Banner 11-18-21

Page 4 — Thursday, November 18, 2021 — The Hastings Banner

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Shop local: A way to give thanks

Although it may be hard to believe, next

Thursday is Thanksgiving Day and, for

many households, this will likely be a

special one to celebrate.

The COVID-19 scourge still lurks, and

health officials are still warning us to

beware, but they’re also saying fully vac-

cinated families can be safe. For most of

us, this Thanksgiving will mark a return to

the treasured tradition of gathering with

family and friends to give thanks for what

we have and to mark the beginning of the

holiday season.

For me, the Thanksgiving holiday is

especially meaningful because the cele-

bration is not focused on presents but

rather on getting together for a meal,

enjoying the parades and a football game

and poring over the newspaper inserts to

see what we might hope to find under the

Christmas tree in just a few weeks.

In a strange way, as we study the cat-

alogs and the flashy Christmas gift

advertising, I think the COVID pandem-

ic itself might merit some consideration

as an item on our list of things for which

to be thankful this Thanksgiving Day.

As we’re all dealing with the frustra-

tions of supply-chain interruptions and

product shortages because of the pan-

demic-related shutdown of the econo-

my, I believe COVID has put a renewed

focus on the gift of our local retailers

and the importance – and the benefits –

of shopping local.

Because of the present difficulties and

frustrations of online shopping, consum-

ers are finding that securing their gifts

and holiday needs has become more reli-

able, efficient and personable with locally

owned businesses. Look through our

newspapers each week, and not only do

you find reliable merchants with products

on the shelf, you also see our pages filled

with church bazaars and craft shows

stocked with handmade items from local

artists, crafts people and creative entre-

preneurs.

Thanks to a new way of viewing the

economy, our community is benefiting

from the shopping local principle.

When you shop local, those dollars

stay local and will be “re-spent” locally.

Local merchants hire local accountants,

electricians, plumbers, snowplowers,

attorneys. They purchase local newspa-

per advertising, and their customers

patronize local restaurants and other

businesses while in town.

By shopping local, we raise the overall

level of economic activity in our commu-

nity because businesses hire more people,

thereby strengthening our local tax base.

That’s the “local multiplier effect.” Plus, it

starts tipping the balance away from face-

less online merchants who give no thought

to investing in our community.

Local businesses that survive on the

support of local shoppers also make for a

strong local economy that supports our

schools, libraries, organizations and infra-

structure. Local businesses also are more

likely to support local charities, fundrais-

ers, organizations and other businesses,

helping to build a stronger community for

all of us to enjoy.

In fact, when the independent think-

tank New Economics Foundation com-

pared similar purchases made at chain

stores or online versus those made with

locally owned businesses, the experts

determined that buying from locally

owned stores puts double the money back

into the community than when purchases

are made at a chain store or online – when

nothing comes back to the community.

Shoppers often find unique products

from local retailers who focus on one-of-

a-kind shopping experiences that can’t be

offered online and are even rare for many

big-city retailers. The local shops define

our community, offering an interesting

and additional economic multiplier:

Destination shoppers.

Shoppers aren’t attracted to a town with

few retailers and open storefronts; they’re

looking for an experience, that special gift

and a level of service that says thanks for

shopping local. People today are looking

for unique shopping experiences in charm-

ing, bustling small towns. When they

come from greater distance, they also

patronize our local restaurants and take in

local entertainment and hospitality events.

Coming off a horrible pandemic that’s

still costing merchants who may have to

restrict open hours because of a lack of

available workers, communities are dis-

covering their values. People want to

support local business.

As part of a recent Money Etiquette

national poll sponsored by the website

mint.intuit.com, slightly more than 82

percent of respondents said they’d spend

more money locally to support local busi-

ness. For every $100 spent at small busi-

nesses, $48 is put back into the local

economy.

Fifty-seven percent surveyed said their

main reason for shopping local is to keep

the money local. Twenty-eight percent of

shoppers said they turn to local merchants

for better service, and 19 percent said they

felt they were helping support local non-

profits.

The report indicated Millennials and

Gen X consumers are most likely to sup-

port local business by reducing their

online shopping, a surprising and wel-

come finding. Consumers over the age of

45 are more likely to shop locally because

they understand the importance of spread-

ing their shopping dollars to those who

need it most.

Recently, our publication announced

that TJ Maxx is planning to locate in the

vacant Kmart store in Hastings. That

development follows the opening of

Family Farm and Home in the same busi-

ness strip earlier this year. Both will bring

even more local shopping opportunities to

our community.

