The spirit of ‘community is a two-way street'

To the editor: Perhaps our “sense of connectedness is waning” due to elitist comments such as “where faceless employees carry on their daily, boring routines.” Those “faceless employees” doing their “boring jobs” - as if where they choose to work somehow relegates them to the status of second-class citizen - are your neighbors. They live here, are contributing to society by being gainfully employed, and are part of the fabric that weaves the ever-important “sense of community” spoke of so often in these pages. I for one would like to thank the CVS employees, namely Jeri-Anne, for the superb customer service and personal touch I receive every time I patronize their store. The closure of The Bookstore is indeed a tragedy, as it has been an asset to our community and a true example of “local business” for years. I am sorry to see it go. However, not all Main Street retailers can boast such a record of stellar customer service, competitive pricing, and an exceptional sense of cooperative spirit as that which The Bookstore exemplified, nor should the virtues of Main Street be extolled at the exclusion of certain other businesses that do not fit a preconceived notion of what small-town retail utopia should be to some. Using The Bookstore’s closure as an excuse to denigrate others in the community and create a chasm of division among residents is a superlative example of the very attitude that drives local consumers to spend their money elsewhere. It is ironic that the very store which personified the word “community” would be the one to close its doors, despite doing everything right. Those who do not meet the high standards set forth by Mr. McDermott will need to work twice as hard to be half as well patronized, and with good reason. Let that be the so-called “wake-up call” mentioned here so often. Offending neighbors and potential customers with a sense of ascendancy will guarantee that their money will go to mainstream and online retailers - just as quickly as overpriced merchandise, poor customer service and a sense of entitlement will. And lest I be accused of being yet another “dreaded outsider” who knows not of which she speaks and isn’t entitled to her opinion - yes, I was born here; yes, my family has had extensive roots in this town for many decades; yes, I shop at and support those local merchants who have earned my patronage; and yes, I am a tax-paying homeowner here. The spirit of “community” is not a sense of inclusion intended for the select, self-elected few - it refers to everyone and is a two-way street. Heather Guidone Warwick