It is such great news to hear of new businesses opening on the Island during these bizarre, economic times.

Soon, we won’t have to look at the old Union 76 station sitting there vacant and sad. Freshy’s Seafood is moving into the location and will offer fresh fish caught off the Washington coast. Won’t this be a wonderful addition to our shopping choices? For great fish, most of us have had to shop off-Island. In fact, a lot of us have to shop off-Island for groceries if you want more selection, a better variety of fresh vegetable and fruit, and specialty items. Perhaps our local grocery store managers are open to suggestions and merchandise recommendations to keep us shopping here.

Another business that just opened is a primary health care clinic called Qliance, housed next to Walgreens where Mercer Island Primary Care used to be. Qliance operates insurance-free direct primary care clinics where individuals and families pay monthly fees — between $39 and $129 a month for unrestricted access to Qliance physicians and nurse practitioners. Not only is this an interesting business model, but it’s comforting to know we have a local clinic for our health care needs.

It is so important to shop and support our local businesses on the Island. It is these local businesses that give back to the community in dollars or products that help raise funds for school activities and charitable organizations. Without our local businesses, we would be hard pressed to keep some of our worthwhile organizations alive on Mercer Island.

And now, we have two great alternatives that should help keep our dollars local.

Janet Taylor is the publisher of the Mercer Island Reporter and Bellevue Reporter. She can be reached at jtaylor@bellevuereporter.com.