'Tis the season to shop locally and spread the 'merry'

I’ve written before about the importance of a thriving downtown. The health and sense of community are a direct reflection of the health of a town’s main shopping area. When residents support local merchants, they in turn support Fallbrook.

Below is a list of reasons to shop locally, during the holidays and everyday, taken from the American Independent Business Alliance.

By shopping locally, residents build community. The casual encounters enjoyed at neighborhood-scale businesses and the public spaces around them build relationships and community cohesiveness. They’re the ultimate social netwo...