BERLIN—Illustrating yet again that it’s never too early to get a head start on holiday planning, Berlin Main Street has begun sales to raise funds for the downtown business district’s Victorian Christmas display.

In addition to its popular keepsake ornaments, the merchant group will also sell canvas tote bags emblazoned with an illustration and the Main Street logo this year.

Helen Wiley, of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church’s The Church Mouse Thrift Shop, said on Aug. 27 the tote bag fundraiser started earlier this summer as a project of the Main Street Design Committee. The money raised will help pay for trees, wreaths, lights and pretty much all of the decorations that will be used to festoon the downtown business district with holiday cheer this December. Sales of the bags and the town’s official holiday ornament for 2013 will continue through the Christmas season, she said.

The sturdy tote bags with the Main Street Logo are ideal for shopping, are very sturdy and offer an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic shopping bags, Wiley said. They can be purchased at Baked Dessert Café & Gallery at 4C Bay St., the Berlin Coffee House at 17 Jefferson St., Sisters at 113 North Main St., or TaDa at 18 North Main St.

The 2013 ornament is now being designed, Wiley said. Future plans each year are for various Downtown Berlin Stores to be featured on an ornament. 

The bags sell for $10 each and the ornaments will be available for a minimum $15 donation. 

There are a limited number of the 2012 “Main Street” ornaments still available, Wiley said. For more information contact her at 410-208-2818.