As I write this the skies are crystal clear, the sun is shining and the leaves are turning at a rapid rate and starting to fall…it will soon be winter. The month of November is a great time to take a short trip, whether to the water or to the mountains. The air is crisp and clean and while the fall foliage may have reached its peak a week or so ago, the leaves are still going to be worth taking a drive through. This is a great time of the year to take some time to enjoy the calm before the storm of the 2014 holidays kicks in.

We celebrate Thanksgiving this month with friends and family. Sarah Becker offers up a holiday quiz and explains the beginnings of Thanksgiving in her History column. We welcome Lori Welch back after her recent honeymoon. Since she is no longer single she introduces her new column…Open Space. With the bounty of Thanksgiving and the wonderful food, Ryan Unverzagt tries to keep us on the straight and narrow by encouraging us not to overeat in From The Trainer.

As the Civil War continues, Doug Coleman takes us along as General Sherman leaves Atlanta and heads to the sea, and Savannah in Civil Discourse. Lani Gering takes us on a Road Trip to southern Delaware highlighting some of the entities that contribute to the areas “Arts and Entertainment”. We like to call it the second season at the shore…crowds are gone and you have the beach and sights to yourself.

Laura Parker captures the wanderlust of local restaurateur and traveler, Dimitri Alexis in Personality Profile and I had the pleasure of interviewing long time friend and fellow Old Towner David Martin at Goldwork’s for the Business Profile. David celebrates 25 years in business this month.

This and much more in this month’s edition – wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving! On a sad note, our condolences go out to our friend and local Alexandria businessmen, Roger Parks, on the passing of his lovely wife Georgina. An absolutely delightful person has been taken from us way too early. She will be missed.

Written by: Bob Tagert