A decidedly biased piece by Beth David, Editor
Welcome to our annual shopping guide to local small-shops in the Neighb News family of advertisers.
After you’ve loosened your belt to accommodate all that Thanksgiving Day food, it’s time to buy gifts for your precious loved ones, whether you want to or not!
No need to get all stressed out, the Neighb News is here to take some of the anxiety out of your Christmas and holiday shopping journey. You need only to look within these pages to find all you need for even the hardest-to-buy-for relative.
First, you’ll want to call Cyclone Cleaning to get the house spruced up for your holiday parties. Or maybe you want to swing by the drop-off center with your area carpets. While you’re there, grab a gift certificate for your parents’ place.
Need someone to do a little routine cleaning so you can get out shopping? No problem, call the Dust Bunny. She’ll keep the place presentable for you and your guests. Send her over to clean mom and dad’s place, too. What a gift, huh?
Speaking of mom and dad, maybe they are feeling a bit overwhelmed lately and wondering if they can move to a place that’s easier to handle? No problem, check out Atria Senior Living Group. Mom and dad might love the idea of not having a big place of their own to take care of. It’s a great time to visit there, too, they have all manner of holiday related happenings going on.
Maybe mom and dad aren’t quite at that point, but they do have a little trouble with some household tasks, like, say….laundry? Diman Laundry is the place to go. You can drop off the clothes and pick them up. Ask about their delivery service.
Ohhh…the parents will feel absolutely pampered!
This Friday is the big shopping day, of course. So, you’ll want to start as early as possible. At just about the crack of dawn, you’ll want to start with a hearty breakfast and we have a couple of choices for you. Pick the place closest to you: Mac’s Soda Bar on the Neck, where you can also order any catering you may need for those holiday bashes. If you’re not on the Neck, check out Pumpernickel’s in the center of town.
They both serve a great breakfast, and they have gift certificates, too. So don’t just feed yourself, check someone off your list.
Right about the time you’re done with breakfast, the banks will be opening. We have a few choices for you.
On this side of the river, head to Southern Mass. Credit Union. They have the full spectrum of options available for you. They’re as home-grown as it gets, too. Maybe you’re strictly a New Bedford gal or guy? No problem, SMCU has an office in New Bedford, or you can visit St. Anthony of New Bedford Credit Union.
Strictly a downtown person? No problem. Head to St. Anne Credit Union on Union Street in the heart of downtown New Bedford.
Check out their car loans, or buy a CD from them. Now that’s a great gift!
Speaking of cars….
A&A Auto has a great selection of used cars to fit any budget. I’ll bet Alex will even put one of those big red bows on it, too, if you ask.
Looking for the village experience? Well, Fairhaven’s got it all here, as New England as it gets in the center of town. Park the car and walk in the village.
Nothing says Christmas better than a stroll among quaint shops for village-style shopping. Your best bet is Euro Phoenix where you’ll find gifts for every pocketbook, from dollar doodads to imported Norwegian sweaters. Take the kids with you. Their allowances will go far at this Fairhaven gem.
While you’re still in the vicinity, take a stroll by our magnificent town hall, Millicent Library, and Unitarian Church. These architectural wonders were gifts from town benefactor Henry Huttleston Rogers.
And, if Black Friday is not your favorite time to shop, hold off one week and see what the shops at the Old Time Holiday by the Office of Tourism have to offer, in just a couple of weeks.
Now you’ve worked up an appetite with all that walking and oohing and aahing over our town center, so scoot over to Wah May’s Restaurant. Have some tea to warm you up, and grab a couple of gift certificates to hand out on the big day.
Have some young kids to buy for? We’ve got the perfect solution. And after all that food you’ll all be eating in the next couple of weeks, you’ll want the kids (and yourself) to burn off calories. Head on over to Carousel Family Fun Center for skating, and all kinds of fun. They do parties, too. Grab a gift certificate while you’re there and mark your calendar for the warm weather when the miniature golf opens up.
Now it’s time to take care of that young couple who just bought their first house — a real fixer-upper, and they need all the help they can get.
Maybe the old place just needs some TLC? Well, check out our classifieds. They are loaded with people who can help out with those little jobs, and cool stuff for sale — cheap.
For electrical work, you’ll want Eric from Eric Sylvia. He can do it all, big or small.
Maybe the old place should have an alarm, huh? Yeah, I thought so. It’ll take years to get it in shape, so meanwhile, must protect all the gadgets. Call Wayne Electric. They do alarms, and that’s a cool gift!
You’ll want Robert Furtado to do just about everything else, from cabinet making to the new bathroom.
Do the kids have their hearts set on a new kitchen? No one does kitchens like Fairhaven Lumber. They have cabinets, flooring and other products and services, like windows, to keep that big old wooden wonder cozy and warm.
You’ll also want to check out Cottrell Bros., for their selection of home renovation products and services.
Do the kids need new floors? Can’t decide on wood, carpet or tile? Then look no further than Tile Craft. The family owned business will take their time with you. No rush. Get it right.
Okay, now they’ve got new cabinets, furniture, carpets. They’ll need a good vacuum cleaner to keep it all looking good. Call Handy Andy’s and they’ll fix you up with something special.
For exterior work, you’ll want Marc Gadbois, whether it’s time to replace the siding, windows, roofing, or fix what’s there.
Even if the house doesn’t need all that stuff, you know it needs yard work. All houses need yard work. Call Carlos Landscaping for everything from grass cutting to mulching.
I’ll bet those kids could use a tank of oil to keep that new house warm. Send Luzo Fuel over to fill it up. Now that’s a gift!
