Fine place to shop

Every Christmas season, we encourage you to “Buy Local.” The message is simple and clear, and it’s one that’s being heard more and more throughout America. The idea of holiday shopping locally is promoted by many groups and communities, because they understand its worth.

Of course, some folks will have to rearrange their heads to get it. Those shopping trips to “Big Box” stores mostly keep the factories humming in Asia and don’t create many jobs here at home. Try calling China the next time you’re looking for work or if you want a business to give a donation to your group or a door prize for your event.

If you get serious about shopping locally, you’ll be surprised at the quality gifts you can come up with close to home, without a long drive to battle crowds at the malls.

Look through the ads in this week’s Morgan Messenger and you’ll see many possibilities – gifts with a personal touch and a hometown twist. After all, people come to our area on their vacations and buy antiques, art work, craft items, foods, all sorts of things.

We’d even suggest a newspaper subscription to keep those out-of-town folks informed about goings-on here – and, of course, to keep local residents up on what’s happening right under their noses.

But who says a gift has to be a thing, anyway? The best idea for some people on your list may just be a gift certificate for their favorite restaurant, or their hair salon or barber shop, or even for a vehicle tune-up or a little home repair help.

Who knows what you’ll concoct if you scout around and let your mind run free? You can make it fun and creative, with some interesting side trips along the way.

All the while, your holiday spending will be giving a necessary boost to the local economy.