How are our small-town shops, stores and services weathering this economic moment? To what extent have rising costs fallen on the consumer — villager and visitor alike? And what, ultimately, can be done to mitigate the worst effects?

One local newspaper — which has, in years past, upheld a tradition of publishing faux news stories based on current events with the intent of tickling readers’ funny bones on April 1 — decries how difficult it is at the moment to find something to laugh at.