Shopping with the Neighb News

A decidedly biased piece by Beth David, Editor

It’s time for one our favorite annual stories: Shopping with the Neighb News! 

After 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.

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.

First, you’ll want to call Cyclone Cleaning to get the house spruced up. The drop-off center is open, so you can swing by with your area carpets. While you’re there, grab a gift certificate for your parents’ place. 

Don’t forget the outside. Decorate with 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. And don’t forget a banner or two for indoors, for that young’un who just got an apartment.

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 great spot for you. 

Mac’s Soda Bar is our go-to place for breakfast anytime. And lunch, too (but let’s not get ahead of ourselves). 

They also cater, and you can get great holiday meals, so you have the special dinner without all the hassle. 

And they have gift certificates, too. So, while you’re planning your own party, check a couple of people off your list.

Right about the time you’re done with breakfast, the banks will be opening. We’ve got just the hometown spot for you. Visit Alltrust Credit Union. They offer 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. Of course, they also do repairs, and have gift certificates. An oil change or A/C recharge is a great gift for the person who has everything.

Maybe you need something to get you in the spirit of the season? How about some homemade wreaths, Christmas trees and basket? We’ve got just the place for you: Roxanne’s Garden Center. You will not be disappointed!

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 our fabulous town center.

Take a stroll by our magnificent town hall, Millicent Library, and Unitarian Church. These spectacular buildings were gifts from town benefactor Henry Huttleston Rogers. Hmm…what about a picture in front of one of them for your annual Christmas card?

In any case, be sure to have your camera with you to get some great shots of our architectural wonders, and be sure to check out the doors in the decorated door contest spon­sored by the Fairhaven Historical Society.

And after you get familiar with the territory, be sure to save the date! December 13 will be absolutely hopping with all kinds of Christmas-y activities, brought to you by Discover Fairhaven. Food and fun all day long in a bunch of places, indoor and outside, in our beautiful center. 

Now you’ve worked up an appetite with all that walking and oohing and aahing over our town center, so mosey on over to Wah May’s Restaurant while you’re in the neigh­bor­hood. Have some tea to warm you up, and grab a couple of gift certificates to hand out on the big day. 

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. 

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. 

He can fix what you’ve got, or fix you up with new stuff.

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 those other projects, from cabinet making to the new bathroom. 

We 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, roof, or fix what’s there. He does everything, no matter how big the job seems to be.

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!

And maybe the kids are thinking they should just replace that old boiler with one of the renewables, huh? Time for Portside Renewables to tell them their options.

Maybe you want to give the kids a little bit of family history to warm up the place in a different way. Grandma’s old hutch? Grandpa’s old work cabinets? They do need some TLC, though before you can give them away. Just hop online and visit Fernandes Family Furniture. They have just the expertise you need to get that piece ready for displaying or using in that big old wooden wonder of a house.

That old yard will definitely need some clearing out, too. 

Fairways can take care of those neglected spaces and trim­ming back those bushes that are wildly out of control in that yard. And they do snow removal, too. How about a winter’s worth of snow plowing? Oh yeah. That’s a good one. 

And be sure to call Fitzgerald Tree Service to see what they can do about clearing out some of those old trees. Of course that wood won’t be ready for burning just yet, and an old house like that is sure to have a wood stove or fireplace. So grab a cord of seasoned wood from them to make Christmas morning nice and toasty.

Before you burn it, though, call Jake Fleurent to make sure the chimney is in tip top shape, and while he’s there, have him work on that old stone wall, or have him waterproof the basement.

Uh-oh. After all that yard clearing, did they actually find an old vehicle buried in the brush? Or maybe justa pile of old metal and other craa…I mean scrap? Then they’ll need Mid City Scrap for sure. 

Now for the inside. Don’t forget, the Neighb News sells pictures of events we’ve covered, to decorate those new walls. 

Okay, no one wants to say it out loud. But you know….you just KNOW that the old place has all manner of holes and sneaky places for critters to get in. Profishant is the place you need. They’ll get rid of the critters, disinfect the place, and make sure the only roommates in the place are invited ones. 

