Date: Fri 04-Dec-1998
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.