Greetings Modesto Friends!
Where did 2012 go? Everyone I talk to feels the same way. Whenever anything comes up, it is “Is it January already?” Yes it is. You can look at it two ways. First, that time is just going by too fast or secondly as I see it, there is so much to do that we are all so busy, our weeknights and weekends are full of amazing things we are doing. Yes my fellow Modestans, we have had an action packed 2012 with a list of events that much bigger cities would envy. And from the looks of things, 2013 appears to be on track to be even busier, or crazier if you prefer.
At ModestoView we have a front row seat to this craziness as our writers are the people that are making many of these event happen and changing the Modesto Area for the better. They have created Thursday Rambles, acoustic, jazz, blues, indie, metal and rockabilly shows, artwalks and art projects, Project Hope events, lead fitness races rallies and so much more. ModestoView is for people that do. Pretty snappy huh?
You, our faithful readers and friends are the ones in the know. I can always tell someone who reads ModestoView as they seem to be connected and know what is happening in our town and are there to lend a hand an play a part of making our city better. That is really what it is all about.
2013 has so much promise. The economy seems to be on the mend and we all may have made it through the toughest times, but how do we come out of it? How do we emerge stronger? We have to focus! We need to make sure downtown Modesto is alive and vibrant. Why? A healthy downtown makes a healthy community. Simply put, cites with dead downtowns are a mess. We have to make this happen. We need to encourage the arts city-wide. Modesto can be known for art, murals, creativity and economic energy. Supporting arts and music in our schools creates smart creative kids with high test scores. There are many creative people in town, but this only works if we all support them and their work. For example, we can be a city of music. The MAMAs showcase over 220 nominees just for the best in our local music scene, but we all need to go see live shows, buy local music, and reward the places that host live music, big or small with our business. If we don’t do our share, these creative things can disappear.
ModestoView is here to help highlight the good and the creative. Your job is to dive in and experience all we have and tell your friends so that they can tell their friends and so on and so on. In 2013, “we” are the change we need. We can change how people in town see Modesto and more importantly how the rest of the world sees us. Like the Beatles said, “All together now”. Let’s do it, let’s make the 2013 the year of creativity. Because of you our readers and our advertisers that allow us to print and deliver this magazine, we can make it happen.
I am counting on each and every one of you to become an evangelist for Modesto creativity in 2013!
Happy New Year!
Chris Murphy Publisher and Founder ModestoView Serving Civic Pride Daily Since 1997.
