Ramiro Rodriguez Farmers Insurance Agent

Ring in the New Year with Farmers.

Mom and Pops. Corner stores. Twee boutiques. Small businesses make our communities hum. Today’s the day to celebrate — and shop — local. It’s Small Business Saturday.

Shopping online can make the holidays a breeze (think of all the cookies you can bake with that extra free time). Be sure to keep your identity and financial information safe. Check every website’s URL for the “s” in “https” before sharing your data online. That means it’s encrypted as it travels the web.

Wet roads. Slippery leaves. Ice! And it’s getting dark earlier. Give yourself extra room to stop, stay a safe distance from the car in front of you and make sure your tires and brakes are in good shape.

Before frosty evenings make you pine for a toasty fire, consider having a chimney inspection or professional sweep to make sure your fireplace is safe and ready to roar.