Usually, when people make a holiday wish list, it mostly involves material items, such as the new iPod Nano or the next season of Law & Order: SVU on DVD. But my list is not filled with gadgets and goodies, but with wishes for my new friends and neighbors in the Five Towns.

For one thing, I wish that each and every one of you have the happiest and healthiest of holidays. This time of year is a time to gather with those you love, and remember the year that we are leaving behind while looking toward the year ahead. That said, I hope that your 2005 was a wonderful one, and that 2006 is one of your best years. Whatever your New Year’s Resolution may be, I hope you keep it and make it work for you.

Secondly, I wish to add more people to my list of those I have met in the community. In the short time that I have been here, I have met many of you, but there are still many more Five Towners on my list that I look forward to shaking hands with. So as we ring in the new year, I hope that my phone rings off the hook with many invitations to meet new Five Town friends.

Another item on my wish list for the 2005 holiday season is to include even more community involvement in the Herald than we already have. Whether it be a story, a Five Towns Talk item, a Neighbors page, or a mention in the Community Calendar, I encourage everyone who is reading this to get their voices heard in our local newspaper. While I am proud to say that many of you have sent me information for inclusion in the paper, there are still many of you who have not. Remember, without you, this paper would be empty every week. And while I can find stories to fill these pages, I want the stories we publish to be what you want to read. So thee is another item for my list.

The final item on my wish list is a gift for all of you. It is a very heartfelt and appreciative thank you to everyone who has both welcomed me to the Herald and to the Five Towns with open arms, and who have told me that they enjoy this column. Despite the fact that I have only been here for a few months, I already consider this position to be the best career move I have ever made. But no matter my feelings on my new position, the fact that all of you are happy with the work I am doing makes becoming the editor of the Nassau Herald, for me, the greatest gift of all.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Joyous Kwanzaa, and best wishes for 2006. May this year be one of success, health, happiness, and great news to read about in our newspaper week after week.