Here are some local businesses, ministries and charitable organizations to "like" and visit regularly on Facebook. 

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Some impress us by their tenacity in posting daily deals and specials. Others delight us with their wit, creativity and willingness to help us reunite lost pets with their owners.

The economy of the past four years hasn’t been kind to many of us, and it has been especially unkind to our local business owners. So this holiday season when you’re out looking for gifts with that "wow factor," or need your homes or carpets cleaned for the holidays, our local business owners would love to hear from you. We’ve included some local charities that can use your help, too.

So without further adieu, we present Oak Lawn Patch's favorite local business Facebook picks, in no particular order:

1. Goal Post Pub (did you know the Goal Post is named after an actual pub in Ireland?)

2. Grassano's Pizza (Grassano's is a huge supporter of local youth, especially Oak Lawn Community High School.)

3.Petunia Patch Flower Shop (Petunia can show you the correct way to pin a corsage or boutonniere.)

4. Excel Windows (they can replace any kind of window that you have)

5. Cardinal Liquor Barn (who doesn't love the liquid Indian on Southwest Highway?)

6. Standard Bank and Trust Company (puts the 'community' in community banking; they'll be offering their "angel" tree benefitting Park Lawn again this year)

7. A Home Service Glass (home window glass service and repair; nice FB page, folks)

8. Tastefully Simple (elegant, easy to prepare foods; we see consultant Nancy Boerema all over the place)

9. Larry Boerema's Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning (Larry lets his Facebook followers know when he has openings; he's pretty good at finding lost dogs, too.)

10. Abracadabra Janitorial (offers residential and commerical cleaning; they will make your home and business sparkle)

11. Avenue Flower Shop and Wine Bar (great selection of wines and supports local musicians, too)

12. Big Pappas (These local business owners put on a holiday spread for 1,000 financially disadvantaged neighbors and community members every Christmas, plus they make a darn good gyros. We love Sandi and Eddie.)

13. Smilin Clyde's Weenie Wagon (Clyde Anhalt has weenie wagon, will travel; makes a great Chicago dog.)

14. Tailgators (they amuse us, as well as offer some pretty amazing drink specials.)

15. Windy City Flower Girls (offers blooms in colors you've never seen before, wedding and special event design, plus a wide array of gifts from local artisans that you won't find anywhere else.)

16. Fatso's (made to order food that's worth the wait; Fatso's brings back the old school, favorite-joint-in-the-neighborhood kind of goodness)

17. Frugalista (I love shopping here and have found some great deals on brand-name clothes and accessories; Frugailsta deserves more love from the locals.)

18. Sub Zero Refrigeration (furnace and air conditioning servicing; Ted does a great job with SZR's Facebook page; his dad, Bud, is the handsomest ex-Marine we've ever met.)

19. New Day Spa Salon-Oak Lawn (Babs and Grace are the best; this bustling salon will pamper you when no one else will. New Day does bridal parties.)

20. Premo's Ice Cream (Did you know that Premo's has employed hundreds of local college students through the yearss, enabling them to work their way through school? Premo's has helped turn out doctors, nurses and lawyers. The ice cream is pretty great, too.)

21. Francesca's on 95th (Francesca's supports Oak Lawn in so many ways, from recognizing local educators to donating a percentage of lunch and dinner sales to many worthy causes.)

22. ADDED: De Ja Brew - Oak Lawn (De Ja Brew is offering a $6 martini special on Thanksgiving Day and will be tapping Christmas craft beers throughout the month of December.)

23. ADDED: Arb Snow Removal (Arb will help you remove your snow and knock the ice off your roof and gutters. Call them about turning your yard into a winter wonderland with their light decorating serivces.)

24. ADDED: Oak Lawn Professional Maintenance Services  (The men in orange will keep your home or business looking spiffy.)

25. ADDED: South Suburban Snow Removal (If you ever need a ride to go cover a bank robbery, Matt Baranski is your guy. Matt is the hardest working high school student in Oak Lawn and gets rave reviews from his customers. Every dollar he makes removing snow he puts in his college fund.)

26. ADDED: The Maids of Oak Lawn (These merry maidens of the dust bin are always offering specials. There are enough dirty houses in Oak Lawn that there is business for everybody.)

27. ADDED: Great Clips (Receive $3 off a haircut for every new toy that is brought in during December.)

28. ADDED: Glowacki Music Service (Jim will tune your piano for that Christmas Eve family singalong or provide entertainment for your holiday party.)

Non-Profits:

1. Children's Museum in Oak Lawn (the perfect antidote to video games; your kids will have fun playing here plus learning stuff; check out the museum's gift shop and family memberships for your holiday shopping.)

2. Patriotic Pillow Project (Christina Finn is a true patriot whose handsewn pillows bring comfort and healing to our wounded warriors)

3. Park Lawn Charity (provides a wide range of education, vocatoinal and residential services to developmentally disabled adults, many of whom are without family support.)

4. Stuffed Love (Sarah Dynia is the nicest person we know whose handsewn creations offer hope and encouragement to those who find their backs pressed against the wall; Sarah inspires all she encounters to "pay it foward.")

5. COURAGE Program (St. Germaine's ministry for provides support for single parents and grandparents raising young children due to divorce, unplanned pregnancy, incarcerated parents, etc. COURAGE is the beneficiary of many local toy and clothing drives)

6. St. Gerald's Music Ministry (The mission of the Music Ministry at St. Gerald Parish is to support the gospel message through song, and challenge the assembly to live it more fully.)

Did we miss your business's Facebook page? It wasn't intentional. Add your Facebook link to the comments below.