Final Shopping Days

Now that we're done with the Steve Jobs trilogy, it's time to focus on Christmas and some last minute shopping. Last Friday at the Cape Cod Times we had another of our many traditions to celebrate certain holidays. It's called "little sandwiches day". They do serve food, catered by Ardeo's, one of the best restaurants on Cape Cod, but the real focus was raising money for the Needy Fund, a charity sponsored by the paper for many years. We had a raffle for some really nice prizes, autographed Red Sox baseballs, (Youkelis, Lowell, Varitek), gift baskets, framed original paintings, and many other Cape Cod items. Then we auctioned two more baseballs signed by Varitek, and they went for $300 each. Our publisher, Peter Meyer, awarded plaques and cash to emplyees celebrating many years at the paper. It was with mixed emotions because we have been sold, and the future is uncertain.

It was a very nice day but it doesn't compare to the two biggest days each year at the paper. Number one is Haloween, it's total chaos. Employees bring their children. There's a parade of costumes that goes out onto Main Street and through some of the local businesses, and of course, more food. The next best day is the Red Sox home opening game which is usually played at 1 PM on a weekday. We convert our large meeting room into "Fenway Park" with a large screen TV, hot dogs, peanuts, cold drinks - just like being at the park. New employees are stunned. Hopefully those traditions will continue for many more years.