In response to Barnes & Noble's plans to move from its present location in Greenbrae, California, to a much larger space a block from Book Passage in Corte Madera, the bookstore is holding an onsite community meeting on Sunday, April 30. The gathering will serve as a forum to discuss municipal policies that would require a review of any proposed big box retailer to determine its potential effects on the community.

For Russ Lawrence of Hamilton, Montana's Chapter One Bookstore, April 12 was a "watershed" moment for Ravalli County, Montana. On that night, the county commissioners held a public hearing regarding a proposal to limit new retail development to a 60,000-square-foot size cap, a move that has the potential to bar a Wal-Mart from opening in the area.

On Monday, April 10, Jeff Milchen, co-founder of the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA), testified at a public hearing to voice opposition to Wal-Mart's plans to open an industrial bank in Arlington, Virginia.

On April 3 at Nantucket's Town Meeting, an amendment to the town zoning laws to keep chain stores out of the historic downtown went unchallenged. This means the amendment automatically passes and will be adopted by the town, pending approval from the state attorney general, according to Wendy Hudson of Nantucket Bookworks, the sponsor of the proposal.

A grassroots movement to amend local laws to keep Wal-Mart from opening in Damariscotta, Maine, has not only succeeded, but also spurred a kind of regional domino effect. The results will likely keep Wal-Mart, or any store that exceeds 35,000-square-feet, from opening in Damariscotta and nearby New Castle, and potentially two other neighboring towns.

The American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) -- a national outreach networking hub and resource center for independent business alliances (IBAs) and independent businesses -- has declared Saturday, July 1, through Friday, July 7, Independents Week. The national weeklong promotion serves to educate the public about the importance of shopping at locally owned, independent businesses.

In what was good news for Nantucket's locally owned retailers, on March 6 the town's planning board endorsed an amendment to the town zoning laws that would keep large chain stores out of the historic downtown. Bookseller Wendy Hudson, who runs the independent Nantucket Bookworks, sponsored the proposal, which will be voted on at the Town Meeting, scheduled for April 3. It needs two-thirds of the vote to pass.

Officially, it is known as East Grand Avenue in District 16 in the city of St. Paul, Minnesota. However, to the residents of the Summit Hill neighborhood, Grand Avenue is much more than an address. Known as "the gem of the city," it is a pedestrian-friendly "Main Street" that is loved by the community for its rich, eclectic mixture of local retailers and its historic, charming character.

Last week, a group of California residents who filed a petition protesting the impending move of the 10-year-old Greenbrae Barnes & Noble to the Corte Madera Town Center, a block away from Book Passage, were rebuffed by the town council and mayor, as reported by Marin Independent Journal (MIJ).

When it comes to advocating change in local politics, it's good to have persistence and patience. Fortunately for the residents of Nantucket, Massachusetts, who want the town to retain its historic charm, bookseller Wendy Hudson possesses both.