If we expect to continue to attract more

retailers to our community, though, it’s

imperative that we understand and accept

our responsibility to support these stores.

Plus, bringing a major retailer like TJMaxx

to Hastings will help our downtown and

surrounding communities by attracting

more shoppers.

I grew up in a small business and

learned, firsthand, that small businesses

are operated by the people who provide

the structure for a strong and vital econo-

my. So, I have no problem reminding

shoppers and business owners how import-

ant it is to support this vital engine that

continues to drive the economic well-be-

ing of our communities.

By shopping local, you help fuel a

strong shopping network right here at

home, which provides stability for the

community. So do your part during this

holiday shopping season by spreading the

cheer of your purchasing power among

local retailers.

And don’t hesitate to enjoy the warmth

and charm of local people who care for

their community and each other. This sea-

son is a great time to enjoy a homestyle

meal at one of our local churches or frater-

nal organizations.

Like local merchants, our local organi-

zations also are an important part of build-

ing a community. Successful events by

local organizations help support their mis-

sions and local families throughout the

year. Plus, the personal service you get

will surely put you in the holiday spirit.

That’s yet another reason to give thanks

this season.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Hastings Banner

Devoted to the interests of Barry County since 1856

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Comrades-in-arms come together

Last week, Veterans Day-themed events at Delton Kellogg

High School offered an opportunity for some veterans from the

community to get together for a special program. Pictured (from

left) are Kevin Keck, class of 1979, Army; Alex Liceaga, class

of 1968, Marines; Alvin Warren, class of 1966, Army, wearing

the Army uniform he wore during his career; Bruce Campbell,

class of 1969, Marines; and Jerry Frost, class of 1965, Marines.

We’re dedicating this space to a photograph taken by readers or

our staff members that represents Barry County. If you have a

photo to share, please send it to Newsroom Hastings Banner, 1351

N. M-43 Highway, Hastings, MI 49058; or email news@j-adgraphics.

com. Please include information such as where and when the photo

was taken, who took the photo, and other relevant or anecdotal

information.

Seeing double and triple

Banner Nov. 8, 1962

The Hastings High School freshman class has five sets of twins and one set of triplets. The triplets (seated, center) are

Carole, Christopher and Christine, children of Mr. and Mrs. [Dolores] Dale Hall of Route 4 Hastings. The twins (from left) are

Denice and Dennis MacKenzie, children of Mr. and Mrs. Don [Arvilla] MacKenzie, Route 2 Hastings; Bonna and Donna Acker,

daughters of Mrs. Walter [Alice] Acker of 1410 S. Jefferson St., and Walter Acker; Dawn and Dian Buck, daughters of Mrs.

Maxine Buck of North Broadway, and Neil Buck; Sherry and Jerry Patten, children of Mr. and Mrs. [Rose] Jack Patten, Route

2 Hastings; and Jane and Julie Nevins, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Don [Elizabeth] Nevins of 416 E. Grand St.

Julissa Kelly has a lot of family members

who are doctors. She has a lot of family mem-

bers who are lawyers. She even has a younger

sister who has directed film festivals.

But Kelly, growing up in California, had

no interest in a professional job, and she

didn’t want to live the Hollywood lifestyle.

“I didn’t want to do any of that stuff,” she

said. “Just kind of wanted to venture out

and try something new.”

Instead, she dreamed of flying an air-

plane in the Air Force, even though no one

in her family, outside of a godmother and

great uncle, had ever served in any form of

the military.

“I’ve always been one to challenge my

family culture,” said Kelly, who is of

Filipino and Mexican descent.

Kelly’s mother begged her to reconsider.

She asked that Kelly finish her four-year

degree first and then, if she wanted to go

into the military, she could go.

They met in the middle. Kelly, a native of

Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., near Los

Angeles, stayed close to home and attended

San Diego State University. There, she

started as an aerospace engineer major and

was an ROTC member with the intention of

joining the military after graduating.

But she never did join the military.

Instead, Kelly, 29, is the new deputy chief

of police of the City of Hastings.

Her career took a different path after

dropping the aerospace engineering major.

“I’m definitely a hands-on person, and

I’m very, very social,” Kelly said. “So, I

wasn’t quite fitting into my [aerospace

engineering] classes. Everything started to

be computer-based, and I more so wanted

to work with my hands.”

