LETTERS

Downtown must provide the essentials

To the Editor:

Rumors have been flying about the property for lease currently occupied by Stop n Shop and the likelihood that the space will be leased by a completely redundant pharmacy across the street from our well established Rite Aid. Many residents like myself wonder what the Mayor and the town, what anyone, is doing to ameliorate what we see as a crisis - the loss of our only grocery store.

This is a walking town and it seems that in order for people to be induced to walking to the center of town we must continue to provide essential services to those people. We seem to be encouraging gift stores and restaurants, pouring a great deal of money and effort into the revitalization of Main Street, yet standing by while we potentially lose the place where we shop for our food. The loss of the only grocery store can only serve to send people out of the town center - into their cars causing more CO2 emissions in order to shop for their groceries. And what of our seniors and the many in town without cars? Another pharmacy just doesn't seem to meet the needs of our community or align with our green initiatives.

I would hope that we use this as an opportunity to strive for an even better grocery store with even stronger green and organic initiatives so important to our town. I hope the residents of Highland Park can come together on this issue and express their support of and commitment to shopping in a local Highland Park grocery store.

-- Jessie Hughes
Highland Park