HaverstrawLife.com

“Every day we’re faced with choices: Buy from Home Depot or the guy that owns the hardware store in the Village? Get a cup of coffee from Starbucks or the local coffee shop? In these difficult economic times, to me it makes more sense to shop, buy, and dine at our local businesses. Buying local strengthens our local economy, creates jobs and makes our community unique.  Buying local supports you and your family: When you buy from an independent, locally owned business, more of your dollar stays within the community and is used to make purchases from other local businesses. It’s a virtuous cycle! Buying local keeps your community unique: Where we shop, where we eat and have fun makes North Rockland our home, and it makes it a better place to live. When you buy local, you invest in your community. Local businesses are owned by your neighbors, people who live in your town, and who are more invested in your community’s well-being and its future. So yes, I buy local whenever possible. I may pay a little more and sometimes get frustrated with inconvenient hours or unavailable items, but it’s important to me to support business in my community. I really enjoy running into neighbors and friends when shopping here. Chance encounters add something special to my day. I especially like the fact that I know the owner of a business or restaurant by his or her first name. It’s worth it to me to pay a little bit more and help out my neighborhood businesses, especially in these trying times.” — Taryn Raia Herbert, North Rockland Community Member