You don’t typically think of a furnishing and gift shop as a place to hang out and have coffee, but then again any attempt to pigeonhole Green County Gifts into a particular category takes away from the sheer pleasure of discovery. The shop, which is actually two shops—and that’s part of the story—is really the collective figments of imaginations of Samantha Pigot and artist Lisa O’Harrow-Ray, owner of Sunflower Seed Exchange Co. (which shares the space).

It began as a simple way for two creative friends to help Berryville homeowners spruce up for Christmas year. The business has grown and sells everything from antiques, painted furniture and funky costume jewelry. In the shop you will find the upcycled and repurposed objects the two find at auctions, estate sales, and beyond. You will also find handcrafted items from local artisans, many of those also repurposed—like colorful painted horseshoes-turned-coat racks.

A year after opening the shop at 24 West Main Street in Berryville, the enclave known as the Green Country is filled to the brim with goodies, good cheer—and the smell of coffee. And the two collaborators sharing this space could not be happier with the response they’ve received from their Clarke County neighbors.

“When I first met Sam I knew I had met a kindred soul sister.” says Lisa O’Harrow-Ray “Sam encompasses the spirit, the excitement and creativity of a true artist not to mention a warmth which draws one immediately to her. Sharing this space with her has been the thrill of my life. It seems we also have the best customers in the world.”

The women are constantly adding new hand painted and decoupage pieces of furniture every week as well as “upcycled” treasures found on their hunt for the unusual. “I have a hard time leaving the dump,” Pigot says with a laugh.

“We’re trying to add our mark of creativity to Main Street in Berryville while keeping with my original goal of offering sturdy pieces of often discarded furniture and breathing new life and purpose into them with paint, a little elbow grease and loads of imagination,” says Pigot.

The two also host a Wine and Whimsy Friday one evening each month, featuring hand selected wines and wonderful appetizers plus a storewide sale. The events are free—and they are popular. Just stop in between 5–9pm and see for yourself.

Green Country is open Wednesday through Friday 10am–5pm and Saturdays 10am–3pm, and on off days when the sunflower flag is flying out front.

In an effort to create more open lines of communication between constituents and their elected representatives, this month we’re trying something new. We’ve invited Delegate Dave LaRock of the 33rd District to provide his views on the upcoming session. And we’re inviting you to ask him questions. We’ll see if this works—either by continuing this in print or online. And if it works, we’ll invite other elected officials to join the dialogue.

Our aim is to promote a conversation without merely providing a soapbox for politicians. And to allow readers to ask questions in a civil manner.

Go ahead. Ask questions. Be tough; just be kind. Send them to ObserverForums@vaobserver.com.

It’s an honor to serve you as Delegate of Virginia’s 33rd House District. I’m writing to give you an update on some of the issues I’ve been working on, but also to invite you to contact me with any questions, concerns, or requests for assistance that you may have. My top priority is to help Virginia’s economy continue to recover. I believe improving our Commonwealth in these following areas is key to making Virginia a viable place for businesses to grow and for families to live and work.

Health Care Services

As you probably know, the House and Senate voted together to opt out of a statewide Medicaid expansion. I strongly support this decision because of the severe negative financial implications this would have had for Virginia, and because I believe we’re capable of doing better. The fact remains, though—thousands of Virginians still need access to quality health care and are struggling to afford it. I’m excited about the possibilities that are opening up through the free clinics serving our district, and I supported increasing the amount of state aid they received in our last budget. These clinics do an excellent job of providing services to needy families without the layers of bureaucracy that are attached to a federal program, and they rely for the most part on donations from folks right here in our community.

Transportation

If you know me personally, you know that I have a passion for smarter transportation spending. This is especially relevant in a district where so many of our residents commute to jobs far from their homes. I supported a successful effort to obtain federal financing that will help freeze rates on the Dulles Toll Road, a corridor on the eastern end of the district that is widely used by commuters and for business travel.  Beyond that, I’m working to improve Virginia’s entire transportation funding structure by making sure that every project that the Commonwealth funds is subject to a uniform rating system first. Our current system has huge holes in our  project rating requirements, and this encourages  wasteful spending.  As our spending gets smarter, our roads will gradually get better with fewer taxpayer dollars required – I think this will be a significant economic boost to the state.

Education

I think it’s always best to let parents make choices for their kids. I have opposed efforts to move education away from parental control (such as making Virginia  schools submit to federal “common core” education standards.)  Saying “no” isn’t enough though. I believe Virginia’s education system will grow stronger as parents are given more and more control over their children’s education, and that’s why I’m working to bring meaningful educational choice to our Commonwealth.  Parental choice in education has been tried with success by a variety of other states, and making it happen in Virginia will mean better educational outcomes,  more skilled employees for businesses to hire, and a more attractive environment for workers and companies considering a move into the state. This year, I also supported a budget allocation of $6 million for upgrades to school security like hallway cameras, buzz-in systems and automatic locks on classroom doors; $67,223 of this funding is going to Boyce Elementary, D. G. Cooley Elementary and Johnson Williams Middle School. Education matters to our economy, and I will continue to make it a top priority.

