Jan 20, 2020 3 min read

I’ve never been one for resolutions. Any big goals I set in a fit of inspiration while waiting for the bedazzled ball to drop are swiftly abandoned come February.

I’m more the type to set longterm, achievable intentions. Or, I at least attempt to do so. My success varies. My primary aspiration for 2019 was to read a book a month. To some that devour upwards of 100 novels annually, that might sound pretty meager. But I was originating from a literal handful, so a dozen felt doable.

I almost doubled that amount, reading a majority of books from female authors and more nonfiction than I would have ever thought to select had I been leisurely perusing the shelves at the library every other month.

Coming off that success, I knew what my focus in 2020 needed to be: wellness.

I’m staring at my wedding date, clear as day: 10/10/2020. And here I sit, the heaviest I’ve ever weighed. A sedentary desk job will do that to you. I’m not out of the field reporting as much anymore, so I’m not on my feet that often.

The last thing I want to do when I walk down the aisle is to worry about flab and chin. So I’m currently embarking on the Observer-Reporter’s Biggest Winner challenge.

The ninth annual competition will once again feature a team of Observer-Reporter readers and employees, including me. I signed up, not fully realizing what the seven-week boot camp style training regimen would entail. I just knew I wanted to feel a little more confident before I squeezed my lumps and bumps into an ivory lacy taffeta tulle sparkling something or other. If you’re interested in the progress in our team, look for those stories in the Observer-Reporter throughout the endeavor.

I don’t have a set number in mind. I want to achieve confidence. Many people like to keep health and wellness in mind when making their resolutions. I hope you find confidence and comfort in your 2020 goals, too.

In keeping with that theme, our cover story revolves around our own Katie Anderson’s favorite form of keeping active: skating. I knew asking her to write about the Rostraver Ice Garden would be no problem. Observant readers might remember Anderson also covered Donora’s Valley Skating Center last year for this publication.

This community staple has been central to many significant events, even weddings and engagements, and parents still enjoy taking their little ones there for their first forrays on the ice.

We also have a story from Karen Mansfield about the Chess Street Seed Shop, a micro-nursery in Monongahela that rare seeds and uncommon plants.

“A lot of seeds have a story behind them, which is cool,” the owner told Mansfield. She has seeds from Florida, Australia, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Iran and North Korea. Read her story to learn more.

Happy New Year to you and all you hold dear. I hope your 2020 is more amazing than you could have imagined.

Cheers,