Northshire owner Barbara Morrow opens the June 2
Saratoga Springs event featuring the amazing David McCullough,
who was a lot happier and livelier as speaker
than he looked in this photo.

When I sing the praises of Northshire Bookstore in downtown Saratoga Springs, it’s not only because it's a fantastic shop, but because the owners are truly community-minded.

Three examples from this week: the sold-out City Center appearance by historian David McCullough on Tuesday (he was fascinating, talking about the Wright Brothers and more), tonight’s bookstore visit by Jane Smiley (I love her work, but will regrettably miss her visit), and this weekend’s generous offering of support to the projects funded by the local Soroptimist service organization.

If you tell the check-out person on June 6 and 7 that you support Soroptimists, 20 percent of your purchases those days will go toward the club’s programs, which include support for domestic violence victims and other projects that improve the lives of women, girls and their communities, locally and globally. They will also be selling tickets to the Secret Gardens Tour, which will be on July 12 (see soroptimistsaratoga.org for details). As a member of the group, with firsthand knowledge of the initiatives it supports, I am grateful to Northshire.

I am also just plain happy that Northshire is here. My husband and I demonstrate our appreciation by shopping there. That’s the most effective way to say thank you.