By Staff
Every year at our newspaper offices, the seasons are marked not only by falling leaves, piles of snow and sunny balmy days.
With the fall comes the annual brainstorming session on what would be a good theme for the annual Horizons progress edition, which hits the newsstands the last week of February.
Long before we wish for a white Christmas, writers have already interviewed residents in our communities whom we have chosen to highlight in the coming edition.
The issue gives us a chance to look more in depth than we do on a daily or, in my case, also on a weekly basis.
Those veterans among us, such as John Eby, editor of the Dowagiac Daily News, who is in his 28th year writing Horizons, still find interesting people, places and things to write about.
People you may go to church with, or see at the grocery store, have incredible stories to tell.
I am always inspired by those among us who have had to overcome monumental tragedies and yet they rose to the occasion and became inspirations for us all.
Next week, our readers will be receiving Horizons with their regular paper.
A special wrapper has been developed to hold all the sections together to keep and read at your leisure.
Horizons will be in the Dowagiac Daily News on Friday, Feb. 27 and The Niles Daily Star on Saturday, Feb. 28.
Cassopolis Vigilant and Edwardsburg Argus readers will receive their copy on Thursday, Feb. 26.
We appreciate those who deliver the mail in these communities.
We appreciate their efforts.
I hope you will enjoy reading about these people as much as we enjoyed doing the interviews and taking the photos.
For some it will be their "15 minute claim to fame."
When you recognize them, be sure to tell them if you enjoyed reading about their lives.
It is not always easy opening ourselves up to the light of the world, to be judged.
I found these people I interviewed to be an inspiration.
One couple from Edwardsburg may be retired, but don't expect them to be at home watching television.
If they are home, Annie may be writing a book review and Larry Siessman carving out a Santa. If they are gone, they just might be rescuing an animal stuck on the ice.
Rick Brubacher and his wife, Janet, left their life for three years to help in Haiti. They have picked up their old life and are again seeking their dreams with their "Little Store on the Prairie." It may be out in the middle of nowhere, south of Decatur, but like the Field of Dreams, he built it and the customers keep coming.
Tim Swenor of Cassopolis has been teaching others how to find buried treasure with his new business, while Robin English is making the world more colorful showing ladies in Edwardsburg and the surrounding area how to quilt.
It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but David and Cara Lawson Ball of Edwardsburg can show you how to cook over a stove in the woods and canoe down the Manistee River on one of their River Journeys.
All of the departments in Leader publications have been working extra hard to bring you the best Horizons issue ever.
The advertising department presents the area businesses, highlighting accomplishments and profiling both the older businesses' traditions along with future plans.
he advertising in past Horizons was judged by the Michigan Press Association as the best in the state.
We hope you enjoy reading your copy. I want to thank all those whom I interviewed for their hospitality and sharing of their lives with our readers.
She can be e-mailed at marcia.steffens@leaderpub.com.