Thursday, October 1, 2026
Let’s sing ‘Turkey Dinner’!
My mom was an elementary school teacher in Lynbrook. Every year she would make the whole family sing “Turkey Dinner” (to the tune of Frere Jacques) and “Albuquerque is My Turkey” (to the tune of “My Darling Clementine”). My aunt even had laminated placemats made up with the lyrics, and my mother’s little cartoon drawings on them! All these many years later, I use them at my own Thanksgiving celebration, and it has become something we all cherish when it’s time to sing the songs at the dinner table!
Helping the military
I was born and raised in Lynbrook, but now live about 45 minutes outside of Pensacola, FL (a Navy town.) My favorite Thanksgiving tradition is to invited sailors who can’t go home from Thanksgiving to share our family dinner. It’s a great way to give back to our military for all they do. We have done this for years and now hope that my son Andrew our soldier is treated the same way. We’ve even had sailors in our home on Christmas day! God Bless our Military Personal.
Ruth Anne Watts-Bolen
Lynbrook native
Chaotic, but fun
When my kids were small, my husband and a friend and my boys would go to the championship football game every year. I would get everything ready, and dad and mom came over. It was chaos, but with five kids you wouldn’t want it any other way! Then came the T.V. shows — first the parade, then March of the Wooden Soldiers, Mighty Joe Young ands many more. I am blessed — all my kids live close and my dad is still around. Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Carol Ann Sustad-Renz
Lynbrook native
PHOTO: THE KUHNEL CHILDREN at 422 Ocean Ave. in East Rockaway in 1968. Ford is in front, right, next to her brother, Erich Kuhnel Jr. The girls in the back are their sisters Judith Kuhnel Fuller and Karen Kuhnel Isola.
Babes in Toyland
Our favorite holiday tradition is watching “Babes in Toyland” (March of the Wooden Soldiers).
Debbie Kuhnel Ford
Claremore, OK
East Rockaway native
