I’d be willing to bet that many of you readers have been tuning into the local and national news stations to find out the latest about what’s going on with this wicked crazy blizzard.

In addition, I’m sure you’re hearing about how Mother Nature’s latest vengeance has hit retailers twice as hard.



What those news stations aren’t talking about are our small merchants.



Dear South Sound readers, please, find it within your heart to get out and support your local merchants.



I’m less worried about national retailers due to their national advertising budgets. They should be just fine in the long run.



What I’m most worried about now is our small businesses, many of which count on this exact time of year because it’s the busiest.



I’m so sad to say that I’ve received several e-mails and text messages from wonderful local merchants who are begging me or people in general to support them during this time of difficulty when we’re already in such a severe economic downturn AND horrendous winter conditions.



I refuse to name any particular businesses that have contacted me because I believe their personal financial information is none of our business, but what I can tell you is that if we don’t make a concerted effort to support locally owned businesses, they’ll have to face extremely tough decisions including cutting hours, days, services, or shutting down.



Although the roads have been unsafe for driving, many of you live within walking distance of our incredible business districts including downtown, McKinley, Sixth Avenue, Lincoln, Proctor, South Tacoma, Stadium and so on.  If the streets are still tough by the time this fine rag is printed, I’m begging you to throw on your boots, hat and mittens and hoof it to spend some dough on the merchants within your district.



If the roads are better, instead of frequenting national chains for gifts or food, I’m pleading for you to purchase presents or eats from locally owned small or midsized businesses.



I’ve been trying to do my part up here on McKinley, and I’m seeing that the weather is going to warm up a little, which will help me safely get out to the other districts that have been slammed by this economy, snow and ice.



As a matter of fact, this Friday is my birthday (yes, I was ripped off by the JC all my life), and I sincerely hope that the crowd that I’ll be bringing to my locally owned restaurants and bars of choice will be of the utmost assistance.



I know I always petition you to do so, but ladies and gentlemen, please find it within your holiday spirit to GO LOCAL like never before because these merchants need you now more than ever.



Tell me where you like to party at here.