Calling all Saranac Lakers and those who value this village - please invest in and take ownership of your community in a literal way: Buy stock in the Saranac Lake Community Store. This local group is getting ready to open a department store, something this village has been lacking in the six years since Ames closed, but your financial support is needed to make it happen. It has sold almost $350,000 toward its $500,000 start-up goal.

Its stated mission is "To Bring Reasonably Priced Goods to Saranac Lake." That's something almost all of us want, but do you think you're going to get that by just sitting around and waiting? The odds aren't too good, so why not help bring it about? A share costs just $100, and it's no donation - you're buying a piece of this store. With government getting its fingers into more and more private business these days, this is pure, local, private investment. No one can buy more than 100 shares, and only New York state residents may buy shares -no complicated shenanigans, and the people who are responsible for this enterprise are right here in town. If you've chosen to live here, this kind of store matters to you. It's a good thing; help make it happen.

As a side note, the store probably won't be called simply the Saranac Lake Community Store. A contest to name it has begun. Get in on it.

You can buy shares or find out more information at a public breakfast event the group is holding on Saturday, May 9 from 8 to 11 a.m. in the Cantwell Room of the Saranac Lake Free Library.

"As we are now moving into the final stretch of capital-raising, there is a renewed sense of urgency to complete this phase and move on to the real work of leasing property, hiring key staff and getting this exciting venture off the ground," the group wrote in announcing the event Thursday. "With an average investment of about $750 per subscriber, we just need about 200 more people to come on board or for existing supporters to increase their investment."

You could be one of those 200.