Breaking News: Governor Tom Wolf has ordered all restaurants and bars to close their dine-in facilities at 12:01 AM on Monday, March 16 in Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties for 14 days to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Social distancing may help mitigate the coronavirus crisis, but it also threatens to devastate small businesses. 

There also are some small ways that individuals, if they have the means, can help their favorite small businesses stay afloat through the crisis.

• Purchasing a gift card to your favorite shop, theater or restaurant is an immediate way to put cash into the business

• Support your local pharmacies and restaurants and businesses

Here are a few ways you can support a local small business from home:

• Buy from their website, Instagram, Facebook, Etsy page

• Buy a gift card from any local business or restaurant that offers one

• Order take out, curbside pickup for food from local restaurants or shops that offer it.

Search their business name online, or some of our local business can be found on Newtown Business Association website, www.newtownba.org

If you do go to a restaurant, or when you order takeout, consider being a little extra generous on the tips for wait staff and delivery people, since their income will drop due to fewer patrons. 

A bigger tip may not directly contribute to a restaurant's bottom line, but it does help others and it contributes to the spirit of goodwill and appreciation in the community, which can help with everyone's mood.

Let’s meet this challenge together! 

Stay safe!

John L. Hearn

Chief of Police