This issue marks the first in our second “season” of giving you the Troubadour. You will notice once again, we are offering a dual month format featuring an expanded 24 pages, full of inspirational images and stories. This additional content is by design—and, in a way, necessity. You should know also, that the decision to increase our page content is one we are thrilled to make.

Quite simply, your enthusiastic response to our July/August summer issue was so overwhelmingly supportive, we figured the best way to publish as many timely reader submissions as possible, is to increase our “Your Troubadour” section from two pages to six pages on a permanent basis. This allows us to showcase more of your original poetry and continue to welcome new contributors. In fact, this month we introduce you to several poets new to our pages, in addition to welcoming back Rose Kowaliw who is becoming a “regular” of sorts with her haiku-like styling.

After all, the Troubadour remains a product compiled by, for, and about the people of NH. Wonderful folks like Ellen Edgerly, (“Troubadour Trumpets”, pg. 23), a dedicated volunteer whose lifelong devotion to her own daughter has led her to organize a network offering much needed support to caregivers statewide. Ellen’s tireless and selfless efforts are exactly what make communities throughout our state so special.

So, as we strive to share stories that motivate you to better yourself, your community, and the lives of those less fortunate, we ask of you one favor. If you know of someone doing something wonderful in your town, an unsung hero helping others, tell us about that person so we can spread the word through this magazine. And, please keep sending us your original ideas, anecdotes, poems, or whatever else strikes your fancy. Because if we have to add even more pages to our magazine, that wouldn’t be the worst thing that could happen!