Today is Small Business Saturday, an annual event started by American Express in 2010 and then backed by the Small Business Administration the following year. As the name suggests, the “holiday” encourages people to do some of their gift shopping at local businesses. And it really works — last year, spending at small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving totaled around $17 billion. So get out into your communities and get shoppin’!
Must Reads
This food blogger is on a mission to make sure no sandwich is forgotten
Is that a banjo? A pig? A motorcycle? No, it’s a frog
Environment
Coral Reefs Could Use a Multivitamin, Research Suggests
Whatever form you get them in — pills, powders, wellness shots, Flintstones gummies — vitamins can be a good tool to have in your health arsenal. And the benefits of such supplements might extend to coral reefs, too. Researchers at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution found that a diet of multivitamins and minerals (delivered via nutrient-infused tiles) boosted the health of lab-tested coral. The combination could also provide an extra safeguard amid the rising temps brought on by climate change. “Preliminary data collected during more than a year of lab experiments shows that corals that had the early benefit of multivitamins were more resistant and resilient to heat stress,” senior scientist and marine chemist Colleen Hansel told Oceanographic magazine. The next phase is to test the “vitamin sea” theory in the open ocean with an artificial reef and see if the coral acts similarly to how it did in the lab environment. Take a peek behind-the-reef and check out pics of the experiment.
Together With Pacaso
The Newest Trend in Real Estate
Forget DIY renovations. Co-ownership could do to real estate what Uber did to taxis. The premise is simple: Buyers share ownership of a high-value asset, splitting costs while enjoying all the benefits. And it’s spreading like wildfire, growing 21% per year. Take vacation homes, for example. They’re expensive to own and vacant most of the year. Co-ownership lets people fully utilize these properties at a fraction of the cost. Companies like Pacaso are already leading the charge. Through their digital marketplace, users buy, sell, and finance vacation home shares. It’s been a huge success — they’ve already handed keys to more than 1,500 happy homeowners, earning Pacaso $100 million in gross profits. And for the first time, everyday investors can own Pacaso stock. Learn more about investing in Pacaso before their share price changes Dec. 5.
This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com.
Humanity
Lip Balm Brand Beauty by Jenna Aims to Empower Adults With Autism
Beauty by Jenna
Beauty by Jenna’s all-natural lip balms, with their brightly colored packaging and scrumptious flavors, do more than just moisturize — they also provide jobs for people on the autism spectrum. That’s the motivation behind the cosmetics company founded by sisters-in-law Jenna Grabow and Anna Lundmark. And the first person for whom the brand helped find employment is its co-founder herself. Grabow, who is autistic, graduated cosmetology school in the spring of 2023, the culmination of three years of effort. She then spent six months looking for work, to no avail. “There aren’t a lot of jobs out there,” Grabow, 28, tells Nice News. “I was trying to figure out what my next step was, but I didn’t know what to do. I guess you could say it was my form of identity crisis.” Lundmark, also 28, was disheartened seeing Grabow blocked from expressing herself creatively in the field she’d dedicated so much time to. “It’s a difficult position because Jenna is creative, brilliant, and kind, but she is not able to work a regular job,” she shared. That’s when the idea struck her: What if instead of seeking out an opportunity, they made one themselves? Read their small business story.
Culture
At Medical Foster Homes, Caregivers Treat Veterans Like Family
dragana991/ iStock
The world of elder care has changed a lot in recent years, thanks in part to a growing effort to help more individuals find a sweet spot between aging in place and getting the support they need. That effort includes medical foster homes. An alternative to nursing homes and hospitals, the medical foster care program from the Department of Veterans Affairs pairs a group of individuals who need extra assistance with a caregiver who lives alongside them. That way, older adults can build real bonds in a comfortable environment where they’re part of the fabric of the household. “Our caregivers treat the veterans as their own family,” Dayna Cooper, who oversees the medical foster home program at the VA, told CBS News. She added: “I believe that every veteran has a right to remain and age in place and be with people who surround them with love.” Per the outlet, the program began over 20 years ago in just three states, and it has since grown across nearly the entire country, currently providing more than 700 veterans with home care.
In Other News
There’s never been a confirmed sighting of a gray wolf pack at this California national park — until now (read more)
A new Microsoft Teams feature will let participants speak or listen in the language of their choice (read more)
Humans have been using fire in Tasmania for about 1,700 years longer than previously believed (read more)
The “Never Too Late” writing competition recently launched, targeting authors over the age of 60 (read more)
Watch the teaser for the live-action Lilo & Stitch movie, slated to premiere Memorial Day 2025 (read more)
Something We Love
Pinot Noir Salted Caramel Truffles From Rx Missionary Chocolates This is one small business I happily support all year long. The combination of pinot noir-infused flake salt and rich dark chocolate is truly to die for. The Portland-based company uses Fair Trade chocolate for these gluten- and dairy-free treats — and if you happen to be traveling in or out of Oregon, look out for their boutique in the newly remodeled Portland airport. — Sean Devlin, Founder and General Manager
This month, 90-year-old Annette Roberge graduated from Southern New Hampshire University, a feat five decades in the making. Roberge completed her class requirements at the school in the 1970s, but never got her diploma as she was focused on juggling two jobs and raising five kids. “Never give up on learning because what you learn can never be taken away from you,” the now-great-grandmother said.
Photo of the Day
Lexie Buchanan / Saint Louis Zoo
Hello Jet! This adorable baby elephant was recently born at the St. Louis Zoo, marking the start of the fourth generation of the zoo’s elephant family. His gemstone-inspired moniker is representative of that lineage — his mother is Jade and his grandparents are named Onyx and Pearl.
Make Your Next Gathering Unforgettable With the Weekly Pour
Looking to elevate your next holiday gathering? Join the Weekly Pour Club. Each month, you’ll receive rare, small-batch wines from vineyards all over the world, delivered right to your doorstep. It’s like having a personal sommelier handpick wines for every occasion — from dinner parties to quiet nights in. Plus, Nice News readers get $20 off your first collection.
