From the Editor’s Desk - October 2009

Ten years! This is the celebratory issue of the Valley Bugler’s TENTH YEAR OF BUSINESS! **enter party sounds here**

Ten years ago, in a land not too far away, there rose from the ashes of the Advocate a publication called the Mt. St. Helens Valley Bugler. You can read more about the climb of this GOOD news newspaper on p.4 - as you enjoy taking a trip down “Memory Lane”. Memory Lane will shower you with fun tidbits pulled from the previous ten years of printing, and will give you a good idea of the history behind this “little community rag”.

Most importantly, seen on the next page is the information for our TEN YEAR Celebration party! We will be honoring our readers and advertisers with a party full of contests, prizes, food, music, fun and fellowship!

Do you have a “to-die-for” soup recipe? Compete for the title of “Most Supreme Soup” or “Crowd Favorite”! Have an old copy of the Bugler laying around? You just might win the “Oldest Copy” contest! Think you (or somebody you know!) should be named “Most Loyal Valley Bugler Reader”? Details are all on the next page, and if you have additional questions, you can go online, too!

www.ValleyBugler.com - click on the TEN YEAR PARTY! button for more info.

We are also running updates, special contest info and online only type activities. Be sure to visit our website and click on the Facebook and Twitter links.

In normal years, the October issue usually features a Children’s Section, which we have condensed for this issue, found on page 21.

Speaking of kids, many readers who see Oscar and myself out in public often ask how the children are doing. We love it! So, here is a recent pic of our kids enjoying the last few days of the lingering summer-type days in late September:

Isn’t that priceless? Baby Oscar the Fifth is enjoying his world of food, as seen in the pic below - and chomping on anything and everything with his seven sharp teeth!! Watch out, don’t stick your finger in there!!

Chloe and Cora have started school - Chloe is enjoying first grade and Cora is loving 4-year old PreSchool.

To be honest, sometimes I don’t know what to do with all the quiet in the morning when the girls are at school and the baby is napping! It’s been a bit unsettling, but I think I am getting used to the peace!! I must say, I do miss Chloe, though, since she is gone alllllll day!

October is the time of the year where people pull out those fall decorations and put away the flip flops. That is, unless you live in my household.

The leaves turn a glorious myriad of colors and provide not only a breathtaking backdrop for photography or family portraits, they also gift us with big huge piles of crinkly, squishable, fall-into-able leaves!

One of my favorite pasttimes in the fall is stomping through crunchy leaves or kicking up great big piles of bright leaves into the air! Crunching is really my favorite, though.

I learned recently that October means “Eighth month”. What?? October is the Tenth month, you say? October was originally the Eighth month of the Roman calendar, as March began the calendar year. (Octo means “eight”…..)

If you are interested in the “history” of things, you’ll be sure to visit page 19, “History of Columbus Day”, and learn why most of America shuts down on the second Monday of every October.

For me, this October brings us one month closer to our huge TEN YEAR Anniversary party! This is one party that YOU are going to want to be present for! We are really looking forward to spending some time getting to know you and sharing in the past ten years of our business, as well as looking to the future together!

We sincerely hope that you enjoy this special TEN YEAR Anniversary issue, and will look forward to meeting you at the party! Please RSVP with your name and how many will be in your party, so we can get an estimate on how many people to prepare for, and please do that before October 20th!!!!

Until next month, keep shopping local and spreading the good cheer! Before you know it, Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here!!

Michelle Myre, Editor/Publisher
Valley Bugler