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NBC 5'S LIZ STRZEPA EXPLAINS IN HER STORY. NEW TONIGHT AT 5. FOR THOSE STILL OUT SHOPPING... <JUST FOOD AND CLEANING STUFF. NOT MUCH > SEEING STORES LIKE WALMART LOOKING LIKE THIS... IS TEMPORARILY THE NEW NORMAL. <WHEN YOU SEE THOSE YELLOW STRIPES, THAT'S A BIG WARNING SIGN> VERMONT'S AGENCY OF COMMERCE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT... ANNOUNCING TUESDAY BIG BOX STORES ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO SELL áESSENTIALS... SUCH AS FOOD AND PHARMACEUTICAL ITEMS. <THE GOAL HERE IS TO STOP FOLKS FROM CONGREGATING IN AREAS FOR NON- ESSENTIAL ITEMS THAT MEANS THINGS LIKE ELECTRONICS, CLOTHING, FURNITURE AND EVEN TOYS... ARE ONLY AVAILABLE TO BUY FROM BOX STORES ONLINE <NATS / > OR AT SMALLER, LOCAL RETAILER <WE'RE CLOSED FOR PERSON TO PERSON BUSINESS > BUT JAMIE TWO COATS TOY SHOP IN SHELBURNE IS STILL ááOPEN... IT'S JUST SELLING ITS PRODUCTS OVER THE PHONE. <PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CONTACTING US, AND THEN WE TEXT BACK PHOTOGRAPHS OF PRODUCTS THEY MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN > CUSTOMERS CAN PAY BY CALLING THE STORE... AND THEN PICK THEIR ITEMS UP AT THE DOOR. <TODAY'S BEEN BUSY ON TH PHONE, SO THAT'S BEEN GOOD > MEANWHILE... FOR SOME CUSTOMERS SHOPPING I PERSON, SEEING CHANGES IN STORES... IS A SOBERING REMINDER ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH. <IT PUSHED ME INTO REALITY A LITTLE BIT > ANOTHER MO

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"The phone's been busy today, so that's good," said Nancy Barringer, owner of Jamie Two-Coats' Toy Shop in Shelburne.She specializes in selling all the necessities when it comes to childhood entertainment."We sell puzzles, Legos, games, all sorts of board games," she said.Most of the items she has in-house are now becoming harder for Vermonters to get their hands on now that big box stores are only allowed to sell the essentials, such as food and pharmaceutical items. "We're asking folks to really consider, 'Is it something that can't wait right now? They can work with the retailer to pick it up curbside," said Sec. Lindsay Kurrle with the Agency of Commerce & Community Development.Nonessential items, such as clothing, electronics, games, toys, arts & crafts and furniture, can be purchased through retailers online, which is good news for some customers."So that's (good for) people like me. (I'm a) recovering shopaholic, so this is like a blessing in disguise for me. But I can still get all the basic things that I need (at the store)," said Walmart customer Gaill Jones.For people looking for items beyond the basics, Barringer is here to help. Though Jamie Two-Coats' Toy Shop is not conducting person-to-person sales, customers can place orders over the phone at 802-985-3221 and pick up outside the front door."We're all in this together. I'm just hoping everybody can survive (this pandemic) and that we can still help people to have a happy Easter," said Barringer.