EDITORIAL: Southwest Brooklyn is holiday central

From Thanksgiving to just after New Year’s Day, southwesternBrooklyn takes on a new allure. Across the area, twinkling lightsadorn houses small and large, many of which are augmented withelaborate displays including toy soldiers, reindeer, elves, snowglobes and myriad versions of Santa, creating a holiday spirit thatis virtually unmatched.

For wide-eyed children and their equally awed parents, it’s almostas if the North Pole had been transplanted to our neck of thewoods. Even on the chilliest of evenings, families can be seendriving and walking in the streets of Dyker Heights, to enjoy thefanciful displays.

Clearly, it’s our neighborhood’s gift — not only to friends,family and neighbors but to the many strangers who descend on thearea to enjoy the sights.

Equally clearly, the generosity of the displays is a reflection ofthe generosity of the homeowners, some of whom can be seen onweekends, handing out candy canes to those who come to gape. Closeto Christmas, Santa Claus himself is stationed at some of thehouses, to meet the children and learn from them what they want tofind under the tree this year.

The warmth and generosity of area homeowners should come as nosurprise to anyone familiar with southwestern Brooklyn, in much ofwhich a small-town atmosphere prevails.

This is an area where neighbors help each other out, where a myriadof organizations count on those who live here to help those inneed, where the spirit of volunteerism shines brightly every day,and where the sense of community lends strength to those who needit.

For us, it’s a great feeling to be part of this wonderfulcommunity, and to have the privilege of reflecting some of thatluminous vitality and warmth.