Pretty bottles and things! Caryn Noonkester began painting bottles and glassware as a hobby after she saw the technique demonstrated on television about four years ago. Since that time she has developed not only her skill but a small side business as well. Noonkester’s business information can be found on the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce Web site. Comet photo by Debbie Lowe An idea that took very little time to conceive and not a lot of time to implement by a small group of dedicated volunteers resulted in the successful “Shop Local for the Holidays” shopping event last week. From clothes to computers, and creating memories to creating beautiful skin, there was something for every taste and size to enjoy. Sponsored by the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, the “brain child” was conceived by the group’s marketing committee to promote local shopping to benefit the area economy.

Committee member Michelle Pearson said the committee began working on the concept roughly two months ago.

“Things just fell into place,” she said during the Nov. 11 event.

All 23 local vendors who participated are Chamber members. Pearson said the event was so inviting to some businesses in the community who were not members, “they joined just to participate.”

“Our job is to promote local business,” Chamber director Sana Booker said. “Many times prices here are close to what you pay in a larger town, but when you factor in the amount of gas saved when you shop local, prices are sometimes less.”

According to the Chamber office approximately 200 area residents visited, shopped and sampled the wares at the event.

Booker said local business owners do not always know what other businesses are doing or who is new in the community. She said the shopping event was as much for them to co-mingle and get to know each other as it was for them to show off their products and services. Long-standing business owners such as Q-Graphics’ Sara Hanaway, in business since the 1980s, displayed merchandise next to very new businesses, such as jewelry merchandiser Lia Sophia’s Stacey Russon, who has been in business for less than one year.

“Every business person here is also a customer,” she said.

For a complete list of county Chamber member businesses, Gift and Party Guides can be picked up at the Chamber office in Delphi at 119 W. Franklin St. or in member businesses around the county. The businesses list can also be found at www.carrollcountychamber. com.