This last week was Halloween. The little goblins were out in force. On the telly the campaign ads continued, evidence the big goblins were out in force as well.

Iowa is a key battleground this year, making our responsibility to get to the polls as crucial as ever. My perennial message to my fellow citizens is always the same – do your homework, make up your own mind, and VOTE.

But there is more to being a good citizen in a great country like ours than voting on who will represent us in Washington. There is much work to be done here at home.

I’ve been known to follow politics – an occupational hazard – but I admit I’ve never been much of a fan of Halloween. I guess I find the real ghouls scary enough.

Oh, I get candy and open the door to the kiddos. I even have a special Halloween candy bowl I drag out for the occasion. And about every other year I put up a decoration or two. But beyond that my primary Halloween activity is cussing the TV when there’s nothing to watch besides slasher movies.

This year, I had the occasion to venture out and make the rounds of a few local businesses on Friday. I found, despite their appearance, most people I encountered were downright jolly. I received hearty waves from a witch, a vampire, and more than one smiling zombie (and no, I’m not talking about campaigning politicians).

I stopped off at the bank, where Bob Ross instructed me to “have a happy little day;” then my needs were cheerfully tended to by a tree.

Waldo was working the grocery store checkout. That’s when the fun began. There appeared to be some dispute about whose turn it was to go to lunch. The supervisors and all the checkers present were in on the conversation that almost turned into a “Who’s on First” scenario. Soon several customers were weighing in, with chuckles and giggles if not outright commentary. In the midst of my order, the supervisor took over for Waldo and off she went to the break room. Other folks prepared to go on their way, smiles intact, as business settled into normal.

Then the inevitable happened. Someone innocently asked, “Where’s Waldo?” Laughter erupted. And whether they realized it or not, for a few moments, all were part of a community.

Later that day, I heard a horror story. Another local business in trouble. It’s a tale too often repeated in small town America. One that strikes fear – and hopefully a little guilt – in the townsfolk (myself included).

Despite the gradual erosion of our local business community, we all too often take the drug store, the hardware store, the grocery store for granted. We would rather make a night of it and travel out of town than frequent the downtown eatery or pub. We forget to check out that great gift shop on the square when we’re Christmas shopping. Or the local entertainment roster on a Saturday night. The list goes on…..

But the businesses don’t. They depend on our dollars. And they provide much more than their goods and services.

They provide our communities. Without them our towns die. Without them we have no choice but to shop the big box stores 60 miles away. Without them we don’t breed more business. Without them we don’t gather impromptu to share a Halloween joke.

Without them we have no life around us, just dead streets filled with houses – people who barely know each other, people with no shared community identity.

So venture uptown when you need something. Even better, go on foot. Say “hello” to your friends and neighbors along the way.

Support that shop on the corner. If we don’t, we’ll lose a lot more than Waldo.