Eat, Shop, Live

Read this first, then turn to page 15 for your local shopping guide. It's no secret that this has been a tough year for local businesses. This time of year, it gets even tougher. At the same time, 2012 may go down in history as the most dif- ficult year yet in recent memory. In one respect, that might be a good thing as things can only go up from where they bottom out.

But in other ways, it's bad news because some businesses may not be there for the upswing. They'll simply be shut- tered and become one more empty store front.

As winter is about to start, local business owners have many concerns. The competitive environment isn't getting any better. That sucking sound in the nearby suburbs is the big box stores draining local consumer dollars and vitality. The same is true for the online retailers where more and more shoppers buy their Christmas gifts.

The high price of gas crimped travel and tourism, reduc- ing the number of visitors to our towns in the Touchet Valley this summer. Those prices have gone down some, but now it's the season when the passes get snowy, the roads get icy and few families venture far from home when the holidays get underway.

Another concern is a cut in operations and hours at Ski Bluewood, whose traffic normally makes up for at least some of the absent fair-season tourists and whose payroll is enormously important for the local economy. Skiers will still come on weekends, but those involved in the ski business say they don't feel the same enthusiasm for the slopes from winter sports fans as they have in years past.

Which brings us to the next concern: the economy.

The rural parts of the Northwest states are always the last to feel an uptick. The economic tide, however anemic, is ris- ing and there are signs the west side of the state is beginning to do better, but it hasn't lifted any boats here yet. In fact, the boats here are more at risk of sinking.

When is it going to get better here? That part is anybody's guess. It's not all gloom and doom. Commodity prices are good and our local farmers are sitting pretty. But there are only so many of them and many of them probably prefer to pay off old debts or save up for future harvests that aren't so robust or lucrative.

And that begs the obvious question: Who's going to save our local businesses?

There's only one logical answer: You are.

If you care about your town's economic health, your city's ability to pay for services from tax revenues and if you care about your business neighbors who make a difference in your community, it's only the right thing to do.

I know times are tough for almost everybody. But Christ- mas wasn't canceled this. It's on and every family has a choice where to shop for their presents, where to dine for the holidays, and so on.

As in previous years, we strongly urge you to do so locally and by that we mean: the Touchet Valley, where you can find most of the things you're looking for.

To make it easier, we've provide an updated list of local merchants and what they have to offer, starting with Waits- burg this week. We've even gone so far as to include vendors, local artisans who don't have a store front but still make items that would be great gifts for the holidays.

The advantage of shopping locally, aside from the contri- bution you will make to the economic survival of your own community, is that you won't have to brave darkened snowy, icy roads to round up the things on your wish lists this Christ- mas and it will save you some gas money.

We know from talking to a number of merchants in our towns that 2012 is a make or break year, and that December, traditionally the biggest retail month of the year, is a make or break month.

Help us make sure those store fronts on Main Street stay open by the time 2013 rolls around. Help us keep their tax revenues going into the city's coffers so our city halls can pay for our streets and swimming pools and parks and so on.

Eat, shop, live locally.