The holiday season is a time to reflect on the past and a time to celebrate with the people we love. Many of us visit with friends and attend holiday gatherings with our business associates and local organizations.

This time of the year is extremely important to local merchants and business owners. In many cases it is this end-of-the-year season that determines whether or not a business will be able to continue.

On behalf of the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce and more than 50 member chambers and over 6,000 members, we are urging Nassau County residents to remember their local merchants and businesses this holiday season. Every dollar that is spent in Nassau County helps merchants to prosper, provide jobs, pay taxes and give support to local charitable organizations.

Nassau County's economic engine is powered by small businesses and we all need to do our part to help fuel this engine. When shopping for holiday gifts remember those businesses that are here to serve you all year-round. Nassau County has many downtowns, shopping districts, malls and shopping centers all of which are important to the local economy and need your support. Please remember them this holiday season.

The Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce would like to wish one and all a happy and healthy holiday season and prosperous New Year.

Richard M. Bivone

President

Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce