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thursday nov 15 2007 b serving the community ofwhtchurchstouffville h 28 pages1 including gst mike billiards standup revival stops in ballantrae next week entertainment 18 things to do 19 sports 22 classified 28 lest we forget bronson bowie 4 watches the lay ing of wreaths dur ing a remembrance day service at the stouffville royal canadian legion cenotaph sunday for additional pho tographs see page 3 for our view see editorial on page 6 our g wmm ijss tfc jaf world war 2 19391945 korea 1950 1953 and to those who served staff photobill roberts some merchants flourishing moving here while others suffer close living next door to walmart for a year by hannelore volpe staff writer the good the bad and the indifferent a year after walmart opened on hwy 48 retailers are telling a variety of stories the giant retailer opened its 160000squarefoot super centre nov 8 2006 boasting a large gro cery section it was one of just three in southern ontario some businesses in stouffville have been affected the stouffville business improvement area is mounting a steppedup advertising campaign to help its downtown shops there is no question some retailers are hurting bia president eric button said but we dont know the extent while no formal survey has yet been done by the bia on the impact it could be done next year the fact that businesses would be affected comes as no surprise we knew it would happen bia manager ruth leblanc said the forte of the downtown is that its shops are eclectic mrs leb lanc said when you go into the little spe cialty shops she said you will find tilings you will not find at wal- mart and that is what we want the downtown to be a unique shop ping area the bias ambitious advertis ing campaign in local newspapers is designed to let know about the downtowns unique character that campaign is coupled with downtown events put on by the bia yearround such as the festival of lights dec 1 a couple of shoppers on main street this week loretta risto and barbara lloyd said they do go to walmart but return to the down town area for hairdresser appoint ments lunch or to go to the drug store i do make a special effort ms lloyd said if i can buy from one of the local shops i will the coming of walmart has offered employment to many people from teenagers to seniors many of whom want parttime employment in that aspect it is very good see profits page 7 j