Home for the Holidays

By Jill Wagner

We're just about halfway between Black Friday and Christmas Eve, so it's fair to say the holiday season is in full swing.  And this year, despite the gloomy economy, Long Islanders seem to be getting into the holiday spirit! 

On a personal note, I can tell you I am THRILLED to be back home for the holiday season.  A couple years ago I moved to Michigan for my first on-air reporting job.  I really enjoyed my time in Lansing, the state's capital.  I made a ton of great friends and even more importantly, got some great reporting experience.  But at the end of the day, it wasn't home! 

So now I'm back on Long Island, lucky enough to report for News 12---the station I grew up watching!  And that means, in addition to some of the more depressing stories about the recession and crime, I also get to cover some of the wonderful holiday celebrations that are uniquely Long Island. 

I mean, where else would hundreds of people gather to light -- not a big Christmas tree -- but a big duck!  Yes, I'm talking about the famous East End Big Duck in Flanders.  It's quite a sight.  Hundreds of kids counting down for Santa to flip the switch that turns the lights on a wreath wrapped around a 20 foot toall and 30 foot long duck.   

And then there's the Freeport Christmas boat cruise.  What an image---dozens of boats decked in hundreds of lights cruising along the Nautical Mile.  You can see all the festivities on a special News 12 series, "Tis the Season," starting next week.  It's the type of holiday celebration you'll see only on Long Island!    

Comments

[John]

I never realized how different Long Island was until late in college, when I had to shove my roommates into the car for a "field trip" to see the Big Duck. They had never heard of it and couldn't even imagine what I was babbling about.

Unfortunately, I always seem to have other obligations the night of the lighting, so I've never gotten to see it live. It's nice to hear that it's going to get more coverage than the usual end of the countdown.