Nov. 23: Countdown To Black Friday

There's just three days to the beginning of the biggest shopping weekend of the year — with business owners and consumers alike hoping to shake off what has been a three-year-long economic gloom. So in that spirit of optimism, here's the stories on tap this week to help you find that elusive silver lining:

1. The fallout from Scobee Diner's  continues to reverberate throughout the community. Later today, we look at the everyday Little Neck area residents affected by the news, from Lions Club members now without a meeting place to former high school buddies mourning the loss of a favorite after-school hangout.

2. My Tuesday column, Just Business, takes a cue from the coming Scobee Diner closure, looking at the economic forces which continue to batter small businesses.

3. Our Black Friday coverage ramps up later this week with a preview of deals offered by area retailers to get customers back in the stores and buying again.

4. Look out for a profile of Tielis Landscaping, which to clean up the mess left in Udalls Cove Park by a June 24 storm.

5. And last, but not least, call your lifeline in the event of a kitchen emergency (think forgetting to defrost the turkey, or perhaps the unexpected arrival of more than a half-dozen dinner guests).