Kelly started doing ride-alongs and taking

criminal justice classes at San Diego State.

She realized the military no longer inter-

ested her. Kelly, who calls herself a

thrill-seeker, wanted to become a cop. She

transferred to the University of Phoenix in

2015 with a degree in criminal justice with

an emphasis in homeland security.

“I love talking to people and learning

about them,” Kelly said. “I found that I

have a pretty strong stomach, and I know

that’s probably not something everybody

wants to hear, but we do have to see a lot of

bad stuff. And I take pride in the fact that I

do it so that other people don’t have to see

this stuff and don’t have to do it.”

During college, she met her future hus-

band, Tim, a Caledonia native, while he

was stationed in San Diego as a member of

the U.S. Air Force. They dated throughout

college and after, when he moved across

the country to North Carolina. She did so

much traveling that she now hates flying.

One week after Kelly graduated, they

moved to Middleville, and Tim got a job as

an accountant.

But Kelly remembers being surprised

when they arrived at their new home in

Middleville.

“I was like, ‘Are we there yet?’ ” she said.

There were no movie stars walking down

the streets in Middleville. There were no

mountains or palm trees, and no one had

fences around their yards.

“It took me a while to get used to it,”

she said.

Kelly spent the summer applying to

police academies before being accepted to

the police academy at Kalamazoo Valley

Community College. After 16 weeks in the

academy, she received a job with the

Kalamazoo Township Police Department in

March 2016.

But that meant an hourlong commute.

As a patrol officer, she logged 10-hour

shifts, leaving work around 11 p.m., and

sometimes later. She learned to blast

heavy-metal music on the way home and,

if she really couldn’t stay awake, she

would stop at a specific church on the way

home and take a short nap.

Kelly enjoyed the work, but not the com-

mute. After three years, she began looking

at police departments closer to home when

a job opened up in Hastings.

“I was like, ‘This actually looks like a

Hallmark town to me,’ ” Kelly said.

She joined the Hastings police depart-

ment in October 2018, rising to sergeant in

November 2019.

In December 2020, she became pregnant

with her first daughter, Sophia, taking her out

of the patrol car and placing her in the office.

“I haven’t been on the road since

December. Kind of a bummer,” she said.

But that’s also because she took over as

deputy chief this past spring. She spent six

months in an interim role before receiving

the permanent position Oct. 12. Not even a

year into the job, she’s still getting used to

the added responsibilities that come with

the new title.

“I’m one of the figureheads,” she said.

“When the chief isn’t here, I’m it. If people

have questions, if we have a citizen com-

plaint, if we have a concern within the city

• I’m making the decisions.”
  Although she had her child four months
  ago, Kelly has stayed in the office. As dep-
  uty chief, she handles the day-to-day oper-
  ations for the patrol division, she said. That
  includes updating people on social media,
  meeting with residents and arranging safety
  logistics for events.
  “This spot is very important, and I hope to
  do it to the best of my abilities. I’m going to
  do my best,” she said. “But I’m still learn-
  ing, and I’m still young. So, I’m definitely
  relying on the chief for guidance, and some
  of the officers that have been here longer.”
  For her new role as the permanent deputy
  chief of police, Julissa Kelly is this week’s
  Bright Light:
  Favorite movie: “Gladiator.”
  Favorite show: “Brooklyn 99” and
  “Parks and Recreation.”
  Person I most admire: Both parents
  because of their work ethic, strong charac-
  ter, and generosity.
  Favorite books: “White Fang” by Jack
  London or “Big Bad Wolf” by James
  Patterson.
  Favorite teacher: Ms. Nguyen, high
  school calculus teacher, because she was
  always energetic, fun and passionate about
  her subject. Plus, I love math.
  Favorite season and why: Winter
  because I love the cold, snowboarding, and
  I don’t have to deal with bugs.
  If I could have any superpower, it
  would be: Teleportation.
  When it’s quiet: I put music on because
  I don’t like it too quiet.
  Hobbies: Traveling, camping, hiking,
  snowboarding, occasional arts and crafts.
  Each week, the Banner profiles a person
  who makes the community shine. Do you
  know someone who should be featured
  because of volunteer work, fun-loving per-
  sonality, for the stories he or she has to tell
  or any other reason? Send information to
  Newsroom, Hastings Banner, 1351 N. M-
  Highway, Hastings, MI 49058; or email
  [email protected].

Julissa Kelly

Fred Jacobs, CEO

J-Ad Graphics, Inc.