Think locally, act locally

I recently ran into a customer at a Blue Island Park District event and she confided that since she started reading my articles, she feels guilty if she spends money outside Blue Island. She has begun to stop and think about whether or not she can find what she needs right here at home. Another person that I explained the spend $5.00 a day in Blue Island theory to remarked that it reminded her of Rudy Giuliani’s speech after 9/11 in which he urged New Yorkers to get out and shop as if nothing had ever happened.
It is not my intention to make people feel guilty. I know that many things are not available here, so if you have to shop elsewhere for what you need, then do it, guilt free. And I certainly don’t advocate shopping just for the sake of shopping. That is irresponsible. What I am trying to say is that like my customer mentioned above, we should think before we shop. Is what we want available here, or might it be if we looked around?
Many people I know, including myself, make trips out to Trader Joe’s in Orland Park because they have very unusual, hard to find, and delicious foods. Not to mention the fabulous two-buck-chuck wine. I’ve been taking a closer look around Blue Island and I think we may have Trader Joe’s beat.
At Stefanelli and Sons, 13012 Western, you can find wonderful homemade pumpkin ravioli in the frozen food section for $4.95.
At Iversen’s Bakery, 12948 Western, try the Chocolate Pecan Delight cake for $5.50.
If you were disappointed in the flavor of your Thanksgiving turkey, try ordering a fresh turkey for Christmas from The Corner Store, 12458 Maple. They get their turkeys from Ho-Ka Farms and they have the flavor you remember from years past. Ho-Ka only sells to independent grocery stores, so you won’t find them just anywhere. As an added bonus, Ho-Ka Farms is right here in Illinois so you are supporting local economy twice!
Dieting? Pick up a can of Dolores brand tuna with vegetables for $1.29 at Joe’s Fruit Market, 12958 Western. It adds just the variety you may be looking for.
All of these places are less than a mile apart, so think of the gas you’re saving. For the average person in Blue Island, Trader Joe’s is about 23 miles round trip. That’s roughly a gallon gas, or about $3.00. Not to mention your time. Might I suggest that you take that $3.00, add it to the $2.99 for a bottle of two-buck-chuck, and buy yourself a nicer bottle of wine from Korbakes Wine & Liquors, 12747 Western, Miska’s Liquor Store, 12435 Western, or Stefanelli and Sons, as mentioned above.
If you’re looking for a quicker and easier way to spend your $5.00 today, stop at one of the following stores and buy a chance on a gift basket. Proceeds benefit the Forum newspaper, which is delivered FREE to every address in Blue Island.
Back in Action Wellness Center – 12757 S Western Avenue
CARR home-garden-holiday – 13114 S Western Avenue
Complete Tranquility Salon & Spa – 2824 W 127th Street
D’Masti Catering Inc. – 11915 S Western Avenue
El Ranchito Produce, Meat & Grocery – 12742 S Western Avenue
Flowers by Cathé – 13022 S Western Avenue
Iversen’s Bakery – 12948 S Western Avenue
Jebens Hardware – 13311 S Olde Western Avenue
Korbakes Wine & Liquors – 12747 S Western Avenue

I’ll see you on Western,
Candace Carr