Years ago, my friend Don and his family moved from Brooklyn to New Dorp. They went from living in a small apartment in a very urban and gritty central Brooklyn to a two-story house with land around it and a rural feeling that it was like country. They had wall-to-wall carpeting, and felt rich.
Happily, I was invited out to Christmas dinner — quite a trek from the Upper West Side of Manhattan — but I remember the journey being amazing! Don escorted me, and just being on the ferry, which I think cost a nickel, was festive and a real treat. There was snow everywhere and it looked like a wonderland as we made our way in his dad’s car to New Dorp.
In the years since, Staten Island has changed considerably. It’s obviously a great deal more populated, more vital, and certainly not as “sleepy” as it was almost half a century ago. With this vitality and surge in citizenry has come a need for more resources.
We aim to help in filling that need. Along with this publication, we also bring to Staten Island our very unique New York Special Child magazine.
Both are edited by native Staten Island and parent Vince DiMiceli, who’s first-person essay about growing up on the Island is included in our premiere issue Staten Island Family.
We are also pleased to offer a first-person article and profile from writer Laura Varoscak about her son Henry’s day at the Staten Island Children’s Museum.
We are very pleased to present this first issue and we know the future will bring more and more relevance, and greater connections with the various communities and the terrific people who bring education and programs of all kinds to the families of Staten Island.
We feel woven into the fabric already.
I look forward to the future and the growth of Staten Island Family and I thank you very much for reading it.
Susan Weiss-Voskidis – Publisher
