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Local café pays it forward, spreads holiday cheer

At Christmas time, one good thing can lead to another

Living in a city that maintains its small town persona presents events and connections that are exceedingly rare in bigger communities. Personal interplay will occur between people who have never met because they are just one friend away from making their acquaintance.

And just such an interaction occurred this week at a local coffee shop.

Darlene Flannigan works at the Biscotti Café and she thought it would be nice if the morning regulars each had their own Christmas stocking.

So she designed, created and sewed 19 stockings, each monogrammed, for individuals and groups who regularly congregate at the Café.

Shortly after the stockings went up, local pastor Mark Devos approached Nick Dell’Omo, the owner of the Café, and asked if his church group could rent the facility for a Christmas party. Everyone would be invited from the community for hot chocolate and some carolling (see related story here).

Dell’Omo agreed, saying “I think it will be a great thing for the community.”

When Devos asked what the cost would be for the rental and drinks, Dell’omo said there would be no charge.

As a result Devos felt compelled to pass along the generosity shown him and he decided to share it with Café regulars. When the morning crowd showed up Thursday they found enough cash in each stocking for a coffee and a snack.

Devos also left a note in each stocking saying, “Much more could be said about how encouraged I was by the conversation with Nick. I love to see people coming together for the good of our city.”

And he issued a challenge to recipients, “The money we had budgeted for the rental we want to give to the regulars that make Biscotti the special place that it is. Buy someone a coffee - pay it forward.”