We suppose a few local businesses are doing well during this pandemic. We also suppose they are few and far between. In today’s business world, it’s safe to say that almost everyone is hurting.

We admire everyone … every one of us, parent, child, teacher, pastor, business neighbor, doctor, nurse, you name it … who has improvised and endured and found new ways to get done what has to be done. Nothing is the same as it was before.

In the business community, the enforced closures of many weeks have caused deep damage. As we all try to get up and running somewhat normally, we put out a simple request: shop local.

Go into the stores and garages and restaurants owned and operated by your neighbors. Give them your business. Every dollar helps them keep their doors open. We fear whenever things get back to normal, and that looks like it will be a long time away, some of our businesses will be gone.

As the weeks of social isolation have turned into months, this situation has lost i...