays. The displays were affected by the Nov. 10 theft of about 1,400 feet of heavy-duty electrical cable. So at Thursday night's preview of Fantasy of Lights, which runs from tonight through Dec. 31, Easter Seals Goodwill Industries and principal sponsor PSEG Power Connecticut shared the spotlight with Local 90. They also shared it with the Madison Exchange Club and Rockbestos Surprenant Cable Corp., which stepped up to donate copper cable. The Madison Exchange Club loaned Fantasy of Lights cable that it uses each October for its annual car show at Hammonasset Beach State Park, said Edwin V. Selden, director of development and external relations for Easter Seals Goodwill Industries, which organizes Fantasy as a fundraiser. Rockbestos, which was based in New Haven for 70 of its 90 years in business but is now in Granby, donated 2,000 feet of the cable, which it manufactures, for next year's display and beyond, he said. The cable would cost about $8,000 to buy, said Philip Borgia of Guilford, Rockbestos' director of human resources. Charlie Corso of the Madison Exchange Club said he has enjoyed Fantasy of Lights since its inception and when he read about the theft in the Register, he got in touch with Local 90, of which he is a member, to find out its needs, then called Exchange Club President Mary Mitchell to try to arrange something. Borgia said that when Rockbestos heard about it, "we wanted to come to the rescue." Paul Costello of Local 90 said 75 to 100 union members volunteered for the 2 1/2-week initial setup, and 15 to 20 members installed the donated cable. "We're very appreciative" and "we're looking forward to a very joyous holiday season," said Selden. The display will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 31. The cost is $10 for passenger cars, $25 for 15-passenger vans or minibuses and $50 for full-size buses. Carl Wintermeyer, regional manager for PSEG, which generates electricity that United Illuminating distributes, flicked the switch to turn on the display. "We look forward to this every year," Wintermeyer said. "The staff participates and volunteers their time. It just something we love to do." Fantasy of Lights is the major fundraiser for Easter Seals Goodwill Industries, raising up to $150,000 of its $500,000 annual development budget, said President H. Richard Borer Jr. To see more of New Haven Register, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.nhregister.com. Copyright (c) 2008, New Haven Register, Conn. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]