A Wonderful Party

As a parent in the community, I'd like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Bayview Civic Association and the Manhasset Park District for again organizing a wonderful holiday show for the Manhasset children, In some cases it's the only opportunity that the little ones will get to sit on Santa's lap this season. Parents and children can meet up with old friends and make new ones too! And a big "thank you" to the Manhasset businesses for donating the lovely prizes. What a lovely day it was. Thanks again.

Mary Creighton

Music a Joy

(The following letter was sent to Brenda Damiani, director of communications of the Manhasset Schools and is printed here at the author's request.)

It was delightful to have the Choral Society, the chamber music group and the brass instruments group as part of the Kiwanis Christmas lunch, and the Bingo party for senior citizens. Our Christmas lunch is always festive and pleasant, but when Marilyn Varriale and the Choral Society came to visit, all dressed nicely and well groomed, their songs and presence added joy and magic to our gathering. Marilyn introduced the young people, and mentioned those who participated in the Fiddler on the Roof performance. (My husband and I had the pleasure of seeing the performance, which we enjoyed very much.)

Eileen Murphy and Randy Knudsen did a beautiful job, respectively, with the chamber music and the brass instruments. The sight of our senior citizens sitting around the border of the room, with tables in a "U" formation, and the musicians in the middle of the room playing for them, with Christmas decorations on the wall and Long Island Sound as the backdrop, was a combination of beautiful sights and beautiful sounds that I will never forget! Several of the Port Washington Yacht Club staff came by to listen. The fascination of everyone with the beauty of our young people, the professionalism of their teachers, and the impressive music was a most special treat. Thank you so much for making the arrangements.

I am sending a copy of this letter to Marilyn Varriale, Eileen Murphy and Randy Knudsen (in order of performance) and I do hope each will convey to the music students our pleasure and pride in their performance.

On behalf of all of us at Manhasset Kiwanis and our senior citizens, a heartfelt thank you!

Rita Eredics