Her prize was presented at the Spirit of Christmas celebration in downtown Gresham at the Center for the Arts Plaza on Saturday, Dec. 3rd.

Many Thanks to Our Giveaway Sponsors

Accents on Attitude
ICandy
Sizzler
Smiddys Carpet Cleaning
Abby’s Pizza
Rewind
Proforma Prosource
All Aout Kids
Free Spirit
Olympic Gym
Tails of Abbygail
Creative Vision Landscape
Of the Chart Games
Mt. Hood Lanes
The Outlook
Jamba Juice
Dickey’s Bar
Fab50Project

With Black Friday and Small Business Saturday just around the corner – holiday shopping is about to commence. One more fruitcake or Chia Pet – NO THANK YOU! As the holidays approach we all have the opportunity to make choices about where we shop. True, it can be tempting to call the number on the TV screen or make purchases online, but is that really the best thing for our local economy? Does this really provide the wow factor that is the reason for giving? This year get creative!!!

Everyone—yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local barber or hairdresser or perhaps a gym membership? Who couldn’t use a little more exercise!

Are you one of those extravagant givers who thinks nothing of plunking down the Benjamin’s for imported electronics? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, his lawn mowed for the summer, or a round of golf at a local golf course. Could your computer use a tune-up? Most of ours can — think of using a local businessman who is striving to get his computer repair business up and running.

Everyone loves to eat – celebrate our local eateries by giving gift certificates to local restaurants. The recipient can eat, drink and be merry while stimulating the economy with a tip for the local employee.

Looking for something more personal? Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit handmade items such as scarves and hats. They make jewelry and pottery…and an endless list of other beautiful products. For those people who have everything, consider giving to a local charity in your family or friend’s name.

If you need help finding a local business or charity call the Gresham Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center or visit www.greshamchamber.org. We would be happy to help you find a business that suits your needs.

Happy Holidays from Try Local First and the Chamber!!

P.S. By shopping locally you are supporting your local community. Remember the job you save may be your neighbors!

My “10 Ways To Local”

1. Changed my business focus to one where I now strive to get local business owners and non-profits maximum visibility in the community, save them money and help them get more profitable.
2. Became a Gresham Chamber of Commerce member.
3. Became a member of a Gresham ITakeTheLead professionals networking group.
4. Joined the TryLocalFirst meetings.
5. Changed my dentist from one on 72nd & Division to Sue Monnes, Gresham Chamber member.
6. Changed my health products from Whole Foods near 40th & Sandy to Lillian’s in Gresham.
7. Changed my auto, home and life insurance from a Farmer’s agent in Milwaukie to Lori Stegmann and John Sage, Gresham Chamber members.
8. Though my change was from one local to another local…it was from a non-Chamber member to a Chamber member: Brian at Cartridge World on Eastman Pkwy.
9. Changed my church attendance and offerings from a Mall 205 area church to Easthill.
10. And, I refer others to local businesses rather than out-of-Gresham businesses or online ones.

I do so love our Gresham. Makes you feel good to be a part of such a great community. We have so much here. I encourage others to really think about where they are spending their money, and consider if it is helping their community or one elsewhere. Let’s all do what we can to spend here, not there. And, think of your own “10 Ways To Local”. You’ll be glad you did, and so will others you affect by your decision.

No guilt-trip intended, but even though it’s convenient at times…when you are out of Gresham and around other areas of the Portland-Vancouver metro area…to buy gas, groceries, coffee, cards and other things…buy local because it’s the right thing to do to support our local economy. Our decisions and habits do make a difference!

To a more prosperous year and years to come,
Steve Copeland
Copeland Business Services
Gresham, OR

The June 16th Third Thursday will feature a beer tasting in the courtyard of the newly opened “The Hoppy Brewer”, accompanied by acoustical Jazz/R&B trio “Matt Kirk & Friends”. “The Hoppy Brewer” is located at 328 N. Main Avenue in historic downtown Gresham.

The Historic Downtown Gresham Business Association is seeking artisans for Third Thursdays. For further information, visit the Historic Downtown Gresham website or call (503) 665-5990.

