From The Editor
Happy New Year from All of Us at Senior Times
What better time to take up a new interest than with the start of a new year? Perhaps that is why January has been designated as National Hobby Month.
The rules and norms for retirement continue to change and shift with the influx of the baby boomers into the 50 and above age population as reported in an article this month. This shift will continue to challenge those who provide goods and services to this population.
We asked our readers to write us about their unusual hobbies last year. I thought we might receive one or two responses, but you readers surprised me. I ended up with a file full of letters about Seniors with unusual hobbies. If you were one of those who sent us information, you may receive a call from Albert Isaac. We will feature a creative or unusual or interesting hobbyist in upcoming issues. This month we start with Lynn Herring in Gainesville who is a beekeeper.
Senior Times writer Crystal Henry put on her dancing shoes and visited a square dancing group this past month. Crystal enjoyed herself so much she is going to continue do-si-do-ing in the new year. Yvonne Johnson provides us a glimpse of a different kind of sport in a story about an Ocala area cricket team.
One of the pleasures of my job as Editor at Tower Publications is working with students from UF’s College of Journalism. They may think they are coming to learn from me, but I learn just as much from them.
Allison Wilson began as an intern last spring and helped me design the content for many of the issues during 2006. Sadly we had to bid her farewell as she decided after graduation she had to find a job. She has since taken a position as an editor with an Ocala magazine, but she continues to do some freelance work for us. I thank her for her contributions and know she will remain an important part of our editorial team.
Crystal Henry also began with us as a student and graduated in December from UF. She continues, along with Albert Isaac, to be one of our head writers.
We begin the new year with a new intern. Jessica McHugh starts in January, but she has already contributed an article and added input to the 2007 calendar. Look to see much more from her as the year progresses. Christina Kaliher also will work as intern during the summer, but she is getting ready for the plunge already by contributing articles.
We also welcome a new columnist this month. Alden Gonzalez, also a journalism student, will be writing a sports column, which will take a peek at all of the sports from the national to the local scene depending on the season.
Working with these young adults keeps me young and fresh. And I am pleased to report they love providing you with stories of interest each month. Please keep writing us with your suggestions. As Senior Times grows and expands in the coming year, we know that our most important assets are you the readers.
The best to all of you in 2007.
