A decidedly biased piece by Beth David, Editor
It’s time for one our favorite annual stories: Shopping with the Neighb News! Here, you will learn how you can find gifts for everyone on your list, a few things for yourself, and spend some fun time exploring all that Neighb News advertisers have to offer .
After all the Thanksgiving Day feast is over and you’re looking for a way to work off some of it, 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.
After that, you’ll want to decorate with some wreaths and baskets and all manner of decorations using natural greens, and Christmas trees, too. You’ll find all that and a friendly face at Roxann’s Gardening Center.
And part of decorating outside should also include flags and banners with all kinds of fun stuff on them. Take a peek at the selection of old favorites and original designs from Brewer Banner Designs. It’s the simplest way to dress up the outside to match the inside, and show your holiday spirit to the world.
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’ve got a couple of great choices for you. Check out Courtyard in East Fairhaven, or the Little Village Cafe, in the center of town.
Both serve a great breakfast and lunch, and have lots of interesting items on their menus, each with their own specialties. And they have gift certificates, too.So don’t just feed yourself, check someone off your list.
If you’re a true early bird and hail from the northern edge of our coverage area, you’ll want to start at Rochelle’s and grabe one of their early bird specials.
Right about the time you’re done with breakfast, the banks will be opening. We’ve got just the spots for you to choose from
Visit St. Anthony of New Bedford Credit Union, which offering holiday loans to help you get through the spending. It’s a nice small place, very cozy, where everyone knows your name. If you’re more inclined to stay on this side of the river, visit Southern Mass Credit Union. It’s another cozy, hometown place. Both offerr car loans and CDs. 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. And they do repairs, too, if you’re not quite ready to buy.
But, ahem, having some budget issues? No problem, head over to Cottage Street Motors. Sue can fix you up with a payment plan to fit any budget (and I bet they can find a big bow, too).
Looking for that home-town New-Englandy 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 around.
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.
Got a sweet tooth? Have some people impossible to buy for? Well, no one can resist the home made sweets at Dorothy Cox’s Chocoate and Ice Cream. Ice cream all year long. So, yup, it’s the ultimate comfort food stop. And they have gift certificates! I mean, who doesn’t just LOVE a dozen yummy truffles, or a box of mixed chocolates that you get to choose yourself? (Did I mention the fudge?)
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.
It’s quite possible that the old place is perfect for a really sarcastic card that says “360 payments and it’s ours!” But it could be that it’s just that unkemp yard making it look a lot worse than it is. We have a couple of possibilities to help them out. Call Ron’s Lawns or Carlos Landscaping to get that yard in shape. You’ll be amazed at how a professionally cleaned up, raked up, mowed down yard can change the feel of a place. They each have their own specialties, so give ’em a call to see which one bst suits your needs.
For electrical work, you’ll want Eric from Eric Sylvia. He can do it all, big or small.
And now that they’ve got all upgraded electrical, they can plug in all their gadgets. New house, new electric, they definitely need new gadgets too, or at least 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.
Maybe the old place should have an alarm, huh? Yeah, I thought so, now that you’ve got all those new, shiny gadgets. Call Wayne Electric. They do alarms, and that’s a cool gift!
You’ll want Robert Furtado to do all the other projects, 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.
You have other choices for the exterior work and for that combo interior/exterior work that the old house is bound to need.
Check out Marc Gadbois, whether it’s time to replace the siding, windows, roofing, or fix what’s there. He does everything, no matter how big the job seems to be.
Just be sure to check out Shawn Fitzgerald, too. He can get that roof on in a jiffy.
I’m willing to bet that big old monster has a big old monster of a heating system, too. If so, they’ll be using up a little more fuel than they like for a year or two until they can replace that antique. Send Luzo Fuel over to fill up the oil tank. Now that’s a gift!
Maybe they have that no-fossil-fuel thing going on? No problem, Reliable Solar can help them out in a snap. I mean, if they’re renovating the house, putting a new roof on, why not take a step or two to get off the grid? They are young’uns after all, they like to try new stuff.
While we’re talking about outside work, I’m thinking some of that stuff might require some heavy equipment. Or, maybe the kids got a good deal because the old septic system needs an upgrade, or the driveway looks like a bomb hit it? Well, if that’s the case, they need Arne Excavating.
Of course, an old house like that probably has a fireplace or a wood stove, too, and that can take some pressure off that old boiler. 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.
Hmm…speaking of repairing stuff, I’ll bet the kids, or someone on your list has a car that might not be the newest around, huh? It, too, might need some TLC, or at least some maintenance. Get in touch with Custom Auto. They do it all, and I’ll bet they can give you gift certificate for an oil change or A/C recharge.
That should do it for stuff. What about protecting it all now? Call Vieira Insurance Agency for that. They specialize in insuring houses in seashore towns. Does it get any better than that?
Now it’s time for dinner. In the mood for something exotic? Then head over to Sivalai Thai. They have two locations now, one on each side of the river.
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.
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 (we’ll have more on that next week).
Now, I know that no one wants to think of the bad stuff during the holidays, but then you watch some sappy old Christmas movie with the obligatory hospital scene. And then you realize no one has updated the will in forever. 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.
While we’re on the subject, you know you’re thinking of all those who have gone before us, and the last time you visited, you noticed the gravestones getting pretty yucky looking. Give John at J&L Cemetery Plot Maintenance a call. He’ll clean up the stone and plant something really nice for the holidays there, too.
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!
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.
Did I mention 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.
Call Mac’s Soda Bar. They have a catering and take-out menu to fit every budget: Whether you just want a couple of things to make you the hit of the party, or if you’re in charge of the whole thing. And they have gift certificates, too. So, while you’re planning your own party, check a couple of people off your list.
Let’s see, boats, electronic gadgets, food, 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. They all have inventory and are ready to find what you’re looking for. Just be sure you tell them that you found out about them from the Neighb News.
Maybe they want to move back but are getting up there in age and don’t want the hassle of home ownership. Take ’em on over to Fairhaven Village It’s right on the bus route to shop or head out of town.
Speaking of the Neighb News, don’t forget that we sell 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.
And, no, we didn’t forget about one of our favorite Yuletide traditions. 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.
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.
Merry shopping to all and to all a good holiday season!
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Click here to download the entire 11/28/19 issue: 11-28-19 Shopping
