I am always ridiculously excited to visit local shops. It’s not just the special finds you can’t get anywhere else—it’s the feeling of walking into a place owned by local families. And trust me, there are some real gems right here in our own hometown. My editor, Judi Cooper, and I have put together a delicious list of our favorite …

Rural America is in crisis—and not just economically. We’re losing our local newspapers, our local voices, and, with them, our ability to see ourselves clearly. The truth is, when a community no longer has a local paper, it loses more than headlines. It loses connection. Accountability. A shared identity. And most of all, it loses its voice. At The Orange …