Local merchants need community’s assistance | Letters | April 15

Published 4:53 pm Thursday, April 14, 2011

Our neighbors need our help. The majority of us were not born on this island, but we chose to make Bainbridge our home. We did so because we loved the schools, the sense of community when you drove off that ferry. Today I am asking that every household step up to support those of our neighbors who need help now to keep our community thriving.

The downtown Winslow merchants need us. Those who run stores on this island, whether on Winslow Way or in the Safeway mall, or on Hildebrand, wherever they are located, all merchants depend on our patronage to keep their doors open.

Right now, however, it is the Winslow Way merchants who are facing the biggest hurdle to reach their customers – or have their customers reach them. It’s challenging to get to the bakery, the bookstore, the drugstore or the restaurants.

It may be easier to go to other parts of the island, or heaven forbid, off island, but we need to spend the extra five minutes it takes to keep shopping downtown throughout the big dig.

If every family commits to going downtown one time a week – to buy a card, get a book, go to dinner – our merchants will be able to make it. Right now we are looking at more vacant store fronts than I can remember over the 15 years I’ve lived here; I know we don’t want to add more.

There is parking. The stores are open. It won’t cost you anything extra but a few minutes. You will feel so happy you did.

Louise Mooney

Pleasant Beach