ENCORE EDITOR'S NOTE
From the Editor W
e produce the content of each monthly issue of Encore several weeks before the magazine’s publication date, so it can be challenging sometimes to write an Editor’s Note that is relevant and timely. This month is the best example of that by far. By the time you read this, the world may be a very different place. The pandemic may be back in full swing, we all may be isolating at home again or we may see an emergency release of a coronavirus vaccine. We might have re-elected the president or elected a new one. If ever there were a time when a crystal ball would have come in handy, it was in October. But here’s a constant to celebrate: During these times of uncertainty, Encore can still be counted on to provide informative content that celebrates the great people, places and organizations in our community. We have heard from many readers that during times of social distancing and isolation, reading Encore has given them a sense of connection to the community that they have been missing. And we keep on doing just that with this month’s issue. Our cover feature looks at a new “pocket neighborhood” In Texas Township — an innovative housing development that puts the neighbor back in neighborhood. It’s being created by Dave and Shari Groendyk, of Dave’s Glass, along with several partners. We also introduce you to Emily and Matt Deering-Caruso, the entrepreneurs behind the craft-cocktail haven The Stamped Robin. They and their partners, Mack and Walker Chrisman, were in the midst of a major expansion when Covid-19 shut the world down, but instead of facing catastrophe, they found opportunity. You’ll also meet Emmy Kastner, who writes and illustrates the Nerdy Babies book series, and Sid Ellis, a longtime fixture on the local arts scene who is heading the 100-year-old Douglass Community Association at a critical time for this organization that serves the residents of Kalamazoo’s Northside neighborhood. And since November is a month for gratitude, I want to say this emphatically and often: All of us at Encore are so grateful to all our advertisers who have stuck with us and allowed us to publish each month, and to our loyal readers, who give us a reason to keep doing so. If these uncertain and odd times have given us nothing else, it is a heightened awareness of the important connections between us all. Stay healthy, stay safe, and be kind to one another.
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