Electricity Bills

A recent report shows that proposed EPA regulations  will mean power plant closures and higher electric bills for everyone in Virginia, with a net cost that could exceed 6 billion dollars. At a time when our economy is still struggling to recover, this is simply bad economic policy. I’m looking into joining other states in a lawsuit against the EPA to block these regulations.  This  situation could have substantial implications for Virginia, not just for families struggling to keep the heat on in winter, but for employers that have to consider utility costs in evaluating Virginia’s viability as a place to do business.  These regulations are a job killer, and they need to go.

The next session isn’t far off.  I believe  that addressing these issues (and others) will put Virginia on a course to economic prosperity, give our citizens the good jobs we need, and improve the quality of life of our neighbors, families, and children.  As I said before, if you have any comments, requests, or suggestions, don’t hesitate to call me at (540) 751-8364. I will do my best to help.

By Victoria Kidd

There’s a song that talks about the joy of receiving “brown paper packages, tied up with string.” It’s not a holiday song, but it does harken back to a time when the concept of gift giving was a little less commercial, perhaps even a little more sincere. There was a time when people did not have a deluge of holiday sales flyers, flashy television commercials, and ‘special offer” emails competing for their attention. They simply had a local store with a smiling sales clerk who knew their name and somehow always managed to know “just the thing” for the person on their list.

For some reason, we often reference that simpler time as “days gone by,” but is that simplicity lost to us really? Perhaps we only think it is because we have been sold the idea that our Christmas trees must be surrounded by mountains of neatly wrapped gifts that were all purchased at big-box retailers before sunrise on the day after Thanksgiving (or even before Thursday’s turkey has even settled). More and more, people are beginning to challenge the assertion that the days of shopping Main Streets, with their cherished simplicity, are gone.

In Clarke and Frederick counties, people are increasingly leaving their alarms unset on the day commonly called “Black Friday,” and instead are pledging their dollars to local and independently owned businesses. The movement to do so originated long ago, but most sources agree that it received its name—Plaid Friday—in Oakland, Calif. The city is one known for its shop local campaigns, but cities and towns across the country have adopted this particular initiative. Its name represents the weaving of individual threads (representing the creativity and diversity of independent businesses) together.

Plaid Friday is an idea. It’s a movement, a means to beckon people back to the roots of their communities, and it reminds people that shopping for friends and family can once again be an enjoyable and leisurely activity. (It’s complemented by “Small Business Saturday,” which is equally lauded in many communities.) The movement to “shop small, shop local” is also one that directly impacts the economy, both locally and on a national scale. According to Luanne Carey of Berryville Main Street, shopping local “supports the local business owner, provides employment in the community, and of the dollars spent, 70 percent remain in the community.”

That statistic is echoed by a recent Huffington Post article referencing a study that found locally owned businesses create 70 percent more local economic activity per square foot than the big box retailers who spend excessive amounts of money vying for our attention with their door buster bargains and primetime commercials. That money cycles directly back into the community, benefiting infrastructure projects and other community improvement efforts.

Echoing these reasons for supporting one’s local Main Street is Jennifer Bell, Downtown Manager of Winchester’s Old Town Development Board. “People should shop locally for many reasons,” she says. “Supporting small business owners makes a tremendous difference in the community overall. These business owners are the people who are supporting local charities and working to improve their communities. They offer employment and keep dollars circulating right here in our neighborhoods.”

Advocating across the state for those small business owners are organizations like Berryville Main Street and the Old Town Development Board in Winchester. Their work is part of the state’s Virginia Main Street Program, a preservation-based economic and community development program that provides local communities with support and resources to improve their downtown areas. (Their approach to improving local Main Streets is designed around successful methods developed by the National Trust Main Street Center.)

Berryville and Winchester are two of the 25 designated Virginia Main Streets in the state, making local residents the beneficiaries of significant investment (in terms of time and/or money) in their communities. Of such work, Carey says, “Our goal is to create a positive image that will rekindle community pride and improve consumer and investor confidence in our commercial district. Advertising, retail promotions, special events, and marketing campaigns help sell the image and promise of Main Street to the community and surrounding region, while promotions communicate our commercial district’s unique characteristics, business establishments, and activities to shoppers, investors, potential businesses, property owners, and visitors.”

People like Carey and Bell work alongside countless others to drive increased awareness of the value that shopping locally has for the community, but it is often the business owners themselves who really incentivize local shoppers to abandon the retail giants for stores where a welcome bell announces your arrival and a spoken “have a nice day” bids you farewell when you leave.

“For these business owners,” relays Bell, “it’s much more than just completing a transaction. They are responsive to their customers. You aren’t going to feel pressured. You are going to be greeted, remembered, and served. They remember your preferences and are really great at helping you select items if you don’t know what to buy. They also have specialty items you can’t find anywhere else.”

