Welcome 2012!

Happy New Year! Hope you all have a great one!

Our January issue is all about how to have a happy, prosperous ... and daring ...new year. Change your attitude - -and maybe your altitude -- and you can change your life for the better.

We practiced what we preached to get this feature article -- photographer Betsy Hansen went up in a glider and also took ziplining photos. Writer Kristin Harmel learned to "fly" in a vertical wind tunnel. And several of us (including your truly) went up in a hot-air balloon.
Betsy was there for the serious stuff (you can see her pix in the magazine, which should be in mailboxes soon, as well as online), but I caught the behind-the-scenes action. Thought you guys would like to see how hard we work to bring you our excellent magazine. So ...enjoy! Happy New Year! Hope you all have a great one!

Our January issue is all about how to have a happy, prosperous ... and daring ...new year. Change your attitude - -and maybe your altitude -- and you can change your life for the better.

We practiced what we preached to get this feature article -- photographer Betsy Hansen went up in a glider and also took ziplining photos. Writer Kristin Harmel learned to "fly" in a vertical wind tunnel. And several of us (including your truly) went up in a hot-air balloon.

Betsy was there for the serious stuff (you can see her pix in the magazine, which should be in mailboxes soon), but I caught the behind-the-scenes action. Thought you guys would like to see how hard we work to bring you our excellent magazine. So ...enjoy!

Jingle Bell Rockin' for a Good Cause

Adam Stratton’s family turned tragedy into an opportunity to help others.

Stratton, a Apopka High School standout (honor society, Disney “Dreamer and Doer,” athlete, Bible School teacher) and freshman at Florida State, was killed in a car crash in May 2005. He was only 19.

His family and friends formed the Adam Stratton Memorial Scholarship Foundation in his honor to help other Apopka students. Among its fundraisers is a party – 2011’s was called Rockin’ on the River, at Wekiva Island. The foundation also holds a chili cook-off, a golf tournament and a 5K run. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded more than $100,000 to deserving students and organizations and aims to be Apopka’s largest scholarship program.

That’s organizers Tammy Eagle, Donna Stratton, Paula Armstrong, Claudia Shellhammer and Becki Lewis up top with a poster of Adam at the Rockin’ party in December.

In other photos, Belinda Stratton (married to Adam’s brother) works the entry desk and party-goers enjoy the festivities.

Check the foundation’s website for additional info.

Adam would have been proud.

Happy Holidays!

From all of us (and a friend) at Topper Publications!