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NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick. The towering electronic Christmas tree is lit up above Bert Fish Medical Center during the 20th annual Lights of Love ceremony Tuesday night, far left photo. In the second photo, Doug Hodson, board member of the Community Redevelopment Agency and the Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority, sits on the curb with friends. Pictured in the third photo are Sue Williams, incoming president of the Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce, and her husband, Tom, also a member of the CRA. Speaking on stage in the fourth photo is Garry Mac, spokesman for Bert Fish. Pictured in the sixth photo are the Beu Sisters.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The highlight of the 20th annual "Lights of Love" ceremony Tuesday night wasn't just the lighting of the Christmas tree atop Bert Fish Medical Center. Oh no. Even that was upstaged by a piece of paper Bert Fish spokesman Garry Mac held in his hand: A $5,000 check from one of the hospital board members to be added to the $1 million fundraising goal to generate $1 million for an improved intensive care unit.
A couple hundred people turned out on slightly chilly night to capture the festivities of the evening with plenty of local singing talent, highlighted by New Smyrna Beach's own Beu Sisters who sang several Christmas songs. Plus Santa was there to greet children.
"This is a fabulous night for a great vcause," Mac said, adding some of the new beds for the proposed intensive care unit cost as much as $30,000. but with $200,000-plus collected in a little more than a year, the hospital foundation is well on its way of meeting its $1 million goal for the updated ICU.