Publisher’s Note
Hello 2026! With a new year brings hope. Hope for the new year elevates feelings we experience when we foresee a path to a better future. At the moment, with rising health care costs looming, many are feeling hopeless. For those concerned, feeling frustrated, or feeling hopeless, we wish you good health and the strength to cope.
Enhancing Education With The Arts
The arts play a pivotal role in education. Involvement in the arts supports a student’s social and emotional learning and empowers them to succeed inside school and out. Not only do arts programs motivate children to come to school, but they also help reduce stress, sharpen communication, and fuel social and emotional development. We are fortunate to have a wealth of arts education programs across all art forms that allow our students to not only learn how to express themselves in the classroom but support their future career growth (see page 32).
35 Years of Art Ventures
The 11th annual Ann McDonald Baker Award, was just presented to Kathy Stark, as the Art Ventures program celebrates its 35th anniversary at The Community Foundation. Art Ventures grew out of a matching grants challenge from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1989 and has grown into a significant endowment that provides grants to arts and cultural organizations and local artists in alternating years. To date, more than $1.6 million has been granted to 260 individual artists and 150 organizations. It is still highly unique, as it was when it was founded as one of the few initiatives in the nation that offers grants to both organizations and artists (page 22).
Gold Star Restaurants
Our annual list of top-notch, locally owned eateries that are favorites of Arbus staff, friends, and readers. Our list is based on more than the quality of food—it is also service, consistency, atmosphere, hospitality, and value. Places that make you smile with their sense of community, indefatigable restauranteurs, and excellent food. All are worth visiting for an exceptional meal and a unique regional experience (page 64).
Put a little spring in your step and enjoy putting a little culture and fun in your life. There is art around every corner.
Cinda Sherman, Publisher
