It’s springtime and Statesboro is dressed in flowers: azaleas, dogwoods, hyacinths, jonquils, tulips, and daffodils color the landscape with beautiful shades from pastels to deep purples. The weather is pleasant and the calendar filled with special occasions and holidays to enjoy. In this special issue of Statesboro Magazine, we’re featuring several ladies who have inspired us by their indomitable spirits and their outstanding accomplishments. They are our Inspiring Women.

We’re grateful to these inspiring women and the contributions they make to our community. Statesboro is a wonderful place because of the many dedicated ladies who have chosen to work and serve here. Fortunately for us their stories make every day seem warm and sunny. Read their exciting stories from the March/April 2013 issue here!

What are the distinct details that will make your wedding day memorable? Let Statesboro Weddings by Statesboro Magazine help you plan for your special day. Inside this exciting annual issue, choose from the area’s best bridal sources for gowns, jewelry, flowers, venues, caterers, entertainment, and more. Our much sought after wedding magazine, launched in early spring each year, showcases the area’s most romantic settings and offers the latest in design and fashion ideas. Check-out our Bridal Resource Guide for a listing of websites and other handy contact information on local wedding vendors. If you are getting married in 2013, send a sampling of wedding photos to brides@statesboromagazine.com, and you may be chosen as a featured bride for our 2014 edition! Check out the Statesboro Weddings 2013 issue now!

One of the things we love about Statesboro is, it’s still the kind of town where you bump into people you know. At the post office, at the grocery store, at the movie theater, out shopping, at city hall – it is comforting to live in a community where friendly faces, hugs, and handshakes abound! We’re highlighting this spirit of fellowship in our feature, A Certain Synergy. We profile 10 local economic developers and their efforts to work together to make Statesboro’s future bright. Help us Make His Day! Join us in celebrating with Bubba Hunt, Statesboro Bulloch County Chamber of Commerce’s 2012 Entrepreneur of the Year. Bubba’s a real idea man who takes marketing to a whole new level. We also talk to Dr. Lissa Leege Director of the GSU Center for Sustainability, who shows us how easy it is to Go Green! Happy New Year hugs to all of our readers and best wishes for a prosperous and affectionate 2013. Check out the January/February 2013 issue now!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! And the holiday season starts with Statesboro Magazine’s first Holiday Gift Guide. We’ve chosen the best items locally available to showcase for our readers looking to find the most meaningful gifts for loved ones. You’ll find the gift guide beginning on page 35 of this issue. We also celebrate the holidays with three aspects of the season and stories to illustrate each. Hospitality in the Hall! Showcases the celebration of Hanukkah with local families. Charity in the Heart! Tells the story of the area’s new breast cancer foundation and a local family working to benefit the cause. Music in the Air! Invites local ladies who sing to be a part of the new Community Women’s Chorus directed by Dr. Michael Braz. We at Statesboro Magazine wish for you a blessed holiday season from our family to yours. For “When loved ones are near – It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” Check out the November/December 2012 issue now!

The 2012 Georgia Literary Festival will be held November 9 and 10 at the Jekyll Island Convention Center, with select events hosted at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel. Admission to most festival events is free. In conjunction with the festival, the Jekyll Island Club Hotel is offering a guest package, which includes two nights of accommodations, a wine dinner Saturday featuring a menu by Chef Hugh Acheson, tickets to the “Tea with Ms. Daisy” event Friday, as well as breakfast both mornings.

For more information on Jekyll Island Club Hotel packages and for a complete Festival schedule, visit www.jekyllclub.com. For more information about the Festival and featured authors, visit www.georgiacenterforthebook.org.

This is our largest issue ever! Over 108 pages of everything great about Statesboro. Meet six authors at the Write Place festival on Nov. 1 – 3, 2012. Jurijs Safonovs is Lord of the Dance at the Averitt Center. A Russian trained Principal dancer, Jurijs is set to produce the next generation of prima ballerinas for our area. Catch up with local movie star Bubba Lewis as he discusses his role on MTV’s the Inbetweeners. Get to know Dr. Marc Bisseck, the first plastic surgeon to call Statesboro home. We also have two fabulous inserts: Visit Statesboro! A local guide to all the happenings in and around the Boro! And, EGRMC’s Physicians Guide – the definitive healthcare directory. Check out the September/October 2012 issue now!

Inside this issue, we showcase local musician, Chris Mitchell and the launch of his American Brand, an update on Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Christopher J.W.B. Leggett, Bulloch Council on Garden Clubs, the Board of Education FOCUS and much more! Check out the July/August 2012 issue now!

Janisse Ray, award winning NY Times bestselling author, farmer and Southerner shares about sustainability and life on Red Earth Farm near Reidsville. She will be our headlining author at this year’s The Write Place festival in November. Meet Dr. Brian Walton, general surgeon and fixer. Bang! Bang! 40 4-hers shoot sheet for competition! Check out this and other stories in the May/June 2012 issue now!

Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Annie hits the Emma Kelly Theater with two bright stars sharing the leading role! Another bright star of Bulloch County is Sgt. B.W. Shelnutt who was the first to fly in WWII & the first casualty. The story of his bravery is now a local legend. We say “So long” to a Statesboro & GSU institution that provided good food & good times for 40 years. We loved you Snooky’s! Check out this and other stories in the March/April 2012 issue now!

On their honor! Read the history of scouting in Bulloch County. Discover curvy fashionista Anslee Connell, whose designs have been showcased during fashion week in NYC! She’s a local girl who’s making it big in fashion! Our own Dr. John Waters at First Baptist Church is now president of the Georgia Baptist Convention. Check out this and other stories in the January/February 2012 issue now!