WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES NOVEMBER 28, 2019 13
LETTERS AND COMMENTS
THE HOLIDAY
SEASON IS FINALLY
UPON US
Thanksgiving, Christmas and
Chanukah is upon us.
It is a time of good friends,
family, co-workers, and a time of
giving and sharing.
But it is also a time to show kindness
to those less fortunate than ourselves
living in our communities.
My hope is that everyone who
is able will think of donating and
even volunteering to the faith-based
groups and civic organizations that
help the those in need.
There are also food kitchens and
food pantries that need help year
round.
Here’s another thought: In your
travels this holiday season, try
smiling and saying hello to those
who you meet on the street and in
stores, as well.
Also try saying, “have a nice day,”
to others. This could go a long way
in spreading waves of kindness and
making our communities wonderful
places to live.
I have another idea: When you get
on a bus or train, try giving your
seat to a senior citizen or a handicapped
person. By doing all of this,
maybe you might understand what
the holiday season is all about.
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.
Glen Oaks Village
SNAPS
Shop small, not at
the online mall
AERIAL VIEWS OF NORTHWEST QUEENS
PHOTO VIA INSTAGRAM @baldmanarchives
Send us your photos of Queens
and you could see them online or in our paper!
To submit them to us, tag @qnsgram on Instagram,
visit our Facebook page, tweet @QNS
or email editorial@qns.com (subject: Queens Snaps).
OP-ED
BY GREGG BISHOP
The holiday season is upon us
and we all know the temptation
of online shopping. The ease of
getting the things we want at the click
of a button might seem harmless, but it
has major consequences for local small
businesses.
Shopping online takes away from
the livelihood of local residents and
strips the community of its extraordinary
businesses. E-commerce also
means you don’t have the ability to
inspect your purchases before receipt,
you have to go through the hassle of
repackaging and returning your item
and you’re depriving yourself of getting
to know the business owners on
your block.
Shopping small means you’re
supporting your community. Small
businesses are the backbone of New
York’s local economy, with more than
230,000 businesses employing 3.69
million people.
Besides contributing to the workforce,
small businesses connect
communities and help create unique,
energetic neighborhoods throughout
our city. As the holiday shopping
season approaches, I’m encouraging
all New Yorkers to show some love to
our small businesses. Here are some
ways you can help your local small
businesses that extends beyond your
purchasing power:
Participate in Small
Business Saturday
Avoid the Black Friday mayhem and
shop small on Saturday, Nov. 30.
Pledge your shopping list
to your community
This holiday season make a commitment
to buy half of your shopping list
from local small businesses. Jewelry,
clothing, pottery and books are all
great gift s that can be found in your
neighborhood. Consider gifting a
“made in New York” basket with your
favorite local items.
Share small business content on
social media
A great way to support your local
business is to share their content on
social media. It can be as simple as posting
a picture on Instagram or checking
in on Facebook.
Leave positive reviews
Wh i le wor d- of -mout h
recommendations are always good
for small businesses, it doesn’t hurt
to leave positive reviews on Yelp and
Google. Leave an online review for
small businesses to get more traction
and visibility.
Join the fun!
Participate in seasonal fun on your
block and in your neighborhood. From
tree lighting events to local gift guides,
get involved and shop small.
While you’re preparing for this busy
season, remember to continue supporting
the diverse, independent, small
businesses that enrich neighborhoods
across New York City. As we enter this
busy holiday season, don’t forget to
shop small!
Gregg Bishop is the commissioner of
the New York City Department of Small
Business Services
CLARIFICATION
In the Nov. 8 edition of the Ridgewood Times, it was reported that
Councilman Robert Holden’s staff er, Charlie Vavruska, “shouted accusations
that Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza is racist against white
people.”
Vavruska just accused Carranza of being racist.
We regret this error.
link
/WWW.QNS.COM
link