CONTACT: Kerry Ann O’Halloran
(503) 661-8000 ext. 101

The event features Peter & The Wolf, with the puppets of
Tears of Joy Puppet Theater

When?
Sunday, December 5 at 3:00pm

Where?
Mt. Hood Community College Theater

Adults $10 Kids $5
For Tickets: 503.234.4077 or on–line www.columbiasymphony.org

Try Local First is proud to be taking part in the Gresham Chamber of Commerce Fall Open House.
The Open House is FREE and open to everyone, especially the general public, and will be held:

Thursday November 4th from 4:30 – 7:00 PM
St. Henry’s Catholic Church Gym
346 NW 1st Street, Gresham Oregon

50 local chamber of commerce businesses will be giving away food, swag, coupons, and discounts in an effort to save you money on the products and services you already use.
You will also be able to buy a raffle ticket for $500 worth of free tires, or a brand new laser printer.

Enter Our Drawing!
Stop on by our booth and enter in our drawing for a $1000 East County Shopping Spree.
Our shopping spree contest runs from October 24th, 2010 through December 3rd, 2010.
See you at the Open House!

The Kelly Creek, Mt. Hood and Powell Valley neighborhood associations are hosting a one-stop shopping East Gresham Community Information Fair. Get information on organizations and programs in the community.

Exhibitors include most departments from the city of Gresham, schools and service organizations. Invited guests include local, regional and state elected officials, and of course, Try Local First. Click here for more information.

The program will be promoted to our previous thousands of contestants who entered to win our two “$1,000 Shopping Sprees” (one in the Fall of 2008 and one in 2009) and last summer’s “Discover East County Packages”.

It will also be promoted locally by all Coalition Members of Try Local First with information regarding the contest being promoted in local newspaper and on the Try Local First contest page as well as the Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce website and other Coalition members websites.

The promotion will begin in mid June and entries will be accepted for 30 days. Winners will be selected based on the previously selected guidelines and presented at the Center for the Arts Plaza “Street Dance” event the last weekend of July.

Those businesses that contribute prizes to the “East County Stimulus Package” will be listed on the Try Local First website and those that contribute prizes with a retail value of $100 or more will receive a link to their website, if requested. They will also be mentioned in as many promotional materials and presentations as possible.

The goal of the contest is to promote East County businesses as well as local events that contribute to the economic well being of our community.

The Gresham Barlow Education Foundation presents the 2010 Bagels & Books event with Oregon author Phillip Margolin, New York Times best selling author of Gone, But Not Forgotten.

Phillip’s other books include:
Supreme Justice
Fugitive
Executive Privilege
Proof Positive
Lost Lake
Sleeping Beauty
Ties That Bind
The Associate
Wild Justice
The Undertaker’s Widow
The Burning Man
After Dark
Gone, But Not Forgotten
The Last Innocent Man
Heartstone

The event will be held at Grace Community Church, 800 SE Hogan in Gresham.

Please RSVP to attend this event by Friday May 21st to the Gresham Barlow Education Foundation at 503.766.0008 or info@gbefkids.org.

Check out the event sponsors:

• Jazzy Bagels
• Books 4 Giving
• Shammai Rockove, M.D.
• Honke Heating
• Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center
• Historic Downtown Gresham Kiwanis Club

Shopping Spree Winner Gloria Smith with Try Local First's Bess Willis

Gloria Smith noticed the brightly green wrapped boxes in local stores last Christmas (2008) and she filled out a form and entered to win the local $1,000 Shopping Spree.

Then later on in the year she entered to win a Discover East County Package and when she heard the winners announced at the 4th of July Blue Lake Park Fireworks Event she did not hear her name but was impressed to see that yes someone did win and these Try Local First promotions were for real. So when she received the e-mail announcing the 2009 Shopping Spree Event she took the time to enter once again.

Life gets busy and Gloria was over halfway across the United States caring for a sister that was having eye surgery when she visited a local library to check her e-mail – yes, Gloria, there is a Santa Claus as what to her wondering eyes did appear an e-mail from Try Local First stating that she was the winner of the 2009 $1,000 Shopping Spree. Persistence does pay and a little good karma doesn’t hurt either.

Speaking of good karma and paying it forward, when asked what she intended to do with her Holiday Spree the first words out of her mouth were that she was going to her local Church and get some Angels off the tree – you see each Angel has a child’s name who needs a little something this Christmas and Gloria was happy to spend a portion of her $1,000 helping other less fortunate have a little brighter Christmas.

And, of course she intends to spend the entire $1,000 locally because she understands that will enable someone else to spend local and the circle of local economic health stays well and those locally in need are given assistance. Try Local First is truly a happy ending story that had no ending if we all make that extra effort to spend our resources in East County!