While they were rummaging around, did they find some cool old stuff in some drawers tucked away? Maybe some old rings, gold chains? Or maybe a big old jar full of big old coins? Either way they’ll need Marc Folco to assess their value and maybe take those broken old pieces of jewelry off their hands.

And how about the kids them­selves? Maybe they love those brand names but hate the prices? Maybe they don’t care about brand names at all, but just love a treasure hunt? Then Walt’s Consignment is the place for them, for all manner of gently used clothing, shoes, handbags. Send ’em on over. And they have gift certifi­cates, too.

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?

Still don’t have something for the person who has everything? 

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, which specializes in elder law. It’ll be a load off your mind and you’ll be happy you did it.

Let’s see… 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? We have several options for you. Call Howe Allen Real Estate and they’ll find the perfect house or apartment for your prodigal relatives. Jane Paul can also help you and yours find a spot to call home. And so can Catherine Costa. All of them are pros and you’ll have fun helping the relatives look around.

Maybe you’ve decided to buy that house next to the kids? (My Big Fat Greek Wedding anyone?) Well, any of them can help you make the purchase and make sure it goes smoothly.’

Maybe your wayward relatives 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 shopping or heading out of town.

Or, quite possibly, they need a little help in their day-to-day lives. Check out Atria Senior Living. They have elegant accommodations for seniors who just need a little help to live independently.

Or, if they need more than that, take ’em for a tour of Alden Court while they’re in town. They have some fun activities that you can join in on. You don’t have to live there to enjoy some music.

And while they’re trying to decide, take them to Fairhaven Pharmacy to experience a good old fashioned service based pharmacy. And, guess what’s coming next? C’mon…think Norman Rockwell…an old fashioned soda fountain, for real. Not sure it’ll be open by Christmas, but stop by and check out the place anyway.

Did you notice how often they say, “what?” Or “huh?” Or “what did you say?”

Yeah, I thought so: Way more often than last year. Take them to Ascent Audiology to find out what kind of good things the newest technology offers. 

Okay, now you’re done. Time to sit with a drink and some friendly faces. 

The Bayside Lounge is the place to see someone you know, like the old jingle…where they know your name. You can eat, drink, maybe dance or sing, even, all while you brag about how you got almost all your shopping done at all local places. They have gift certificates, too. So don’t just feed yourself, check some­one off your list.

If you still need stuff and you’re looking for unique offerings, be sure to check out the shops during the Old Tyme Holiday in Fairhaven’s Center on 12/13; and other vendor fairs everywhere from now until Christmas. Like the Youth Vendor fair coming up and…oh, so many more. See our Happenings pages for that kind of stuff.

Maybe you don’t want stuff? Maybe the people you celebrate with have all the stuff they need or want (and then some, right?). So, give them an experience. Take them to Nasketucket Bay Vineyard where December is Christmas Central! They even have an ornament market that is open now until just a few days before Christmas.

Maybe your experiences need to be more low-key or wellness focused? We’ve got your covered there, too. Check out Reflex To Balance to destress and relax and pamper your mind, body, and soul. 

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. I’m working on a paperback version, but, alas, it won’t be ready for this year’s gift giving. But, we have birthdays all year, right? So 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 hopefully soon a couple of others I’ve been working on.

Yeah, I know, would’ve been perfect for Christmas, but, well, that seems rather ambitious. However, keep your eye on these pages. You never know, a little Christmas magic might just happen to make it all so.

Be sure to keep an eye on my  Amazon author page because I’ve been working on some other stories that I hope will be ready soon. And I’m working on turning a couple of those ebooks into hardcovers.

Speaking of traditions. Maybe you’re hoping to get back to the reason for the season? 

Check out St. Gabriel’s and their fair on 12/14 and the Unitarian Universalist Society of Fairhaven, which is having its fair on 12/14. And they are in that beautiful archi­tectural wonder in the center of town. (Psst…they give tours.)

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 11/27/25 issue: 11-27-25 Shopping

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