Good evening, everyone.

Council will please come to order.

Members will rise while Councilwoman Kearns leads us in prayer this evening.

Two guardsmen that were shot in DC.

I'm sorry to be emotional, but these are part of the guard family that I belong to.

So please take a moment.

Healing our divisions and our fear.

May we go deeper than our differences and recognize our humanity and connectedness and join together to bring about a new world of love.

Maybe be opened to our sameness and oneness and maybe maybe find a connection within each other and help each other year-round and especially during this holiday season.

Amen.

All members present will vote yes.

Hearing and seeing no objections.

The mayor and everybody for helping Miss Ruby's corner market.

Miss Ruby's quarter market is seven thirty-nine central avenue on the west side.

It's a small corner market.

But today I saw we got rank number three of rankings of grocery stores in the Charleston area.

Yeah.

And um that's due to people coming out in the community supporting us.

So I like to thank you for that.

And if you're never been before, come check us out.

We also come and check uh Ms.

Ruby's garden is in the back of Ms.

Ruby's Corner Market, which we promote agriculture.

And we uh we're working on develop more farmers.

So thank you.

Thank you, Darrell.

We really appreciate you.

And I know that you're gonna stick around because we're gonna honor some of our uh local small businesses.

Um so thank you so much for that.

And with that, the clerk will please read the proclamation.

Proclamation, whereas local businesses play a vital role in our community, strengthening our local economy, creating jobs, and contributing to the vibrancy and character of our capital city.

And whereas Charleston small businesses ranging from independent retailers and restaurants to service providers, artisans, and markers, reflect the creativity, talent, and culture that make our city unique.

And whereas shopping locally creates a powerful local multiplier effect where each purchase strengthens nearby businesses, supports local supply chains, and keeps those dollars in our community.

And we're asked when we shop local, we strengthen community connections by encouraging residents to discover and support neighborhood shops and restaurants, and highlighting the many ways local businesses give back through charitable contributions, civic engagement, and support our workforce.

And whereas the city of Charleston joins the Charleston Area Alliance, Charleston Urban Works, Downtown Charleston Association, and neighborhood associations throughout the city in celebrating our local businesses, and therefore I, Amy Shula Goodwin, mayor of the City of Charleston, do hereby proclaim December 2025 as shop local month in Charleston, West Virginia, and urge all citizens to celebrate our local businesses by shopping local this holiday season and throughout the year.

And witness whereof I have set my hand to cause the seal of the executive department to be fixed this first day of December 2025.

As a daughter of a small business owner still in business today, the reason why local businesses are still in business or because of the folks who are in this room who are going to come forward because y'all work nights, weekends, holidays, all the time.

You put your blood, sweat, and tears, and your passion into every single thing you do.

I want to recognize some of the folks who are here with us today.

Mara Boggs is here.

Uh she runs a Charleston Airlines.

She does an amazing job.

I know Todd Goldman says he's just here to be supportive of city council, but he helps run our KRT system.

He is also a small business owner, a champion, a champion for Charleston's community.

Um Andy and Ted Powell of Powell Howard, where are the only place in the city of Charleston, my husband can stay for nine hours at one time.

Uh Kelly Dunlap at Tops Off, uh, always makes all of our kiddos look so so wonderful.

Um, doing their haircuts.

Scott Pettit, Pettit Jewelry Designs, Jeannie Stevenson, Echo Lit, such a cool place.

Darrell Miller.

If you don't know Darrell, shame on you with keep your faith in Mrs.

Ruby's Corner, the best best pasta salad in the city of Charleston, and Dr.

Alison Jarrett DDS.

Come on up, let us recognize you and say thank you for all you do.

Thank you.

So thank you for that.

Really appreciate it.

Thank you, everyone.

We appreciate all that you do, and thank you so much for coming.

Thank you, thank you so very much.

Thank you so very much.