Spring 2008 Publisher’s Letter

Today it feels as though spring has sprung. I listen to the sound of melting snow on my rooftop and notice patches of grass peeking through what used to be a near-record snowfall on my front lawn. With temperatures expected to climb to over 60 degrees this afternoon, I contemplate a bike ride minus my cold weather gear and the threat of hidden ice. I plan to thoroughly enjoy the day as I’m pretty sure that these balmy temperatures won’t last considering that as I write this it is only early January, and we do live in New England after all. I’m not sure if this crazy weather is the result of global warming or not, but it does provide me with the perfect opportunity to talk about our spring issue.

After a long winter, spring is always welcomed with open arms and this issue illustrates that there is much to celebrate this season. Many of our articles have a green theme, from gardening to the environment to money-saving tips. We tour the Wellesley College greenhouses, botanical gardens, and arboretum, treasures that showcase the natural beauty of our geographic region and other parts of the world, with extensive tropical and sub-tropical plant collections. And with the color green all over the news these days as concern grows for the health of our planet, we talk with local residents who have developed their own creative ways to think and act green. It should come as no surprise that our talented friends and neighbors are pooling their resources to add green technology to their homes, create informative Web sites, implement organic lawn care strategies, and much more. An issue devoted to the spring season would not be complete without a spring cleaning article, and our “Ten Tips for Financial Spring Cleaning” offers some common-sense strategies to keep more “green” in your bank accounts.

I am always fascinated by the pool of talent in our two towns that encompasses a wide variety of professions. In this issue, we’ll meet Weston artists Edward and Daveda Movitz who have explored very different paths in their art but follow the same path as husband and wife, married fifty-five years, and who raised a family together. We also meet documentary film director Mary Mazzio, whose film Lemonade Stories profiles the relationships between notable entrepreneurs and their mothers who helped foster creativity and determination in their children. Among those interviewed are Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Atlantic, Tom Scott, co-founder of Nantucket Nectars, and Wellesley resident Billy Starr who created the Pan Mass Challenge.

Spring is also a time growth and at Elm Bank Media, WellesleyWeston Magazine’s parent company, we have some exciting news as we expand into surrounding communities. After two and a half years of serving the Wellesley and Weston communities, we will launch Wayside Magazine in mid-April, which will serve Lincoln, Sudbury and Wayland. North Bridge Magazine will follow in early May and will serve the communities of Lexington, Concord, and Carlisle. Wayside and North Bridge will have the same beautiful format and “look” as seen in these pages, and will be filled with editorial content aimed to readers in the communities they serve. The new magazines will be distributed free of charge to households and businesses in their towns.

I hope that you find many opportunities for personal and professional growth this season and that you will be inspired by the stories and the people in this issue. Happy Spring!

Sincerely,

Beth Furman