DAN'S PAPERS, October 9, 2009 Page 28 www.danshamptons.com
BUSINESS Givin’ You the
SH Biz Owners Unite to Give Town New Life
By T.J. Clemente On Monday morning, October 5, at 75 Main in Southampton, the Southampton Chamber of Commerce held a meeting to address the village’s plan for promoting activities and opportunities for the off-season visitor, as well as residents, in Southampton. After the summer of the great national economic downturn, business owners in Southampton are creating a strategy to bring customers back to the village. Millie Fellingham, the Chamber’s Executive Director, said the mantra of the meeting was to be, “shop owners unite.” Over 25 owners as well as Southampton Village Mayor Mark Epley showed up for the 8:30 a.m. breakfast meeting, led by Fellingham and Jennifer Forster. The question was: what can the town and local businesses do to get people to drive their cars into the village. Mayor Epley said the “The village will do whatever you want
us to do, just tell me.” First on the agenda was the Columbus Day Weekend, where there will be a soup tour, sidewalk displays, hayrides, and refreshments with participating business offering incentives. For a $10 fee, fairgoers will be able to sample soups at local restaurants from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. The participants spoke of bringing more life to the town in general, and an idea that’s been circulating for years reared its head: keeping stores open later, something that several people at the meeting said the village has been historically against. But the enthusiastic attendees at the meeting encouraged extending the business day until 7:30 p.m. and it was agreed that all would attempt to do this between November 27 and December 20. To draw crowds, activities for the Sunday after Thanksgiving were discussed, including a scavenger hunt already in the works. Suggestions for a charity event for black
Columbus Weekend Sale
Friday was agreed upon, but it wasn’t fine-tuned. Since Thanksgiving is less than a month away, the need to advertise was raised. The group also discussed how to make the village Madison Avenue beautiful, especially for the Christmas and Holiday season. The problem is that the committee that picks the déécor for the town is very rigid in their vision of the village’s tradition. This discussion was quite spirited. While not everything was finalized, the diverse group of business owners were poised to take action. The idea of this meeting was to show a “powerful statement of unity,” and the cooperative spirit was evident as the meeting broke up. Everyone was smiling, and no was angry. But the Columbus Day event will be the first test of Southampton business owners’ new resolve, in their attempt to shine a light on the charm of Southampton, and remind local shoppers and visitors that the village is a great place to spend one’s precious free time. In the 1950s, Gary Cooper once said he loved nothing more than walking through the village with his daughter and buying strawberry ice cream. For further information, contact Millie Fellingham, at the Southampton Chamber of Commerce: 631 283 8710 or email .
Budget
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However he knows that whoever the next supervisor is, there will be tough decisions to make. One may be how to raise the $331,000 beach fees brought in 2009. Both Wilkinson and Democrat contender Ben Zwirn vow to end it. McGintee still believes it’s a mistake to eliminate the unpopular fee, which he created. Unlike last year, so far there’s no plan to raise the supervisor’s salary in the budget which is still set at $96,962.61. In Southampton, it will be interesting in the next few weeks to hear Linda Kabot, who actually wants the 5% cap removed, and Anna Throne-Holst debate about a budget they’re both working to get passed as they oppose each other for the Southampton Supervisor position.
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