“Today is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one.”

 

As we pause at the beginning of this new year, with is promises of fresh starts and resolutions kept, let’s reflect on the good that 2013 held.

We have seen again how caring our community is, after it citizens dug deep to build a $600,000 Miracle League field and park. Good causes continue to get support – when people contribute to Cancer Freeze, Relay for Life, Imagination Library, Meredith’s Miracles, United Fund, and Habitat for Humanity.

Early in the year, we got good news from the state when Andalusia received an $8.5 million grant to rework South Three Notch. Recently, more good news came when a grant for expanding sidewalks in the city was announced.

Our business community has grown. Projects are underway in our schools. Andalusia was named one of the top small cities in the United States by a man who spent 50 years researching his idea of Eden.

There have been challenges, upsets, crime and sadness. There will always be. But even in tough times, this community responds and helps those in need.

As we turn the page to 2014, we have a 365-page book for our community, too. It would behoove us also to ask what we’d like for our community, and what we can do to help make those dreams come true.

Can we make a better effort to support local merchants? Can we volunteer our time for causes we consider important? Can we contribute to charities, be better stewards of our churches, or simply give of our time?

It’s a big blank book. We look forward to recording the stories with which you fill in the coming year.

Happy 2014 to you and yours.