I’d like to humbly offer a suggestion regarding the AutoFest controversy recently reported in The Great Neck News.
This newspaper reported that several Great Neck merchants proposed ending Great Neck’s annual AutoFest, due to concerns about declining attendance and purchases in recent years.
The decline in attendance and purchases may have simply resulted from scheduling conflicts with Jewish holidays.
In 2009, the AutoFest took place on Simchat Torah (Sunday October 11, 2009).
There are many people who did not attend this AutoFest who would have attended if the AutoFest had been held on another day. This includes people who live a distance away, who do not drive on Jewish holidays.
In addition, although some people celebrating the holiday who live nearby walked to the 2009 AutoFest, they did not make any purchases due to religious observance.
Careful scheduling of the AutoFest to avoid holiday conflicts could bring back large crowds of people who are able to fully participate in this enjoyable event.
Elizabeth Berney
Great Neck
