Approaching holidays remind us to shop local

Thanksgiving is just a week away and signs of the holidays are many. The lighted ornaments went up on Main Street in Thompson Falls, the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree traveled through Sanders County, and local charities are calling for donations to help neighbors in need.

Black Friday is “celebrated” the day after Thanksgiving, offering deals at many big-box stores. As you’re looking for the best presents at the best prices, remember that it’s very convenient to skip the crowds and lines and shop local.

Black Friday is kind of a big deal. You’ll see news articles about which businesses are breaking tradition and opening on Thanksgiving. And about all of the people who stand in line for hours waiting to get a screaming deal.

What would be better is having that much enthusiasm for Small Business Saturday. The Saturday after Thanksgiving is now marked as the day to shop neighborhood businesses. How awesome would it be if people were lined up waiting for our local businesses to open so they could get their holiday shopping done? It might not end up on the nightly news, but it would be great for our communities.