Ossining Shop Local Week Begins

It's time for Shop Local Week in Ossining and Briarcliff Manor. The three municipalities are banding together for the third year of their event that focuses on our local retailers and restaurants.

"While we should all shop local as much as possible, Shop Local Week reminds us that we should make an effort to see what fantastic shops are right here in our community," said Town of Ossining Supervisor Sue Donnelly. "With the price of gas as well as the time traveling, you might be pleasantly surprised how affordable shopping local can be. Also small business owners are usually more knowledgeable about the products they sell and are usually more then willing to accommodate the buyer on special requests."

Shop Local Week begins with the onset of the Ossining Harvest Festival which happens on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on North State Road. The festival runs through November 3. This is the third year for the festival.

“It was so worth walking the streets of Ossining, Briarcliff and Croton for weeks, (going) business to business and getting them involved in a program that is dear to my heart," said Shop Local Coordinator Valerie Candela. "I really feel  that as a chamber we are reaching out to all businesses, and in one way or another helping them."

The Greater Ossining Chamber of Commerce has stuffed special Shop Local bags with coupons, deals and a list of participating stores and restaurants. You can pick up the bags at stores that have the Shop Local Flyer in their store windows. The bags also contain a Shopper's Card. The Shopper's Card is validated when you check out at a participating Shop Local store. When your card is validated, you can either mail it or drop it in the mail to enter a raffle.

Local shops are running all kinds of different specials, depending on their type of business.

“Join your local merchants; support your town or village for our shop local week. Here at Westchester Stationery and Food in downtown Ossining’s Main St., our soft –serve ice cream is buy one get one free,” said Tracey Salciccia, co-owner of Westchester Stationery.

The Greater Ossining Chamber of Commerce says that the goal of the Shop Local program is to jump-start commerce in our area.

“While the economy has many of us consciously living within our means, shopping locally can maintain that fiscal discipline as well as help spur economic development locally. When we spend locally, everyone wins," said Greater Ossining Chamber President Gayle Marchica.

The Harvest Festival and Shop Local program are just a few of the efforts being spearheaded by the Greater Ossining Chamber of Commerce. The chamber recently held its Ossining Chamber Schmooze back in September. The event gave business owners, officials, entrepreneurs and residents an opportunity to meet and network.Back in August, the chamber put up banners on telephone polies along North State Road, promoting their Shop Local initiative.