Date: Fri 04-Dec-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

edink-local-shopping

Full Text:

ED INK: Shopping Alternatives Here In Town

Analysts tell us that this year more people than ever will be doing their

Christmas shopping through catalogues and on the Internet. The mad crush at

the regional shopping malls -- sitting in traffic, stalking parking places,

waiting in line at counters -- tends to trample our spirits more than it

enhances our enthusiasm for holiday giving. Clearly, people are looking for

alternatives. But shopping by phone or by computer often seems a little

impersonal and not very festive.

We have made it a practice, over the years, to do as much of our holiday

shopping as possible in local stores and shops. We drive by them all the time

in the course of our daily routine, and it is easy just to stop for a few

minutes to have a look around. As often as not we find what we are looking for

at a good price, or at the very least, we find a friend there to talk to,

which makes the whole experience worthwhile.

Supporting local merchants also is a way of supporting the town. When the

local economy thrives, so does the community as a whole. Thriving local

businesses donate cash and in-kind goods and services to countless local

organizations working on behalf of the townspeople. Their contribution to

Newtown's tax base is also substantial, bringing more resources to bear in our

efforts as a town to educate our young, to protect the welfare of those who

are aging and in need, to keep our roads in good repair, to safeguard our

natural resources, and to create local cultural and recreational opportunities

for young and old alike.

By shopping locally, we not only work our way through our holiday gift lists

with a minimum of stress, we are, in a way, giving ourselves a gift as well.