CONNECTING
On any given day, I’m bombarded with Facebook memes, Pinterest
posts and Twitter pics featuring inspiration or motivational sayings, all
revolving around one or two themes: challenge and change. But I don’t
need social media to tell me that challenge is exciting, change is
frightening, or that either of them pay great dividends. I only have to look
to the pages of this magazine, and to the ten previous issues to see that
message reinforced.
The Hub - a venture born of challenge and change – is officially a
year old with this issue, and it will be a while before I stop telling people
how proud we are of this anniversary. Over the last year we’ve planned,
produced, tweaked and tinkered, month after month, in our quest to fulfill
our vision of bringing the community together with a new publication.
And I’d say it’s been a success; with every issue our readership
climbs, our advertisers gain new patrons and our contributors hone their
skills. A year ago we had 40 followers on Facebook – today that number
approaches 500 and climbs each week. A year ago, we had an idea – today
we have a reality. And along the way we’ve been privileged to meet new
people, form new connections and find new ways to celebrate living in
Windsor-Essex.
If this issue has a theme, that’s it: celebration. In addition to my
personal thoughts on celebrations, you’ll find articles that encourage you
to celebrate the great outdoors through camping and celebrate ideas
through crowdfunding. You’ll also see our writers celebrating art,
exploring, food, books and more. And as always, our calendar – one of the
most complete local event calendars available – tells you where and when
you can celebrate all the many facets of life in Windsor-Essex.
Challenge is exciting; change is frightening. But both of them are oh,
so worth it.
Shelley
Earlier last week I threw out my to-do list. It was getting long and
nerve wracking and somehow didn't jive with the mood I'd been feeling
lately. Perhaps the constant chatter about the school year coming to an end
and the first day of summer quickly approaching, had finally nudged into
a more relaxed state of mind. Gradually to-do lists, schedules, on-line
appointment books drew further and further from my mind. I found
myself following my instincts and relying on my intuition to tell me when
something needed doing.
It has worked, for the most part, and the world doesn't seem to have
come to an end. We eat when we 're hungry, I do laundry when I can't
find anything clean to wear, we head out for a ride in the country when the
cement in the city becomes too hot to handle.
This easy going attitude has translated somewhat to this issue of the
magazine. The articles focus mostly on things we do when it's
summertime and the living is easy. Campgrounds fill up and everyone
seems to be counting down the days to the next long weekend or any
excuse to celebrate summer. In this issue you'll read about camping and
how to get the most out of the experience. And, if you think you're too
glam to camp, you may be surprised at how some people do it when you
assume they're roughing it in the great outdoors.
We also take a look at the growing popularity of crowdfunding. I have
to admit, I wasn't familiar with the term, even though I had heard of the
concept on more than one occasion. Maybe you've already taken part in
such a fund raiser or maybe you'll be inspired to start one of your own.
Either way it has the potential to benefit a great number of well deserving
causes.
And finally, does anyone need a reason to celebrate? In the month of
July, celebrations seem as plentiful as mushrooms after a rain. As the
fireworks once again announce Canada's birthday, we at The Hub are
celebrating a milestone of our own. This July issue marks our first year
anniversary. It was one year ago today that months of vision and
discussion finally took shape. It has been a whirlwind time marked by
many ups and downs but now that we have come full circle to July again,
we look back and realize we have learned much about the business and
ourselves. Knowing when to throw out to-do lists and celebrate has been
an important one. This July, we hope you'll get the chance to do the same.
Eva
Managing Editors
Please direct advertising or
subscription inquiries to
[email protected]
Eva Antonel
Shelley Divnich Haggert
Contributors
Judie Acton, Alex Antonel, Taylor Busch,
Kaitlyn Divnich, Angelica Haggert,
Michael Haggert, Sean Previl
Health Canada
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@TheHubWE
4 The HUB - July 2014
Copyright 2014
The Write Side Up Inc. &
Audacity Design