Roseann Goodman prepares holiday wreaths at Gasko’s Family Farm and Greenhouses in Monroe. The farm will host its Christmas Open House on Nov. 29 to raise money for high school hockey player Mikey Nichols, who suffered a spinal cord injury last winter. STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER ERIC SUCAR The annual winter carnival known as Gasko’s Christmas Open House will embrace the spirit of giving this year.
For the past few years, Gasko’s Family Farm and Greenhouses in Monroe has hosted the festival as a way to thank customers for another year of patronage, according to co-owner Peter Gasko.
But this year’s celebration is more than just fun and games. The Gaskos have been asking for donations to help support Mikey Nichols, a Monroe Township High School hockey player who suffered a spinal cord injury during a game in January.
“We’re just doing it for him,” Gasko said, standing among rows of poinsettias, wreaths and Christmas trees. “It was actually my two daughters’ idea, and we’ve asked all of our suppliers to donate.”
Poinsettias are a holiday mainstay at Gasko’s Family Farm and Greenhouses in Monroe. The red, pink and white flowers are grown on-site over the course of six months before being offered for sale during the holiday season. STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER ERIC SUCAR The donations have been flowing in steadily ahead of the event, which is scheduled for Nov. 29, but the total has yet to be tallied, Gasko said. Donations will be accepted the night of the festival, as well.
The 72-acre farm is already awash in the holiday atmosphere. The shelves are stocked with red, white and pink poinsettias, which were planted in June and grown on-site, as well as handmade wreaths and blankets, and a menagerie of Santa figurines and wicker reindeer. A number of attractions are planned for the open house, and all will be free to the public, according to Gasko.
Mikey Nichols with his family “We do a lot of different things that night for free,” he said. “We have pictures with Santa, free face-painting and sand art, there’s free refreshments and food. The whole night is free, so we’re hoping a lot of people come and donate.”
The funds will benefit the Mikey- Strong23 foundation, which seeks to increase awareness regarding spinal cord injuries and raise funds for the Nichols family and/or spinal cord research.
Santa will arrive during the open house on a firetruck from the Applegarth Volunteer Fire Co. In addition, the farm will host pony rides and a petting zoo, as well as clowns who will wander around the grounds and make balloon animals for guests, Gasko said.
The Gasko family is sponsoring the entire event, and 100 percent of the proceeds will go to MikeyStrong23, he said. Contributors will be asked to sign their names on a banner after donating to the foundation.
Nichols — who played in 69 varsity hockey games during his career as a fouryear letter winner, with nine goals and 19 assists — was injured during a varsity game on Jan. 4 after racking up one goal and two assists. He was airlifted to Morristown Medical Center, where he received surgery for a fractured C-5 vertebra. Several weeks later, he was transferred to Kessler Rehabilitation Center in West Orange.
Nichols was able to return home during the summer, and he continues to receive physical therapy.
Michelle Ross, spokeswoman for the MikeyStrong23 foundation, said Nichols is doing well.
“We are closing in on the finishing touches of his room and hope to have him in it by Thanksgiving,” Ross said. “The volunteer efforts continue to support this, and the family is very excited to see this progress.
“Additionally … the [Christopher and Dana] Reeve Foundation has asked Mike to be a spokesperson for ‘The Big Idea,’” Ross said. “This movement is to help fund research for epidural stimulation that has proven results in improving the quality of life for those living in a wheelchair.”
Ross noted that four young men who had been paralyzed for years have undergone epidural stimulation and regained several key functions lost with spinal cord injury.
In an open letter to the community, Tina Gasko, 15, and Kirsten Gasko, 13, urged the public to rally in support of Nichols’ recovery.
“This is a worthy cause to donate, and all donations will go directly to the Mikey- Strong23 foundation,” the Gasko daughters wrote. “Thank you for your support, as we hope to help out Mikey and his family as much as possible.”
According to Peter Gasko, the feedback from the community has been very positive, with some suppliers donating prizes for a raffle to help bolster the funds raised.
“We’re going to … raffle off a lot of gift certificates that night,” Gasko said. Raffle prizes will include tickets to a hockey game and Broadway shows.
Donations will be accepted at the event. Checks should be made payable to “The Nichols Family Trust.”
The open house will run 6-9 p.m. Nov. 29 at 112 Federal Road in Monroe. More information can be found at http://www.gaskosfamilyfarm.com/. For more about Nichols, visit www.mikeystrong23.org/.
“We’re hoping for a good turnout, and whatever people can give is appreciated,” Gasko said. “[Mikey] is a good kid, from a good family. It’s truly a good cause.”
Gasko’s Christmas Open House benefit for Mikey Nichols Nov. 29, 6- 9 p. m. Gasko’s Family Farm 112 Federal Road, Monroe www.mikeystrong23.org