Throw open the windows of your spirit; April is here!
Each passing month can bring us to another level of appreciation for what we have endured, maintained or pivoted toward. There’s hope for what we can achieve and celebrate in a world that has repeatedly and, in some cases unmercifully so, challenged us.
Rebirth is on the horizon, and it’s time for us to till the soil—in so many ways—and replant with the promise of a bountiful harvest as we go forward.
This issue wraps itself around gardening and landscaping, and I find that most fitting. On page 14, Madeline Kopiecki writes about how a local company tends to lakeshores and beyond. (If you own water shoes, you’ll appreciate this business concept!) Page 18 offers Claire Swenson’s article about pet-friendly landscaping and public play areas. Can we agree that our pets deserve extra special playtime after all they’ve done to love us throughout this past year?
On another note, congratulations to dancers from WestMet Classical Training, featured on page 32, who competed this winter in North Carolina in a Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) Regional event. (Eight of the students and two of its ensemble pieces were invited to the prestigious YAGP 2021 finals in May.)
Mound’s Morgan Johnson received her division’s Hope Award, given to a student for exemplary work in contemporary and classical ballet and who shows promise for a future professional ballet career. In the senior division, Excelsior’s Hayley Miller placed second (contemporary) and in the top 24 (classical). Additionally, owners/instructors Allynne Noelle and Thomas Brown were presented Outstanding Teachers 2021 awards.
Until next time,
Renée Stewart-Hester, editor
