Readers of The Beach-comber are asked to visit its website and answer a survey that will help the paper determine how effectively it partners with its community, local merchants and advertisers.

Those who answer the survey questions will be entered for a $1,000 cash drawing and a $500 gift certificate from Fred Meyer.

The survey is found on the upper right-hand corner of the paper’s home page, found at www.vashonbeachcomber.com.

“This survey won’t take long,” said Daralyn Anderson, The Beach-comber’s publisher. “But it will help us immeasurably. It’ll give us some of the feedback we need to help our advertisers market their goods and services.”

Partnering with The Beachcomber is Pulse Re-

search of Portland, Ore., an independent firm that works with media and retailers nationwide.

Questions include reader preferences for local news and other media; consumer preferences for local and regional shopping; household purchasing plans for goods and services; family choices for entertainment and travel, and basic household demographic information.

Responses, which will be kept confidential, will enable the paper to work with its advertisers to foster a strong local economy, Anderson said.

“We hope readers will respond,” she added. “It will serve to strengthen our beloved Island community.”