This has got to be a time of apprehension and hope for local retailers. One of the busiest and potentially the most profitable time of the year is upon us. The mixture of various holiday offerings nudge each other on the shelves (turkeys pushing reindeer) and store owners have already got the sale signs posted.

Perhaps the price of gasoline and fuel will encourage locals to shop locally this year. Maybe the Call of the Mall will weaken and folks will find that most everything that’s there is also here.

Craft fairs are in full bloom and this past weekend, as we tended a table at one of these fairs, we saw an incredible offering of hand made cards with exquisite photos on them, fresh wreaths and holiday baskets, unique ornaments, toys, books and finely sewn and knit items for all ages. All of these items were extremely reasonably priced. We’d encourage local craft fair shopping this year.

Windham has many nonprofit groups that exist to help others and craft fairs are one of the ways by which they fund their activities. Few of these groups have an advertising budget but if you check the craft fair listings in this paper, and make plans to go to one of them. You can find some great items and affordable prices.

We have many stores here now where everything from fine jewelry to electronics are available. So far, we’ve not seen crowds of people around but that’s sure to change by Thanksgiving. Local shopping and spending is good for our local economy and benefits all of us.

Windham Historical Society will be closing for the winter, after the end of November. Anyone with any “business” at the Society should plan to visit on Saturdays, 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. this month. Because of the high cost of heating the building, the January and February meetings are held at the public library on the fourth Saturday mornings.

On Wednesday, Nov. 19, Windham members and guests are traveling to the White Rock Historical Society for a joint program presented by Warren Gilman showing and explaining old slides of Windham and White Rock.

If planning to attend, carpool at 6:30 p.m. on that date at the Windham Historical Society, 234 Windham Center Road. And don’t forget, there is a new calendar this year called Neighborhoods, showing many new (but old) photos of various places in town.

This is a great gift for only $10. Ask any society member or contact me at kso48@aol.com or give me a call at 892-5381 after 9 in the morning and before 9 at night.

Shop locally! See you next week.