EDITOR'S JOURNAL: January/February 2009

Jodi Schwen
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The natural beauty of Lake Country is pretty hard to miss. From the fond memories of lazy days spent on the beach to the winter arrival of a red-bellied woodpecker (with nary a speck of red on its belly!) chowing down at my birdfeeder, or a few fresh snowflakes. That’s what we enjoy about hosting our twelfth annual Readers Photo Contest. We get to see the beauty of Lake Country up close, captured in photos submitted by our readers. Each image has its own unique appeal and, like snowflakes, no two are ever alike. (p. 30)

Individual beauty can also be seen in the people of Lake Country. Snocross athlete, Levi LaVallee, is Longville’s own success story. LaVallee has loved jumping over things ever since he was young. Now he has taken this skill to an art form in the world of snocross racing, racking up an impressive array of wins, including two golds at the 2008 Winter X games in Colorado. (p. 38) Lake Country’s Barb Munson learned the depths of her own strength when she scaled Africa’s Mount Kilimanjaro. The lessons she brought home from the summit have changed her life forever. (p. 42)

Beauty of a different variety is found in the narratives and images of breast cancer survivors. Our annual healthcare guide features information, websites, and the stories of those whose lives were changed forever when they learned they had breast cancer. We hope you will learn from the strength of the survivors and gain a new appreciation of their beauty. (p. 45 and p. 50)

Beauty is all around us. Spend a few moments every day paying attention to its presence in your life.

Enjoy the magazine!