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Love, Ava initiative celebrates 13 years By ABIGAIL GRIECO agrieco@liherald.com
Courtesy Brianna O’Hagan
Brianna O’Hagan, founder of the Love, Ava Project, eighth from left, is overseeing the holiday toy drive and adopt-a-family initiative, supporting over 35 local families.
Thirteen years after a small holiday gesture sparked a grassroots movement, the Love, Ava Project launched its biggest toy drive yet in November, mobilizing dozens of South Shore businesses and volunteers to bring Christmas to children and families facing hardship. Founded over a decade ago by Brianna O’Hagan, general manager of the gastropub EGP Oceanside, Love, Ava has grown into a sizable nonprofit. Its toy drive and adopt-a-family initiative honors the memory of Ava CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
Oceanside kicks off its 20,000-light holiday experience By ABIGAIL GRIECO agrieco@liherald.com
When the switch is thrown showcasing the dazzling display of lights and music at 160 E. Lexington Ave., Oceanside residents know the holiday season has arrived. For eight select nights, which began on Friday, illusionist and entertainer Eric Wilzig once again is transforming the outside of his home into an immersive holiday light show — a 20-minute, elaborate, music-synchronized spectacle powered by more than 20,000 lights and custom-built props. The remaining dates for the shows, which are free, are Dec. 12,
13, 19, 20, 21 and 23. The mesmerizing show began as a small hobby during the pandemic and has evolved into one of Oceanside’s most anticipated December traditions — which involves months of planning. “This is a passion project that really started over Covid when everything got shut down, and I had some free time on my hands,” Wilzig said. “In me and my DNA is being able to bring happiness to people.” From the outset, Wilzig aimed to create a show for everyone — one that avoids traditional religious music, substituting it with upbeat, widely beloved songs. “The main thing about our
show is that it is a holiday light show,” Wilzig said. “It’s not a Christmas show or a Hanukkah show. It’s for the holidays. We’re not playing Christmas carols or Hanukkah music. We’re playing fun music that people, whatever they observe, can come and enjoy.” His lawn features a 25-foot mega tree, a menorah, dreidels and other animated elements, paired with special effects like fog bursts, sparklers and snow bubbles — a smoke-based effect that makes it appear as if snow is drifting across the property. Each year, Wilzig posts online, asking neighbors what songs they’d like to hear. Submissions helped shape this season’s playlist,
including music from “KPop Demon Hunters,” a Netflix film that Wilzig said was “extremely popular and a top request,” along with hits by singer-songwriter Benson Boone, who has recently rose in popularity. “It’s a mix of what people like to hear along with some of my own choices,” Wilzig said. Long before December arrives,
the work begins on a computer. For 10 months of the year, Wilzig sketches the layout of the display, planning where every element will sit. “It helps me during the year to kind of visualize where I think things are going to go,” he said. Many of the physical components are custom-built. More than 100 3D-printed Mickey Mouse CONTINUED ON PAGE 10