We take great pride in the small role we played to help bring Brookline Local First to our Brookline. Our publication was founded 7 years ago, in part, to support the great work of Brookline’s local, independent, business community. We have taken time also applaud the few non-independent businesses that have gone out of their way to support their independent neighbors. Case in point, Sharad Chand and his predecessor Cathy O’Brien of Brookline Courtyard Marriott, who time and time again have assisted Brookline independent businesses members of our beloved Coolidge Corner Merchants Association and great many local non-profits.
Last year, Adam Mitchell, Town Meeting Member and owner of Save That Stuff introduced me to the founder of the Sustainable Business Network and the Local First movement, Laury Hammel. Laury helped a group of us form Brookline Local First. Our parent company, Advanced Digital Websites, Inc. provided the organization with the logo you see now on those big 9″ stickers all over town and the BLF website.
We feel it’s important for the public to know just a little bit about the type of people who make up an organization. Brookline Local First elected as its first Chairperson, Chobee Hoy of Chobee Hoy Associates Real Estate. In January of 2011, we published a piece about Chobee that bears relevance now, and are reprinting it below. This should tell you a lot about what makes the most recognizable businessperson in Brookline tick.
Chobee chairs the Steering Committee comprised of some All-Stars of the Brookline business community, including Dana Brigham of Brookline Booksmith, Abe Faber of Clear Flour Bread, Lucia Berman-Rossi of Tiny Hanger, Terry Meyers of Cause to Paws, Elaine Joseph of Bank of Canton, Attorney Susan Howards, Sheila Selby of On The Move Interiors, Adam Mitchell of Save that Stuff, Elle Dunford of Kookoos Cafe, and me;)
By R. Harvey Bravman, Publisher
