Post by Kails on Apr 17, 2009 13:34:01 GMT -5
PRACTICE YOUR SHOPPING-CART DANCE
Grocery shopping can be refreshing! You can plan out your week item by item, try new foods, and plot your mission to eat healthier.
Soon it will be even easier to do your food shopping in town. Renovations are underway at the Millsberry Grocery Store, and you can expect to see a fresh new look in just two weeks! Say goodbye to bumper-carts and say hello to breathing room, with roomier, well-organized aisles. You can also look forward to sampling a variety products not carried before.
And no worries about stocking up on your favorite food in the meantime—renovations are taking place after hours—though some (sleepy) citizens have expressed mixed feelings about the accommodation.
"I hear them working on the store when I'm trying to get some shut-eye," explained one neighborhood resident. "But it'll be worth it. Last week I must have said 'Excuse me' or 'I'm sorry' 20 times because of the overcrowding. Now I hear there'll be much more room. They say that instead of bumping into other shoppers, that we'll be able to boogie down the aisles, so I'm looking forward to that."
We found another local shopper peeking through the store windows after hours. "I was told that the new products were top secret, but I heard something about a section devoted to space food! It's heightened my curiosity to try it—and I bet it's really handy for snacking on-the-go."
Space food?! We're not so sure—but anything is possible, especially since Hardware Store owner Pete Peterson and Grocery Store owner Harold Ettin are collaborating on the plan. The Gazette caught up with them both in Peabody Park, where they were looking over some blueprints, on a recent afternoon.
Ettin noted, "This has always been a long-term dream of mine. I was thrilled when Mayor Wright wanted to invest in a redesign of the store. I think he's our most frequent shopper. He's obsessed with cereals—especially Count Chocula®—so it'll come as no surprise that we're getting a bunch of new ones in!"
Seconds later, Ettin fell asleep right on Peterson's shoulder.
Peterson explained, "He's been working day and night on the store—so he's pretty exhausted." Then he asked if we'd be willing to help carry him home.
We tried to get some more information out of the hardware handler, but mum was the word. "I'll let Harold fill you in on all the juicy details another time—when he's more awake. However, I can tell you that the original plan was to make the store the shape of a big bagel! The Mayor didn't go for it though—he didn't like the idea of a big hole in the middle."
Well, that news nearly burst our bubble—or bagel, for that matter—but whatever its shape, the new store is bound to be a success. We hope to get more clues from Harold Ettin, but for now, we'll let him catch up on his ZZZs.
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LOVE YOUR MOTHER...EARTH
On April 22nd, we celebrate our love and appreciation of the earth. That's right: it's Earth Day again (the 39th annual, if you're counting), which means there's no better time to show your support for the planet, alongside fellow citizens of the world.
Arthur Fort, Millsberry Academy's beloved science teacher—and Gazette contributor—shed some light on the event, though we found him sitting in the dark.
"Let's sit by the window for light," Fort suggested when we paid a visit to his classroom. "I'm trying to save energy. Lights, computers, and televisions all use tons of energy, and that energy is in short supply. Fortunately, big results start with small details, so turning off lights when you leave a room, turning off the TV when you're no longer watching it, and turning off the faucet when you're brushing your teeth can all add up to energy saved." Great point!
We then asked the teacher what he'd planned for the big day. Fort smiled, at least we think it was a smile—it was dark. "I haven't told my students yet, but I plan on taking them to Peabody Park. We're going to clean up, collect recyclables, and take a nature walk. It's really important to enjoy the outdoors—and to make every day an 'Earth Day.'"