Maybe that have that no-fossil-fuel thing going on? No problem, Reliable Solar can help them out in a snap.
Of course, an old house like that probably has a fireplace or a wood stove, too. Call Fitzgerald Tree Service. He’s got seasoned wood to make Christmas morning nice and toasty. And he can take down that tree that looks ready to topple onto the chimney, too.
Speaking of chimneys. Call Lenny Fleurent & Sons if that baby needs repairing. Better yet, send Lenny to the basement to waterproof it. He can even fix up that old stone wall.
Be sure to check out our classifieds section for a bunch of other stuff the kids might need.
Now it’s time for dinner. In the mood for something exotic? Then head over to Sivalai Thai.
Looking for good hearty fare that’s affordable in a friendly setting? Then you want the Town Crier, the place to meet great people. They have gift certificates, of course, and a great room upstairs to hold that holiday party that you just do NOT want to cook for.
Looking for a spot with wifi? Head on over to the Ice House. You can take your computer or other gadget with you and research your next stops.
Speaking of computers…Everyone can use an upgrade, but it’s such a hassle to update and reconnect and make sure the security software is up to date and all the other stuff that makes you just want to scream. Call Glenn at Fairhaven Computer Repair. He can fix what you’ve got, or fix you up with advice on what to buy, and set it all up for you, too.
Still don’t have something for the person who has everything?
Maybe you’re looking for an experience. Look no farther than the Fairhaven Office of Tourism. You’ll get info on all kinds of stuff happening in town at this time of year, lots of it for free, too.
Don’t forget to ask about the Old Time Holiday Weekend (ad in this issue), and ask what the Fairhaven Historical Society is up to lately.
And don’t forget the Zeiterion. They have all kinds of shows. There’s bound to be something for that one person who is impossible to buy for. Give them an experience and lots of fun memories.
Still have a few people on the list? Perhaps a boater? Maybe you’re thinking of Uncle Johnny and that old boat of his and how he always has such a devil of a time getting it running in the spring. Call Moby Dick Marina and give Uncle Johnny indoor winter storage. You know he’ll love that!
Having overnight guests for the holidays? Got a crazy relative who always has crazy tag-along friends? Well, this is the age of the computer, y’know (why does that sound so old-fashioned?). Now, don’t be shy, it’s your house after all. Call Ted Silva Investigations and get a quick and confidential background check on the scary rude guy or, worse yet, the too-polite, scrub-faced nice-guy (or gal) that your favorite niece or nephew brought home.
Now, I know that no one wants to think of the bad stuff during the holidays, but then you watch some old Christmas movie about some poor person who got left behind and the will wasn’t up to date. Time to call Surprenant & Beneski and get it done. They can handle the full range of legal beagle stuff. It’ll be a load off your mind and you’ll be happy you did it.
Now it’s party time. First, you’ll need a body tune-up at the chiropractor to get straightened out. Call Pine Grove Chiropractic to get your back and neck and everything in shape for the next part of the program.
It’s party time!
Of course, you can’t go “empty-handed” to a party, as my dear old Aunt Zee used to say. But, there’s no need to cook everything yourself.
Pink Bonnet Bakery can make you look like a star, with great bakery items that will make everyone’s mouth water.
And lots of our other restaurants, can whip up special party platters just for the holidays. And they ALL have gift certificates, too.
Have some people who prefer to make their own pastries, chocolates and candies? Maybe they make all kinds of cool baked stuff with Santa Claus and elves and candy canes all over. Well, then they’ll need some stuff from Chocolate Works. They have molds for cookies, cakes and chocolates. Mmm…nothing like home-made.
Let’s see, boats, electronic gadgets, dessert, what did we forget? Oh, right, houses and apartments. You know what happens: People come “home” for the holidays and they think, shoot…why did I ever leave? Call Howe Allen Real Estate and they’ll find the perfect house or apartment for your prodigal relatives.
Looking for yourself, well Howe can help you with that, too. And so can Sherry Lopes from Alferes Realty.
Don’t forget that the Neighb News sells pictures of events we’ve covered, to decorate those new walls.
Okay, now you’re done. Time to sit with a drink and some friendly faces, with some music in the background, a game on the flat screen, and some bar munchies in front of you.
That’s the Bayside Lounge calling you by name. You’re sure to find someone there you can brag to about getting so much shopping done.
One more thing…What’s Christmas without a heartwarming and fun tale? Snuggle up with a good story about Christmas magic on a small island. If you have a Nook or Kindle, you can get my short story, Who Makes the Magic? with a shorter, bedtime version for younger children.
Just visit www.zorena.com for info on all my fiction and travel pieces.
There’s my fantasy novel, Zorena and the Medallion of Corandu (no, I haven’t finished the sequel yet…I’m working on it!).
And then there’s the one on my trip to Lebanon available for Kindles and Nooks. If you don’t want to read my ramblings about my summer vacation, there are about 200 photos that make it worth the $2.99.
Be sure to keep and eye on my Nook and Amazon author pages because I’ve been working on some other stories that I hope will be ready soon.
Prefer a mystery? How about four mysteries? Check out Clement Beaulieu’s newest book, Into the Dark. And grab a copy of his other books while you’re at it. Get two of each: One for you to read, one to give as a gift. Christmas is for giving, sure, but there’s no law that says you can’t give to yourself, too!
Okay, so now you know: there’s no reason to shop outside the Neighb News family of advertisers. You’ll find everything you need, and you’ll be supporting local businesses at the same time.
Happy shopping, everyone!
Click here to download the entire 11/24/16 issue: 11-24-16-shoppingissue
