Here we go, about to leap into that time of year again, the period between Thanksgiving and the New Year that we tag with the catchall designation "the holiday season."
To get you in the mood, that is, to start the juices of kindness flowing, and commence the gentle slide into the spiritual side of life, our cover story demonstrates an object lesson in grassroots philanthropy. In "Dynamic Duo," contributor Jill Carson gives us the story of two Madison nurses who've put together an international aid agency from scratch - and the leftovers from our materials-rich medical establishment.
But that's just the intro to our holiday launch; we spring fully into the spirit of the season with the 21st edition of Giving, our annual holiday magazine devoted to the art of spreading cheer and fulfilling wishes that accompanies your Isthmus this week. The wishes we're most concerned with are those of the nonprofit agencies; we've asked them what they most would like to see under their tree, and compiled their responses for you. We thank Goodman's Jewelers for sponsoring this year's Wish List. It's up to you to make those wishes come true.
Beyond that, you'll find Giving packed with ideas for your personal gifting intentions in the form of helpful advertising. And to spice up that activity we introduce the Buy Local campaign. Go to TheDailyPage.com/promotions and sign the pledge to spend $100 with local merchants, and we'll enter your name in a drawing for local merchandise gift certificates. If every Isthmus reader did so, we could pump $16 million into our local economy.
There are holiday-oriented articles to enrich your season in Giving too. Mrs. Gift answers your gifting questions; Ann Levihn introduces you to some unusual holiday eating traditions; Maisie Ramsay tells you how to exploit the technological wonders of the age to stay in touch via voice or video; Linda Falkenstein gives you ideas for holiday getaways; David Medaris speaks most foully, and pays for it. Of course there's the above-mentioned Wish List (with more donating suggestions online), and a holiday calendar to clue you in on the season's special events.
Because the holidays begin next week with Thanksgiving, your Isthmus will be out a day early, Wednesday. And, as it happens, both Christmas and New Year's Day also fall on Thursdays, so we'll be out on Wednesdays on those weeks too. Gird yourself for a hectic, if more moderate, holiday season.
