Editorial: Once Again … Letters to the Editor!

The Great Neck Record very much appreciates all of the letters to the editor that we regularly receive. It is just wonderful that we have such an interested, active and involved community. And it is particularly helpful to hear points of view on a wide range of issues from as many residents as possible. However, in order to have your letter included in the Record there are a few rules that we publish regularly and must be followed.

For starters, letters generally must be between 300 and 500 words. We do believe that almost any point of view should be adequately covered in 500 words or less. And we want to ensure that we have space for all news and all opinions.

Great Neck Notebook: December 10, 2010

One Family’s Story

“Chris” and “Jane” had “worked all their lives” and had always “provided for their family.” Two years ago Chris lost his job and was unable to find new employment. When they couldn’t make their mortgage payments, their home went into foreclosure, and eventually they were forced to leave it.

Editorial: Time to Shop? Think Great Neck First!

It seems as if it was just summer, and now Thanksgiving has come and gone and the holiday season is in full swing. All of a sudden, Hanukah has come and gone, so very early this year, and Christmas is really just around the corner. Yes, it’s time to think gifts once again. Maybe you still have a few “belated” Hanukah gifts to seek out, and maybe you are one with a very long Christmas gift list. Well, once again, we want to remind everyone that when you think shopping, think Great Neck.

Be Careful What You Wish For …

In previous years I would always lament one thing about this time of year... fall cleanup.

At our house, we rake our own leaves, so we feel very connected to this ritual. It is a lot of work. Like impetuous children, every year deciduous trees “thoughtlessly” drop their payload upon our lawns and driveways, leaving it for us to pick up several times before winter - leaving lasting soreness on our backs (or wallets). Last year we ultimately filled 23 huge black bags with leaves.

Editorial: Happy Chanukah!

This issue is our special Chanukah issue, once again complete with a beautiful page one Chanukah painting by renowned artist John Hirsch. Once again our good friend John has captured the beauty, the spirit, and the fun of Chanukah with his beautiful work.

We thank John Hirsch for his sharing his gift with the Great Neck Record.

And we wish all of our readers of the Jewish faith a happy, a healthy, a joyous Chanukah.

- Wendy Karpel Kreitzman

Great Neck Notebook: November 26, 2010

Helen’s Miracle

My grandmother was fond of saying that there are miracles all around us if we only opened our eyes to see them. But I wasn’t thinking about miracles last week when I walked into the Deer Park office of one of my customers. Their company did fine art packing for many of the largest museums and art dealers in New York City. Like many other companies I call on, they had experienced slowing business conditions which had led to the reduction of their staff from 12 employees to only six.

Editorial: Happy Thanksgiving!

We would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our readers a very happy Thanksgiving. We wish you a peaceful, satisfying day with family and friends. We wish you time to sit back, reflect, and give thanks for all that you have. And we wish the fulfillment of all of your hopes and dreams for the brightest possible future.

Great Neck Notebook: November 19, 2010

“Wasn’t my turn.”

A friend showed this to me and it grabbed me by the heart. “During a lesson on nutrition, a school teacher asked his class to raise their hands if they had had breakfast that morning. About half the kids raised their hands. Then the teacher asked his students if they didn’t have breakfast because it’s not what their family does. The rest of the students raised their hands except for one boy. The teacher asked him why he didn’t have breakfast. The boy answered, ‘Today wasn’t my turn.’ ”

Editorial: Thank You to All of Our Sports Writers!

Thank you! Thank you! For the longest time we have been using this space to ask our readers to send in their exciting sports stories and photographs, as we consider our sports pages a vital part of the Great Neck Record. And, wow, have you responded big time! Today the sports pages of the Record are chock full of excitement and glory. We are proud of our local teams and athletes and we are just thrilled to present them in the pages of the Great Neck Record! And if you turn to the back page first, we understand; go for it!

Statement from U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Queens/L.I.) Following Victory

“I am honored and humbled to have been re-elected by such an extraordinary margin, especially in spite of the national tidal wave. It is gratifying that despite the national anti-incumbent mood, the voters in our district decided to return me to Washington for the 15th consecutive time. I greatly appreciate the confidence they have in me for the things that we have been able to do together.

“But we have a lot more work to do. I’m not satisfied and I’m not resting. We must help rebuild the economy both in our community and throughout the country. We must do all we can to help create and retain jobs and spur economic growth. Our nation is in challenging times, and we must forge ahead together.”