On the Sunday before Halloween, my husband and I took our four grandchildren to participate in the trick or treating on Middle Neck Road. The Village of Great Neck Plaza and the Business Improvement District did a wonderful job in organizing this event and there was a huge crowd of children and their families dressed in costume. Most of the stores were open and almost all of them cheerfully greeted the children and handed out treats.
The event was marred, however, by a few stores that either had signs on the window that said “no candy” or brusquely told children that came in that they had nothing to give them.
One shopkeeper even had the temerity to say that trick or treating was “against his religion.” (I certainly respect everyone’s religious convictions; however, the religious basis of Halloween disappeared a long time ago and I am sure no child looking for a tootsie roll or candy kiss was doing so based on any religious belief.) It would have indeed been better if those stores that did not wish to participate in the event had not opened, than to disappoint the children who came in.
At a time like this, when we are so eager to strengthen the sense of community in Great Neck, and when there is a real desire by residents to support local merchants, I found it very disheartening to see such counterproductive attitudes exhibited by some of the stores downtown. I, for one, will remember their behavior when I’m shopping there.
Trudy Markowitz
Great Neck
