Gifts come in many ways and for me, that includes great people, great books and great causes.
Nothing beats curling up under a furry blanket with a great book and the sun shining through the windows. I use my Kindle as my sleeping potion, reading until I fall asleep.
This past year, a bonus was that I met many of the talented authors of the books I read.
Books are great gifts because they fit every size! Here are some of my favorites.
Richard Esposito, a New Yorker and Hamptons neighbor, is a decadeslong newsman extraordinaire and got to know the unique, quintessential New Yorker Jimmy Breslin! Richie spent years writing Breslin’s biography after he died.
The subtitle is refreshingly clear — “The Man Who Told the Truth” — and the book is packed with stories Jimmy had covered, from the Son of Sam, to the Ed Koch years and to the burial of JFK, in which he took the unique approach of talking to the men digging the president’s grave.
He got the compelling stories with an angle no one ever dreamed of writing about.
It’s a book that’s hard to put down. Buy it!
Bill O’Reilly, an old friend and big supporter of Life’s WORC for years (thanks to Geraldo Rivera’s introduction) lives in Manhasset and Montauk. This year, he published “Confronting the Presidents: No Spin Assessments from Washington to Biden” with his colleague Martin Dugard. It’s been on the New York Times’ best sellers list for months, with good reason.
I enjoyed that each chapter was about a different president. Each night, I read a chapter and each one was fascinating because I learned something new.
For example, did you know that George Washington hated his mom and didn’t go to her funeral?
There are tidbits like that in every chapter. Give it a read!
I met Talia Carner this summer in the Hamptons who also remarkably lives in my condo building up island and has written six books. Her latest, “The Boy with the Star Tattoo,” hit my heart.
The book details the journey of a young boy searching for his parents after the Holocaust. I couldn’t put it down!
During the summer I was introduced to Gerald Rosengarten, whose book “Jump on the Train” tells the story of his journey as a serial successful entrepreneur who didn’t know he was dyslectic until he was 50.
It’s a fascinating story that speaks to courage and persistence and climbing whatever mountain he needed to achieve his goals. Great lessons are learned from reading his powerful book.
I had the fun of meeting my neighbor Tripp Whetsell, the brilliant author of the candid affectionate biography of Norman Lear, “His Life & Times,” who lived to be 101 and worked almost to his last days making television history with his groundbreaking TV shows. A remarkable life told lovingly and respectfully by Tripp.
Friendships and family keep my life going. One friend I met when we ran the LIC Flea Market for five years a decade ago came back into my life.
Gianna Cerbone, who I call the “Grand Dame of Long Island City” and a mother to us all, invited me to her Lavender Court luncheon recognizing successful women at her restaurant Manducatis Rustica on Vernon Boulevard in Long Island City.
Delightedly, she honored me and other extraordinary women. What a treat it was to hear their stories and meet marvelous women who I bonded with just by hearing their stories. Now I know how women feel when I honor them at our Power Women events. New friendships and new professional relationships have been born — and what a wonderful meal it was, too!
On Sunday, I took my daughter Elizabeth and two grandchildren Jonah and Addy to the show “Wicked” and, remarkably, one of the song’s lyrics tied in with my life: “because of you, my life is forever changed.” That’s what happened to me when my daughter Lara was born.
On Friday night, Life’s WORC — the organization I helped to found — had its gala to raise money for the cause.
For the first time, a Community Service Award was given to an extraordinary young man who lives in our group home in Valley Stream: Brian Johnson. He works as an advocate for other folks that live in our group homes and gets involved with the community and the political leaders. I was delighted to give him the first Lara Rebecca Schneps Community Service Award.
Also honored were John Sterling and Fred Brenowitz.
Local causes are abundant and this is the time of year to donate to them!
I love to support groups that help people in our backyard. I’m privileged to serve on the United Way of Long Island board and to know their extraordinary community work.
There is an abundance of groups that do great things and need our support.
With Hanukkah and Christmas overlapping this year, what a wonderful time to help those causes, not necessarily with money, but by simply volunteering.
My warmest wishes for a great holiday season, giving us good health, good friends and good causes to support!
Love to you, my dear readers.
