L&M Publications
Merrick Life • Bellmore Life • Freeport-Baldwin Leader • Wantagh-Seaford Citizen

Madison Avenue dictates many of the gifts on our holiday shopping lists, especially those for the kids. Others require more thought. Some of the most imaginative and appreciated gifts can be had right here in our hometown, sparing us from crowded parking lots at the malls and big box stores and helping support the local economy. Local merchants help pay for local schools and services and they often sponsor local teams and give to local houses of worship.
   
Here are a few of our favorite presents given or received during holidays past:

• Resetting a cherished ring at Gennaro Jewelers in Bellmore, where they also served ruggulah while we waited.
• A gold leaf to leave the cell phone on from Nature’s Museum in Bellmore.
• Sheet music for a Taylor Swift song special ordered by New World Music Center in Baldwin and getting a favorite guitar repaired.
• A beanie bear from Merrick Flower Shoppe and a chance to visit with the folks who have helped sponsor Santa’s visit for many years.
• A gift certificate for hot yoga sessions.
• Calendars for all the family featuring the wedding photos and created at J&D Card and Gift Emporium in North Merrick.
• A kit from the post office in Wantagh that lets you create your own postage stamps using a photo of a loved one.
• Dinner at The Schooner on the Nautical Mile in Freeport.
• Chipping in for an operation for a beloved pet.
• One lady at the local drug store was buying 10 flashlights, one for everyone in her family. She said they would be useful for the folks and fun for the kids. Great idea!

  
Perhaps these ideas will also help you as last-minute shopping ideas. And may we add that a gift subscription to your hometown paper lasts for 52 weeks!
  
We are happy to report one of our Merrick readers saw the ad about “Boutique Alley” in Wantagh and Seaford, enjoyed discovering them, and also finding out where the Curtain Shoppe had moved. Many younger readers attended the Toxin concert in Bellmore benefiting Toys for Tots. And Luanne’s in Merrick is giving a good chunk of its last-minute shopping sales to United Cerebral Palsy. Mutts and Butts in Merrick donated a truckload of pet food to Bobby and the Strays Animal Shelter in Freeport. Now that’s the holiday spirit!