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8 minute read
SIMPLY SARAH, Continued on
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Ken and Sarah Bernstein purchased the old APS warehouse at the south end of Broadstreet in 2019 in order to consolidate and accommodate both of the family businesses they run together. Photo by LCGross “You bloom where you’re planted and the rest is all geography,” she philosophically concludes. Sarah at her new location on South Broad Street.
Simply Sarah, Continued from page 1
“A business is a living thing: It’s grown with me, and I’ve grown with it,” Bernstein said from a comfortable seat in front of her shop on a recent, sunny November day between occasional interruptions for customer service or family business. “I have young people who come into the store that remember coming here with their parents. Some of our customers have been with us from the beginning.”
In 2019, before the pandemic, Simply Sarah moved into the old APS warehouse at the south end of Broad Street, in the same compound as Bird Seismic Services, which offers its services around the world. The site also offers more space for the various treasures Simply Sarah stocks for her discerning customers, with additional parking that had been unavailable at the previous locations.
It’s Bernstein’s third location on Globe’s main drag and a move that consolidates the family’s professional workspaces at one convenient location.
“We really support each other,” Bernstein says of her family’s dynamics. “So now the family is all together.”
Along with her husband, Ken Bernstein, son, Alex Day, and daughter, Ellie Bernstein, Sarah is ready to tackle anything that comes at them on any given day, from dealing with deliveries of seismic cable or fine, handmade clothing, to advising customers on the best way to eat fresh persimmons recently harvested at Reevis Mountain School.
While her two previous locations were in the center of downtown Globe - first in the historic Gila Valley Bank and Trust building and then at 386 Broad Street for more than a dozen years - Bernstein assures that even though Simply Sarah is now located at the far south end, she is still on Broad Street after all these years.
“This building needed some life breathed into it, so the impetus has been on construction and restoration and not just cleaning up,” she says. “It’s close to the college and the entrance to downtown.
“You bloom where you’re planted, and the rest is all geography,” she philosophically concludes.
Before Sarah Bernstein made her way to Arizona from Minnesota in 1991, she was on track to pursue a master’s degree in art. But as often happens, life is what takes place when one is making other plans.
When her significant other at the time was hired at a school in the town of Cibecue, Bernstein was also offered a job teaching art to kids of the White Mountain Apache Tribe.
“It was the nearest thing to the Peace Corps, except it was in the U.S.” she says. “I loved it and wouldn’t trade it for anything else. It was powerful and led to great personal growth. It helped me develop a deep sense of gratitude and made me realize how fortunate I was.”
She taught there for three years before moving to Globe in 1994, where she worked refurbishing buildings and met her first husband, Michael Day, on a project fixing up the Gila Bank building.
In 1996, she opened Simply Sarah and became firmly ensconced in the Globe community.
A self-described “Luddite,” Bernstein lets her down-toearth philosophy shine through in her selection of goods for her store. She spends her days searching for unique products from all over the world, based on their beauty and quality. She focuses on products that are sustainably produced and on the concept of Fair Trade: providing sustainable wages for artists and food producers, both locally and globally.
She’s not just “selling things to sell them.” Every item is carefully selected to fit in with the vibe of Simply Sarah, and once a limited supply of special items is sold out, she often moves on to the next thing.
She also acts as a personal shopper, creates gourmet gift baskets for events around town. Sarah will even wrap and deliver to local customers and arrange for shipping to places outside Globe.
“We stock many different things, including hand-crafted clothing and accessories made from natural materials, and we have a great gourmet food section,” she says. “We try our best to support our patrons.”
Bernstein attributes her longevity to having quality goods that are unique and special, that cannot be found at just any shop. She is also a contributing citizen of her adopted hometown, and her philanthropic efforts have contributed to many local causes.
Over her three decades in Globe, Bernstein has supported hospitals, schools, and many other worthy community organizations, including working to help victims of domestic violence.
Since 2001, she’s hosted an annual Christmas charity party to support Meals on Wheels and the Humane Society. The pandemic put a kibosh on that, although she hopes to start again next year.
“It’s always been an event filled with great food and Christmas cheer,” Bernstein says. “Nothing was ever said about the charity.”
In the early years, guests would bring clothing and toys that were age and gender specific.
“We’d party for hours listening to Christmas music after dinner,” she says. “The gifts would be shining under the trees.”
One year, a guest surprised Bernstein by taping an expensive gold necklace to a package under the tree.
“It was a statement necklace that really meant something to someone,” she says. “It came out of someone’s personal jewel box.”
The money went to support a local safe house for victims of domestic violence. Horizon Human Services helps in many ways, including providing gas money so a victim of domestic violence can get out of town in an unsafe situation.
“People have been incredible,” she says. “I tell my kids if you do what you love, you never have to go to work.”
Ultimately, Simply Sarah’s longevity comes down to the philosophy of the woman who has nurtured, and in turn has been nurtured by, the treasure in the heart of Globe.
“Simply Sarah represents a brief reprieve from the daily grind,” Bernstein says. “People come in and say they have to surround themselves with the beauty to recharge their batteries.” u
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The Power of Rainbows
BY PAWAN HANDA
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If I was granted one wish and could be anything I wanted on this earth, I would choose to be a rainbow. Why? Here are my top 12 reasons:
The rainbow is a symbol of the LGBTQ community. It reflects the diversity, which all should support and cherish.
Rainbows are a symbol of hope in many cultures.
To me, a rainbow signifies that God is smiling and encouraging us all to be our best in rain or shine. The Greeks and the Romans believed rainbows to be a bridge between heaven and earth in ancient times!
There are so many quotes that connect love and rainbow - how true! My favorite quote is:
Let us all try to be a rainbow among the clouds and spread joy. Be a rainbow of possibilities.
– Henry Ward Beecher
It takes a perfect combination of rain and sun to form a rainbow - the beauty in the sky. Similarly, it takes an ideal combination of parents and society to produce a good person - a shining example on the earth.
You only observe a part of the rainbow on the ground - the classic semi-circular shape. However, from the sky (flying in an airplane), you can see the rainbow as a complete circle. Similarly, when interacting with people, we only see a part of their personalities. We need to work hard to see the rest, which is often more outstanding. Let us dig deep in our relationships to see the true and complete beauty.
- Amit Ray A double rainbow appears when light is reflected twice in a raindrop. It is rare but glorious. It teaches us to extend helping hands to foes and friends, at least on some rare occasions.
What makes rainbows so unique is that no two people see the same thing. Since it all depends on how the light is bent and reflected back to you, everyone sees something different. Every rainbow is unique to you. So true of human beings too!
The beauty of the rainbow is enjoyed by people of all ages and origins. Rainbow’s lifespan is short like us. In that short lifespan, the rainbow tries to be as colorful and have as long a circular arc as possible. We need to learn from its habit.
Though colorful, its beauty is in its subtlety. Let your light glow, not glare.
Pawan Handa retired from a Fortune 500 company after 35 years holding several global leadership positions. He loves to mentor young talent and is currently writing about his life experiences.
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS
“Quality goods for a life well lived.”
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