President Barack Obama met with key advisers Thursday to get down to work on fixing the struggling economy, something many small business owners say is reassuring.

Margaret Mueller, owner of R.S. Jones Restaurant in Merrick, says she?s feeling the impact of the economic slowdown. ?Our numbers are down,? she says. ?Everybody?s numbers are down.?

Obama's $825 billion stimulus package just passed the House Appropriations Committee, but has many more hurdles and possible changes ahead. The plan earmarks money for infrastructure, health care, schools and tax relief just to name a few. Muller says she hopes the stimulus plan puts more money back in shoppers? pockets, so they can turn around and spend it.

Natalie Iovino says customers at her Merrick gift shop, What?s-N-Store, are sticking to the necessities instead of the handmade, specialty items her shop sells.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expects the Obama stimulus bill to come up for a vote on or after Jan. 28.

Local group offers free tax return filing