Happy New Year, Happy Anniversary

Happy New Year! It seems like 2011 arrived out of nowhere, and then it was gone lickety-split!
It’s even harder to believe that this issue of Willamette Valley Life marks our second anniversary. It’s been quite the adventure and we have really enjoyed bringing all of the wonderful places and personalities to you via this publication. The Willamette Valley is overflowing with so many great destinations to explore and interesting people to read about, I don’t think we’ll ever run out of story ideas.
The magazine continues to grow and expand into all corners of the valley. Readers can now pick up Willamette Valley Life at an increasing number of locations. To find one in your area, visit our website at willamettevalleylife.com.
This issue is bursting at the seams with some excellent winter reading material. Writer Tami Richards came across a wonderful story about Dr. George Norek who not only teaches and practices Shodo calligraphy, but has found a way to deal with some significant health issues through the practice of his art.
Rachel Bucci wrote a great piece about “Smokin’ Mike” Buyes, a Willamette Valley bricklayer-turned-entrepreneur who took his passion for smoking seafood and turned it into a business. [Editor’s note: Sadly, at press time, we found out that Mike’s son, Cpl. Adam J. Buyes, was killed in Afghanistan. Our sincere condolences go out to the entire Buyes family.]
Winter is here and several of our readers have shared some of their favorite photos of the Willamette Valley in winters past. You can see their cool creations on page 6. We also came up with a list of Valley museums that you can escape to when cabin fever strikes during the cold winter.
Money guru Ken Gardner is back in this issue with some great ideas about what to do with your tax return dollars, and wine-meister Ryan Reichart shares his tips on getting the most out of your favorite Oregon sparkling wine.
As always, thanks for picking up Willamette Valley Life and please support our advertisers who help to bring issue after issue to you.

KMUZ 88.5 FM Hits The Airwaves

It's been a long time coming, but it looks like the Willamette Valley's new community radio station, KMUZ 88.5 FM will start broadcasting over the airwaves any day now. It's already streaming live on the internet.

Yours truly even has a show on the baby station..."The Western Swing Time Radio Show." If you would like to listen, tune in at 5pm Pacific on Tuesday afternoons.

Congratulations to everyone who helped make this station possible.

Thanksgiving and Wine in the Willamette Valley

Here's an interesting article by Willamette Valley writer Rachel Bucci that was in the New York Times online today. The Willamette Valley Wineries Association has put out an app that is billed as, "The official mobile wine tour for the Willamette Valley!" Just in time for the Thanksgiving wine event in the valley.

Read all about it here...

Winter 2012 Anniversary Issue In The Works

It's hard to believe that we're coming up on our 2nd anniversary. It's not easy to launch a new publication, but we've made it this far and the future looks pretty darn bright. Willamette Valley Life seems to resonate with a lot of valley folks and many have mentioned to me that it's their favorite publication. That is both gratifying and scary.

Gratifying, because a lot of work and thought goes into each issue and it's nice that people notice. It's also scary because we have to do it all again with each issue. It seems I'm always a little terrified before we begin each new issue, but then we get into the rhythm of it and everything is suddenly okay. Funny how that works.

I heard last night on the news that we might expect some snow down at the 1,000 foot level today. That would be super. Don't you just love watching the changing seasons of the valley? Back in my home state of Texas the seasons were brown and green and then back to brown again.

Enjoy the season with your loved ones and I'll see you in a few days.

-Randy Hill