Mayors Column

As we enter the holiday shopping season, we are familiar with “Black Friday” and have learned about “Cyber Monday.” Join Voorhees Township as we embrace “Small Business Saturday,” which falls on the Saturday after Thanksgiving

Black Friday and Cyber Monday feature shopping at big box retail and e-commerce stores. Small Business Saturday is a national promotion started in 2010 that encourages holiday shoppers to patronize businesses that are small and local. Locally owned stores may not be able to compete with big chain stores on price for every item, but they shine at customer service and selection. National polling shows that over 90% of Americans want to support local small businesses.

Small businesses and entrepreneurship are the foundation of our local economy and quality of life. In addition to a vast array of wonderful small restaurants, Voorhees has a great selection of small businesses for jewelry, clothing, gift items, housewares, pottery, art, music, baked goods, and even toys. All of our Voorhees businesses can be found on the township web page www.voorheesnj.com and the web site also shows which businesses are part of Shop Voorhees. This program allows a portion of your normal purchasing dollars spent on goods and services in Voorhees to be applied to your property tax bill, thereby reducing your taxes at the end of the tax year.

We should always support our local businesses, but we should make a special effort on Saturday, November 25, which is “Small Business Saturday!”

**The Voorhees Town Center Santa Arrival and Tree Lighting will be on Nov. 17 starting at 6:30 p.m. The annual 36-foot holiday tree lighting will follow Santa’s arrival. Visit Santa from Nov. 18 through Christmas Eve, during Mall hours. Bring your pets and have their photos taken with Santa every Monday evening at 6 p.m. beginning Nov. 20 through Dec. 19. For more information visit www.voorheestowncenter.com.

** The Ashley Paul Memorial Foundation is hosting an “Ugly Sweater Beef and Beer” on Saturday, Dec. 9 at the Lindenwold Moose Lodge, 2425 White Horse Pike. The event begins at 7 p.m. and the cost is $25 per ticket or $20 per ticket if you bring a toy that will be donated to children in need. For tickets contact Bob at 609-707-4306 or Brittney at 856-906-6984. Proceeds will go to the Ashley Paul Memorial Interact Scholarship at Eastern Regional High School.