It seems as though every year it starts a little earlier, and this year was no different with holiday decorations going up as early as Halloween. But the time is certainly here now. It's December, and Christmas has come to Los Gatos. And that sure is good news for local merchants.
Store owners have suffered through some pretty rough times in the rocky economy of recent years, so who cares if they jumped out to a quick start in the 2003 holiday shopping season? They deserve a head start on what everyone hopes will be a bountiful shopping period that could help businesses take a prosperous turn into the new year.
Local merchants also deserve our support. As we head out to do our holiday shopping and celebrating, let's not forget our Los Gatos shops and restaurants. Members of the community needs to think Los Gatos first when they spend their holiday cash, because Los Gatos business owners are always there to support the community.
Whether it's local restaurants donating a portion of their revenues to the Los Gatos Education Foundation during the Foundation Tuesdays! Dining Out for Education fundraiser held last spring, or the Crimson Rose and Forbes Mills Steakhouse hosting events to support the Los Gatos High School Theater Improvement Project, or any one of a number of area businesses sponsoring a youth sports team or other local activity, Los Gatos merchants are always there willing to give back to a community that supports them.
These are the same merchants who employ our young people, who give back to the town through the generation of sales tax, and who in many cases are our friends and neighbors.
What's more, Los Gatos merchants offer a tremendous variety of goods and services for their local customers. As we prepare to spend our holiday dollars, let's not turn our backs on the very merchants who keep the business climate in Los Gatos vibrant. They certainly haven't turned their backs on us.
When we as a community needed to raise funds for any number of causes, we went to the merchants for support and they stepped forward with donations of goods, services and cash. Now it's our turn to step up.
New Mayor Steve Glickman will officially usher in the 2003 holiday season in Los Gatos when he throws the switch to light the town's Christmas tree at a special ceremony on Dec. 5 in town plaza. The popular carriage rides through the downtown sponsored by the Town of Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce will begin that night, and the 47th annual Los Gatos Children's Christmas and Holidays Parade will be held a day later.
So come to town for the festivities, and support local business in the process. It's the least we can do for the merchants after all they've done for the community.
