LOOKING AHEAD THIS WEEK

Welton Cadwell, commissioner, Lake County :If you’d prefer to spend Thanksgiving at home, forgo Black Friday and opt to shop on Small Business Saturday. Lake County’s unique downtown areas are ideal for browsing festive boutiques for oneof-a kind finds. Or give the gift of Florida oranges from Sunsational Citrus in Umatilla — my hometown. Keep it local, and make your neighbor’s — the local business owner’s — holiday season a little bit brighter.

James Coffin, executive director, Interfaith Council of Central Florida: After the terrorist attack in Paris, a Seminole, Fla., man phoned a Pinellas County mosque, threatening to “shoot whoever is there.” The lawyer for Martin Alan Schnitzler, the accused, has said Schnitzler wants to reach out to “people of the Islamic faith to show that’s not who he is.” Wrong, Mr. Schnitzler. If, indeed, you made that call, that’s precisely who you are. You’re a man who felt justified in threatening to kill innocent men, women and children merely because of the religious label they wear. Unfortunately, given the current national mood, I seriously doubt you’ll receive a sentence commensurate with your crime.

Buddy Dyer, mayor, Orlando: This holiday we are thankful for philanthropic contributions from corporations like Florida Hospital, JP Morgan and BB&T toward the effort of ending homelessness. These commitments have put Central Florida on track to receive a record amount, more than $8 million, of federal funding toward homelessness. In the last two years, our community has worked to develop a coordinated approach to addressing family and chronic homelessness, but we must leverage this season of giving to gain additional community support and turn our attention to identifying statewide solutions if we are going to have continued success in solving homelessness.

Maria Grulich, international development director, Experience Kissimmee: Holidays conflicted? Is it Thanksgiving or Christmas? Can’t tell by driving around or even shopping. Many are conflicted. Seems like we are decorating for Christmas earlier and earlier. One home decorated for Thanksgiving across the street from one ready for Christmas. Let’s not forget about what the true meaning of these holidays are. Blanket Orlando 4 touched my heart when I read about the event on Facebook. Sharing with those who live on the streets. Many did! Sharing can be as simple as a smile, a kind word. All free. These can be the greatest gift of all.

David Leavitt, former Seminole County Libertarian Party chairman, CEO of four companies: At 27 percent of all registered voters in Florida, a surging segment of the voter population is neither Democrat nor Republican. Newly registered voters are sending a clear message that loyalty to a major political party is waning. The main purpose of a political party is to get members of the party elected into office. Democratic and Republican leaders are sweating out 2016 elections as they each try to gauge how to attract the large number of “No Party Affiliation” voters to their candidates. As Florida could be the deciding state in the 2016 presidential election, voters here who are neither Democrat nor Republican could very well decide the next president.

María T. Padilla, Orlando Latino blog: On Dec. 2 Puerto Ricans are scheduled to converge in Washington, D.C., to push for congressional action on Puerto Rico’s $70 billion of unpayable debt, including allowing the island to fall under the federal bankruptcy code. It’s clear the island needs to resolve its debt crisis and get its moribund economy on its feet. The federal Treasury Department has come up with a workable debt plan but bondholders aren’t on board. Everybody needs to take a haircut. Puerto Ricans are fleeing their beloved island for Central Florida in search of jobs and opportunities. More pain is in store as government money runs out next week. Congress and bondholders need to come to the table.

Jim Philips, host, PhilipsPhile on WTKS-FM/104.1: One of the biggest stories will be who made the decision at Orlando City Hall to hire an outside attorney (at $800 per hour) to delve into the Orlando Sentinel’s in-depth story on aggressive police tactics within OPD. Why was he hired in the first place? Who was responsible for the hiring? Was the City Council advised? Will any member of the City Council challenge the decision? How much taxpayers’ money was spent on what some believe was nothing more than a tactic to punish the media? My advice to the mayor and his administration: Never pick a fight with someone who pays for ink by the barrel.

Sean Snaith, director, UCF Institute for Economic Competitiveness: The holiday shopping season kicks off with the increasingly blurry starting line known as Black Friday. Although the importance of this day continues to be diminished by retail outlets opening on Thanksgiving and online commerce taking an increasing share of holiday spending, consumer spending over the holidays is an important barometer of the strength of the economy. The National Retail Federation expects 3.7 percent growth in holiday spending, down from 4.1 percent in 2014 despite lower prices at the pump and a year of progress in the labor market. Bargains should abound, as consumers remain cautious six and a half years after the end of the recession.

David D. Swanson, senior pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Orlando: Thanksgiving will obviously be the biggest event, but not for the reasons most obviously mentioned. Yes, families and friends will gather in a spirit of gratitude for the blessings of this life, but many will struggle through a week of painful days filled with grief or abject loneliness. Thanksgiving becomes a day that highlights the loss and brokenness of the preceding year or years — broken hearts, broken dreams, broken promises, broken plans, broken homes, broken lives. Many times, simply being aware of another’s pain can make all the difference — a smile, a phone call, a note, a text. Take a moment in these days to care for the needs of another.