Celebrating Mom and Pop Businesses

As we mark April 29th on our calendars, it’s time to shine a spotlight on the backbone of our communities—mom and pop businesses! This special day, known as Mom and Pop Business Owners Day, is dedicated to honoring the hard work and unwavering contributions of small, family-owned establishments. Often run by couples or family units, these businesses embody the spirit of entrepreneurship and bring something truly unique to the marketplace.

The Heart of the Community

Mom and pop shops are more than just a place to buy goods or services; they are the heart and soul of our neighborhoods. These businesses foster community connections, create jobs, and drive local economies. From cozy coffee shops to quaint bookstores, family-run restaurants to artisanal bakeries, every mom and pop business offers a personalized touch that you simply can’t find at large corporate retailers.

Why Support Local?

1. Personalized Service: When you walk into a local business, you’re often greeted by a familiar face—a friendly owner or staff member who remembers your name and preferences. This level of personal attention creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere that enhances your shopping experience.
2. Unique Products: Local businesses often offer one-of-a-kind items that reflect their distinct flavor and style. By supporting them, you can find unique gifts or treasures that you won’t see in mainstream stores.
3. Economic Impact: Shopping locally ensures that a larger portion of your money stays within your community. This helps create jobs, support local suppliers, and strengthen the overall economy.
4. Community Connection: Local businesses sponsor community events, support local charities, and contribute to the vibrancy of neighborhoods. By shopping locally, you’re not just purchasing a product; you’re investing in your community’s future.

Join the Celebration!

This Mom and Pop Business Owners Day, let’s take a moment to appreciate those hard-working entrepreneurs who pour their heart and soul into their craft. Here are some simple ways you can celebrate:

• Visit Local Stores: Take the time to explore the brick-and-mortar shops in your area. Whether it’s a beloved bakery, a charming boutique, or a family-owned restaurant, make it a point to show your support.
• Shop Online: Many mom and pop businesses also have an online presence, allowing you to shop from the comfort of your home. Browse their websites and consider making a purchase to help sustain their efforts. Every order counts!
• Share Your Experience: Social media is a powerful tool for small businesses. Share a photo or a story highlighting your experience at a local shop or restaurant. Tag them and encourage your friends and family to check them out too!
• Spread the Word: Word-of-mouth is a powerful form of advertising. Tell your friends about your favorite local spots and encourage them to support these businesses as well.

A Final Note of Encouragement

In a world where online shopping and big-box stores dominate, let’s not forget the charm and heart that small, family-owned businesses bring to our lives. Mom and Pop Business Owners Day is a perfect occasion to celebrate and support those who take the leap to turn their dreams into reality. So, whether you’re visiting a cozy store down the street or browsing an online shop, every small act of support matters.

Let’s come together this April 29th to lift up our local heroes and keep our communities thriving! Thank you for your commitment to supporting the mom and pop businesses that make our neighborhoods special!

Related Link:

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https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/national-mom-and-pop-business-owners-day-march-29

The Bridge is a section of the STM Daily News Blog meant for diversity, offering real news stories about bona fide community efforts to perpetuate a greater good. The purpose of The Bridge is to connect the divides that separate us, fostering understanding and empathy among different groups. By highlighting positive initiatives and inspirational actions, The Bridge aims to create a sense of unity and shared purpose. This section brings to light stories of individuals and organizations working tirelessly to promote inclusivity, equality, and mutual respect. Through these narratives, readers are encouraged to appreciate the richness of diverse perspectives and to participate actively in building stronger, more cohesive communities.

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Francisco I. Pedraza, Arizona State University; Jason L. Morín, California State University, Northridge, and Loren Collingwood, University of New Mexico

One of President Donald Trump’s major promises during the 2024 presidential campaign was to launch mass deportations of immigrants living in the U.S. without legal authorization.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has said that, since January 2025, it is detaining and planning to deport 600 to 1,100 immigrants a day. That marks an increase from the average 282 immigration arrests that happened each day in September 2024 under the Biden administration.

The current trend would place the Trump administration on track to apprehend 25,000 immigrants in Trump’s first month in office. On an annual basis, this is about 300,000 – far from the “millions and millions” of immigrants Trump promised to deport.

A lack of funding, immigration officers, immigration detention centers and other resources has reportedly impeded the administration’s deportation work.

The Trump administration is seeking US$175 billion from Congress to use for the next four years on immigration enforcement, Axios reported on Feb. 11, 2025.

If Trump does make good on his promise of mass deportations, our research shows that removing millions of immigrants would be costly for everyone in the U.S., including American citizens and businesses.

Food costs will increase

One important factor is that mass deportations would weaken key industries in the U.S. that rely on immigrant workers, including those living in the U.S. illegally.

Overall, immigrants without legal authorization make up about 5% of the total U.S. workforce.

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But that overall percentage doesn’t reflect these immigrants’ concentrated presence within various industries. Approximately half of U.S. farmworkers are living in the country without legal authorization, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Some of these immigrant farmworkers are skilled supervisors who make decisions about planting and harvesting. Others know how to use and maintain tractors, loaders, diggers, rakers, fertilizer sprayers, irrigation systems, and other machines crucial to farm operations.

If those workers were to be suddenly removed from the country, Americans would see an increase in food costs, including what they spend on groceries and at restaurants.

With fewer available workers to pick fruits and vegetables and prepare the food for shipment and distribution, the domestic production of food could decrease, leading to higher costs and more imports.

National estimates of the restaurant and food preparation workforce, meanwhile, indicate that between 10% and 15% of those workers are immigrants living in the U.S. illegally.

