As a certified news junkie and longtime magazine employee, I always look forward to finding out who will be named the Time magazine Person of the Year. (At press time, we were still a couple of weeks away from learning who took the top spot for 2011.) In 2010, it was Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. That certainly makes sense: The social media site has rapidly transformed the way millions of people around the globe communicate and socialize — not to mention how we waste time. (A friend’s recent post on Facebook read: “A clean house is the sign of a broken computer.” How true.) Almost every president who has been in office since the list started in 1927 has made the grade (with three exceptions: Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, and Gerald Ford). Some winners, like 1997’s Andrew Grove — a cofounder of Intel who is widely credited with fueling the explosive growth of Silicon Valley — have been less predictable. Some years the choice seems obvious — like Rudy Giuliani in 2001 — while at other times it is easy to imagine that the magazine’s editors really struggled.
So it was when we put together this month’s main feature, “9 People to Watch in 2012.” There are so many amazing individuals in the Hudson Valley who are doing interesting and exciting things — in government, politics, the arts, business, law enforcement, for the environment, and on the dining scene, among others — that it was almost impossible to narrow down the list. Still, we think you’ll be interested to read about these dynamic folks, and we’re confident that you’ll be hearing more about all of them in the months and years ahead. Our cover story begins here.
Also in this issue: the winter edition of Hudson Valley Home, which includes a profile of a fascinating farmhouse renovation. This article is for all those who love to read home stories, but sometimes feel that they just can’t relate to the multimillion-dollar projects described on the pages in front of them. Here, the owners, both architects, struggled through the recession to finish their dream house — which looks great decorated in minimalist fashion with IKEA furniture. We also give you tips and tricks regarding how to decorate with white. I love the look, but with a toddler and three (non-white) cats, I can’t begin to imagine how a white room would remain in its pristine state for a day, or even a few hours. High Falls design expert Linda O’Keeffe insists that with today’s “bullet-proof” fabrics, anything is possible — but also concedes that some people get all-white pets for this very purpose (I’ll think about that for the far-off future). Check out the photos from her stunning new book for some pure-white inspiration.
And finally, don’t miss our annual wedding supplement. More and more people are choosing to get hitched in the Valley because of its unique combination of natural beauty and affordable, interesting places to hold your reception. Everything you need to plan a memorable affair is right here.
Happy New Year.
Olivia J. Abel
Editor In Chief
