As we stand poised at the brink of a uniquely exciting New Year, about to take a collective leap simultaneously into the final chapter of this century and this millennium, the Great Neck Record wishes you and your family the most precious of gifts: good health, peace of mind and love. We look forward to continuing to keep you informed throughout 1999 about the people, places, priorities and perspectives that make our community so extraordinary.

To help close out the year in print, we asked several of our most visible community leaders and personalities to share two special wishes with our readers: a personal wish and a community wish.

Whatever your own wishes and dreams, we hope they, too, come true.

"My personal wish is that Bill Clinton remains president for all of 1999."

"My wish for Great Neck would be more pedestrian-friendly drivers!"

"I wish for the world a year of peace in which people treat each other with respect, civility, friendship ­ and whenever possible, love!"

"Personally, I hope to see the above come true, to stay well, to be merry, to lose 20 pounds."

"I wish all my family and friends simply stay healthy in 1999, because everything else comes after that."

"I wish that the community can come together and appreciate that Great Neck starts in Lake Success and ends in Kings Point, and the primary job of all the mayors is to improve the quality of life for all of our residents."

"I wish that everybody I know has an extremely healthy year."

"I would love to see a united Great Neck, meaning that all the villages in Great Neck become part of the park district."

"My hope for the future is that I continue to learn from the past and that my family and myself continue to grow from our experiences."

"My wish for Great Neck is that as a community, we will always continue to believe that kindness comes first."

"Peace on earth, good will to peoplekind."

"A renewed sense of community and prosperity for all our residents."

"I wish that everybody survives Y2K."

"I would like to see an emergency management plan in place for the peninsula, in order to protect the health and welfare of the entire community."

"How is anything more important than your health!"

"I wish health and prosperity for the new year and the new millennium to all the residents of Great Neck."

"I just want to have fun."

"Great Neck should continue to thrive and residents should return to a sense of community so that all the groups in this community become one."

"I wish everybody a healthy, safe and a year with no 'cross words'."

"I wish that everyone would make life better for someone special in 1999."

"For my family, I wish everyone joy, health, happiness and success as we all pursue our dreams."

"For Great Neck in the coming year, I am looking forward to a more cohesive and cooperative community with all different cultural groups developing a better mutual understanding and respect."

"Good health for everyone...the only thing that really counts."

"I wish that all the parts of our wonderful, diverse community come together to keep Great Neck working to become ever greater."

"I wish to grow old gracefully and healthfully, and I wish the same for my entire family and friends."

"I hope that the millennium will see a world at peace, freed of nuclear weapons."

"For my family and friends, I wish health and happiness, and may all your dreams come true."

"Be happy, love one another, and the very best to your families."

"My personal wish for 1999 is for good times with my family and friends, and continued great nights at Millie's Place."

"My 1999 world wish is for a bi-partisan Congress that focuses on peoples' issues and not political vendettas."

"I wish for my family to be happy and healthy."

"I wish Great Neck becomes a vibrant town that supports its own community."

"I wish that my far-ranging family will be able to gather for a millennium celebration here in Great Neck, and that this millennium celebration is worthy of our community."

"I wish that our fellow park commissioner, Andrew Imperatore, makes a full and speedy recovery in 1999."

"I hope that any wishes that my two daughters make come true."

"I wish that more people would step out and be willing to give back to Great Neck."