Our nook of the Driftless Area is in the midst of a pandemic. Although we are buffered by the natural spaces of branching waterways, oak savannahs, remnant prairies and agricultural fields that surround us, the communities of the Lower Wisconsin and Sugar-Pecatonica River Basins are not safe from the COVID-19 virus. Our hearts are with all who have been touched by the disease.
While we absorb the daily news and recommendations on hand hygiene and physical distancing to stay safe, we also reach for some semblance of normalcy in these uncertain times. We hope that this issue of Voice of the River Valley represents that for you.
Because it’s April and National Poetry Month, 25 percent of this month’s magazine features poetry by Voice of the River Valley readers. Seventeen poets from Arena, Baraboo, Barneveld, Cross Plains, Gays Mills, Madison, Mazomanie, Mineral Point, Lone Rock, Platteville, Spring Green, Wauzeka and Yuba answered our call for poems and haiku.
In addition, this month’s magazine features the voices of columnists Doris Green, Vincent Kavaloski, Patrice Peltier — who’s back with her seasonal “Garden Blitz” column — Kathy Steffen and Etienne White and photography by Emily Landmann and Sue Zintz.
In these incredibly unusual times, we give extraordinary thanks to the advertisers and subscribers who supported this month’s issue. P. 14 is a special section with additional information on coronavirus-related operational updates.
We also thank you, dear reader, and invite you to join us on a three-month digital journey to keep our communities connected and inspired while also protecting our readers and volunteer distribution team. Please see “Have the Heart to Go Digital” and the back page for more information about our springtime digital distribution campaign.
Happy reading,
