A few blocks from the V1 office, Phoenix Park connects to the Haymarket Plaza. Sunsets look pretty good from right around there.

Folded into the pages of our second issue of 2026, you'll find a lot of stuff about what’s going on right now and, hopefully, things that will come in handy as we wade our way through the coming months.

For some, that could mean ditching this “regular” issue and instead focusing on the “Weddings & Occasions” pull-out guide found smack dab in the middle (yeah, this is a two-in-one! Consider it a belated holiday gift). For others, flipping right to “CBD Scene” will offer some info on the current state of legal hemp and who (and how) got to come up with all those funky product names. In our beloved Arts section, we encourage you tune the dial to some local radio shows and check out current visual exhibits. Flip to the back and you’ll find a stream of upcoming local events you can attend.

We continue to share hyper-local happenings and news as part of longtime effort to let folks know – or remind people – there’s a whole lot of good happening in our nugget of the world. The noise is loud, especially right now. I hope you find something special in these pages, even if it’s a fleeting smile or a piece of local info that will get stored in your brain for later.

See you next issue, when we get to talk about some of the Best things in the Chippewa Valley.