Why go over the #4 bridge to spend all of your Christmas money that will stimulate China`s economy when you can stimulate our own local economy? Start off with a Gift Certificate to one of our local lodging establishments - Cedar Key Bed and Breakfast comes to mind. Then add a Gift Certificate for breakfast at Kona Joe`s or Annie`s. Throww in dinner at the Island Hotel for their Cedar Key Crab Cakes or Tony`s for some of their World Class Cedar Key Clam Chowder. You may want to consider stooping in at one of our local Seed Clam operations, Doug Telgin is a good start, and buy your favorite clammer some Clam Seed for Christmas. Don`t forget the Cedar Key Key Hole for some of the nicest Art that you will ever find. A Gift Certificate to one of our local tour guides on the water, The Island Hopper or Tidewater Tours is a great choice or you can treat some one to a day on a golf cart or an adventure with a day on the water with a Kayak. Now don`t forget to get a Gift Certificate at the Island Canvas Bag Shop where Julie and the gang will fix you right up with just the right shopping bag for a life long Christmas Git. There is nothing on this side of Heaven to compare Mr. Moe`s Smoked Mullet Dip or Ms. Jan Allen`s Cakes and while your in the neighbor hood stop in to see Dave at the Island Pizza for a Gift Certificate to one of our local Hi-Talion eateries. He makes a mean Cedar Key Clam Pizza that they never heard of North of the Number 4. Just next door you can get your favorite boater a Gift Certificate for Non Ethanol Gas at the Cedar Key Marina, you know, the big blue building......Now don`t forget Capt Dan and his in-shore fishing charters....Roberta`s pulled pork sandwich` s at the Sun Set Isle R.V. Park are 2nd to none. A Christmas Gift Certificate for any RVer at Sun Set Isle is all encompassing.....What a gift that would be, a Christmas to remember! An original water color by Joan Morgan? It doesn`t get any better than that! My only point, the money that you will be spending will not only be supporting our local business community but it also supports our local labor force......Our neighbors and their family`s, the wife`s and daughters who wait-staff, our son`s and Fathers who ply the waters off Cedar Key for a lively hood.......All those folk`s who give us a reason to live here in Paradise........ Why send all our money to China or North of the #4? Just think about how we can start building up and supporting our own local community........... And that`s what I think.........Charlie Greene |