Such is certainly true of both Berryville and Winchester’s downtown areas. In Berryville, holiday shoppers have eclectic and welcoming stores like The Fire House Gallery and Shop, Sisters in Law, the Art Emporium, Family Trust Numismatics, Sponseller’s Flower Shop, My Neighbor and Me, and other stores. Winchester’s downtown includes stores like Bell’s Men’s & Women’s Clothing, Bluebells, Make Nest Interiors, Luciole, Old Town Silversmiths, Handworks Gallery, the Winchester Book Gallery, and many more.

These two areas are about 12 miles away from each other, but they are worlds away from the long lines, crowded aisles, and depleted shelves of the big box retailers. They are also distinguished by the events and activities that bring a real sense of community to those who frequently shop there. There are Berryville events like the Gingerbread Workshop for Children at the Barns of Rose Hill (November 22), a Christmas parade on Main Street (December 6), parking meter decorating (between November 10 and December 11), and several jewelry showcases (between November 29 and December 13). Across the county line, Winchester invites guests for the Old Town Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony (December 1), visits with Santa (December 5–6), and a night of caroling and wagon rides at the Holly Jolly Celebration (December 13).

Visiting downtown area businesses is about more than simply marking a name off one’s holiday shopping list. It’s about connecting to one’s community, returning to a simpler time, and bringing money back “home” for use on our streets, in our cities. It’s about visiting a restaurant borne of local ambition or  getting to know a shopkeeper who will remember you and have more than just a fleeting interest in your satisfaction. Perhaps it’s even (at least a little) about slowing down and enjoying a special time of year that should be about family, friends, and community.

So consider your family’s holiday routine. Perhaps it could use a little less quantity and a little more quality. Maybe shop less at those big-box retailers, and shop more at independently owned businesses. Perhaps instead of standing in long lines waiting to check out, spend time at The Barns of Rose Hill listening to a holiday concert or participating in a Thanksgiving centerpiece-building workshop at the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum.

Take a moment to learn more about the shops of Berryville’s Main Street by visiting www.berryvillemainstreet.org. (While there, find out how you can make yourself eligible for a share of $1,500 in giveaways by shopping locally in Clarke County between November 10th and December 11th.) For more information on Old Town Winchester and its holiday events, visit www.oldtownwinchesterva.com or download the new Old Town Winchester App on Google Play and the iTunes Store.

More importantly, take a leap of faith with us, and visit local merchants located in and around your downtown area. Share photos of your local holiday shopping and dining experiences with us on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/VaObserver). Perhaps a locally sourced gift that is wrapped up in brown paper packaging is just the thing to remind you of what the holidays are really all about.

There’s nothing easy about running a small business. You’re the owner, but you’re also the VP for marketing, the head of finance and the one who very often takes out the trash, cleans the windows and does everything that everyone else is too busy, too proud or too lazy to do. For you have no choice in the matter because it’s on you; it’s all you.

And for many of you, one is never enough. You either run two or three businesses at the same time or have become what can only be called a repeat offender. A serial business owner.  A statistic of recidivism.

And we are all so grateful for you. You shop owners bring color and character to our towns. You artisans capture the special spirit of our place. You tradesmen know where we leave the key on the back porch so that you can repair our homes while we’re off at work—thanks for turning off the coffeepots we accidentally leave on.

So here’s to you self-reliant, independent and locally owned business folk. And for all of us, here is our annual reminder why buying local means so much.

Buying local supports you and your family. When you buy from a locally owned business, more of your buying dollar stays in the community and is used to make purchases from other local businesses, which helps strengthen the economic base of your hometown.

You’re supporting local nonprofits. Studies show that small business owners give an average of 250 percent more dollars in donations to local nonprofits than do large businesses.

Buying local keeps your community unique. Where we shop, where we eat and have fun—all of it makes a community home. One-of-a-kind local businesses give a distinctive character to a place, and add to quality of life; they also bring in more tourist dollars.

Reduce your environmental impact. Locally owned businesses make more local purchases, which means less wasted fossil fuel for deliveries from afar. You save money too, whenever you can walk instead of driving to buy.

Local business creates more good jobs. Small local businesses are the largest employer nationally, and the jobs they offer create stronger links to our communities. After all, where would you rather see a son or daughter work: at a local store where they might get valuable personal employer referrals, or at an impersonal national chain store checkout counter?

When you buy local, you invest in community. Local businesses are owned by your neighbors, people who live in your town, who are less likely to leave, and who — like you — are more invested in the community’s future.

You get better service locally. Local businesses often hire people with a better understanding of the products they sell, and take more time to get to know customers.

Buying local puts your taxes to good use. Local businesses, particularly those in town centers, require little public infrastructure investment, as compared to nationally owned chains built at the edge of town, with taxpayer money for improved roads, water and sewer service.

Buying local encourages local prosperity. A growing body of economic research shows that in an increasingly homogenized world, entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive hometown character.