Step into September knowing that cooler breezes will soon be causing the delightful rustling of colorful leaves on our trees, and that there is much else to look forward to. For proof, check out our Events Calendar on pages 6-10 for fun activities close to home! This month brings us Labor Day (9/7), Grandparent's Day (9/13), Rosh Hashanah (9/12-13), Yom Kippur (9/21), and the first day of fall (9/22).

We will also observe the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. As we remember all who were lost on that tragic day, be sure to read this month's feature story on pages 21-23, which shares a conversation with two local fire chiefs about how the attacks affected firefighters in our community on 9/11/2001 — as well as how it changed this public safety sector going forward.

Speaking of change, as the old saying goes, "nothing is constant but change," but that doesn't mean it's easy. For example, I have been trying for years to drink more water because I know it's good for me — a seemingly easy adjustment. Yet, as I type this, my beloved Fresca is sitting on my desk. Growing up, there was always a pitcher of sweet tea in the fridge, and there were no easily accessible internet articles telling parents that kids should drink more water, so my parents never made a stink about it. "Old habits die hard" — there's another old saying for ya.

Perhaps we should heed this old Chinese proverb instead: "When the winds of change blow, some people build walls and others build windmills." Regardless of how difficult or uncomfortable it is to depart from the familiar, change is often necessary for growth and improvement, so we should try to embrace it for the opportunity that it is.

Have a spectacular September!