Past state-level immigration enforcement policies offer an idea of what could happen at the national level if Trump were to carry out widespread deportations.

For example, a 2011 Alabama law called HB-56 directed local police officers to investigate the immigration status of drivers stopped for speeding. It also prohibited landlords from renting properties to immigrants who do not have legal authorization to work or live in the country. That law and its resulting effects prompted some Alabama-based immigrant workers to leave the state following workplace raids.

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Their departure wound up costing the state an estimated $2.3 billion to $10.8 billion loss in Alabama’s annual gross domestic product due to the loss of workers and economic output.

Other industries that rely on immigrants

Part of the challenge of mass deportations for industries like construction, nearly a quarter of whose workers are living without legal authorization, is that their workforce is highly skilled and not easily replaced. Immigrant workers are particularly involved in home construction and specialize in such tasks as ceiling and flooring installation as well as roofing and drywall work.

Fewer available workers would mean slower home construction, which in turn would make housing more expensive, further compounding existing problems of housing supply and affordability.

Shocks from deportations would also slow commercial and public infrastructure construction. Six construction workers, for example, died in April 2024 in the sudden collapse of the Baltimore Key Bridge in Maryland. All of them were Latino immigrants living in the U.S. without legal documentation.

Examining the arguments

Trump administration officials and other politicians have argued that deporting large numbers of immigrants would help the country save money, since fewer people will use federal and state funds by attending public schools or receiving temporary shelter.

Trump said in November 2024 that there is “no price tag” for large-scale deportations.

“It’s not a question of price tag,” Trump said. “We have no choice. When people have killed and murdered, when drug lords have destroyed countries, and now they’re going to go back to those countries because they’re not staying here,” Trump told NBC News.

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Trump and his supporters also argue that deporting immigrants would mean more jobs for American workers.

But there is compelling evidence to the contrary.

First, immigrants are filling labor shortages and doing jobs that many Americans don’t want to do, ones that might be unsafe or poorly paid.

Even if Americans were willing to do those jobs, there simply aren’t enough Americans in the workforce to fill existing labor vacuums, let alone an enlarged one following deportations.

Second, for employers, having fewer workers in the country translates into higher wages, which in turn means less capital to adapt and grow. For businesses based on consumer debt – think mortgages, car loans and credit cards – deportations would disrupt the financial sector by removing responsible borrowers who make consistent payments.

Third, immigrants living without legal documentation in the U.S. pay more than $96 billion in federal, state and local taxes per year and consume fewer public benefits than citizens.

Immigrants without legal authorization are not eligible for Social Security benefits and can’t enroll in Medicare or many other safety net programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

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The bottom line

In other words, people who are living and working in the U.S. without legal authorization are helping to pay, through taxes, the costs of caring for Americans as they age and begin to draw on the nation’s retirement and health care programs.

The burden from recent inflation notwithstanding, an economy supported by immigrants living illegally in the U.S. protects Americans.

The U.S. would be unable to dodge the economic shocks and high costs that mass deportations would bring about.

Francisco I. Pedraza, Professor of political scinece, Arizona State University; Jason L. Morín, Professor of Political Science, California State University, Northridge, and Loren Collingwood, Associate Professor of political science, University of New Mexico

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

There’s something incredibly satisfying about cooking from scratch. Whether you’re preparing a meal for family, hosting a barbecue with friends, or simply craving something delicious, homemade sauces can elevate your dishes to the next level. Today, I’m excited to share an easy and versatile recipe for homemade barbecue sauce that you can whip up in no time!

Why Homemade Barbecue Sauce?

Store-bought barbecue sauces often contain preservatives, artificial flavors, and excess sugar. Making your barbecue sauce at home allows you to control the ingredients, customize the flavors to your liking, and avoid any additives. Plus, there’s nothing quite like the aroma of freshly made sauce wafting through your kitchen!

Ingredients You’ll Need

To make this delightful barbecue sauce, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste

These common kitchen staples come together to create a rich and flavorful sauce that pairs perfectly with grilled meats, veggies, and even as a dipping sauce!

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Combine Ingredients: In a medium saucepan, mix together the ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, honey, Worcestershire sauce, and Dijon mustard.
2. Add Spices: Stir in the garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika (if you want a hint of smokiness), and season with salt and pepper.
3. Cook the Sauce: Place the saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally to avoid sticking.
4. Simmer: Let the sauce simmer for about 10-15 minutes, or until it thickens slightly. Remember to stir occasionally.
5. Taste and Adjust: Once cooked, taste your sauce and feel free to adjust the ingredients. If you prefer a sweeter sauce, add more brown sugar. For a tangier flavor, increase the apple cider vinegar.
6. Cool and Store: After simmering, remove the sauce from the heat and allow it to cool. Transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Enjoy Your Barbecue Sauce!

Now that you have your homemade barbecue sauce, it’s time to put it to good use! Whether you’re slathering it on ribs, chicken, or even grilled veggies, the possibilities are endless. You can also use it as a dip for appetizers like chicken wings or fries.

In conclusion, making your barbecue sauce is not only easy but also a fun way to enhance your cooking. So grab those ingredients, roll up your sleeves, and enjoy the process of creating something delicious from scratch. Happy cooking!

Feel free to share your experiences or variations of this recipe in the comments below! What’s your favorite way to use barbecue sauce? Leave a message in the comments.

Here’s another alternative recipe!

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/51226/a-very-popular-bbq-sauce

At our core, we at STM Daily News strive to keep you informed and inspired with the freshest content on all things food and beverage. From mouthwatering recipes to intriguing articles, we’re here to satisfy your appetite for culinary knowledge.

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