Letter from the Publisher

It doesn’t really feel like the winter holidays yet and I couldn’t be happier because we all know that snow and ice will eventually come even if it’s in smaller amounts than usual. For now we get to enjoy the sunshine and the milder temperatures.

With Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Christmas approaching, we have entered the season of wonderful family and child celebrations, and of course gift giving. Our writer Lisa J. Curtis who usually does our New & Noteworthy Column, has expanded it to give you all some more new ideas for great kid gifts this year. We hope they will be helpful.

Speaking of our writers and staff, I want very much to thank every one of them. So many terrific and talented people contribute to our effort. Some of the regular ones, like Tammy Scileppi, Danielle Sullivan, Allison Plitt, Dr. Marcie Beigel, Lyss Stern, Shneika Johnson, Alison Arden Besunder and Christine M. Palumbo help to provide the core of our editorial. We have worked together for years and no one is more pleased than I am to have them to rely on for quality parenting information and advice. I admire their content and their work and am very grateful for their collaboration.

Speaking of collaboration, I have to thank Tina, who is my right arm and has been the woman I have turned to since 2009 to get my work accomplished. I’m also happy to have a terrific partner in the editorial aspect of my work in Vinny DiMiceli and the various copy editors that pass through our doors. Right now Courtney is on maternity leave having recently given birth to Henry. She’ll be back but I hope not too soon. Little babies need lots of attention, care and love. Meanwhile Jim is filling in for her and doing a fine job. Lisa Curtis does an amazing job of editing and I know all the writers are grateful for her attention to detail, me included.

We have a fine art and production staff led by Leah Mitch and I’m proud to work with all of them. Arthur in particular has been doing our ads and helping to put together our flyers and titles since the beginning. Sylvan has designed and manages our website and has created wonderful insignia and logos for our various efforts. We’re loaded with talent thank goodness.

Thanks to our fine sales team, Erin, Mary, Shelli, Jay and Tom, as well as to our colleagues in Westchester. Happy Holidays to Jean, Nina and LynnMarie.

Finally I want to thank Cliff for being such a terrific partner all these years. Next year we begin our 20th year of publishing these magazines. We started with Brooklyn Family in 1998. It’s been an amazing ride and one that’s hardly over.

Happy Holidays everyone! Thanks for reading.