It's common to hear locals talk about what a special place Northfield is to live, and how much residents and visitors love the characteristics of Northfield's downtown. And it's all true: Northfield is a special to live and the downtown is fabulous.

However, take a minute and think where Northfield would be without its local merchants ... without the ambience and flavor they add to the community, without the jobs they produce, without the money they circulate back into the community.

Local businesses, from those located along the northern portion of Minnesota Highway 3 to those in the heart of the city all the way south to those in Dundas, make it possible for people to call this place home and pay for many of our local amenities. These dedicated business owners and their hard-working employees deserve the gift of your business this holiday season.

Obviously one of the allures of living here is the proximity to mighty mega malls that offer endless opportunities for gift buying. But, ironically, many live here for the very reason that it isn't one of those communities that exist only to feed a giant retail beast ... er, mall ... at the heart of the city. That doesn't exist in Northfield and that is why so many call this home.

With the variety that exists in Northfield, it's hard to believe that you couldn't find a special gift for everyone on your list. From the speciality stores and boutiques, to the broader mass retail stores, it all exists right here at home, without the hassles of travel, traffic and a loss of time.

It's easy to tout shopping locally: It sounds good and it makes everyone's heart warm to say they supported a local business. But think about exactly what it means to shop locally and you realize it's not just a warm fuzzy, it's about community pride.

Your dollars spent at a local store mean the owner can pay their employees, pay their utility bills and pay their property taxes and other fees, and maybe even their rent. The employees then turn around and spend their paychecks locally; the property taxes and fees are spent to improve the city and provide services; and the landlord spends the rent to upgrade his building, thus generating even more tax dollars.

Admittedly, it's a simplified scenario, but you get the drift: Shopping locally makes a difference. This holiday season, as you finalize your shopping plans, don't forget to give your community a gift as well:Shop locally.

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