February’s a big month for us at the News-Herald. It’s when we publish our annual “Horizons” edition.

Beginning this Sunday, we will publish one or more special sections of the News-Herald each Sunday in February focusing on various aspects of our community, ranging from healthcare (the first section) to Business & Commerce and Volunteering, culminating in our annual Citizen of the Year section on the last Sunday of the month.

Horizons is such a big project for our small staff that we get started working on it in October. Planning of content actually begins some time before that, October is just when assignments are made and work starts.

While my focus is mainly on the news product, the advertising and composing staffs do a tremendous job on Horizons, making it possible for the news department to produce Horizons.

Earl Jones, Sue Barns and Bonnie Gwaltney sell enough advertising for Horizons that it’s like having a 13th month of the year from a revenue standpoint. I mention this because they rarely get any recognition (though I’m sure they are happy with just getting the commission checks) for the quality work they do and I want them to know how much I appreciate it.

But Horizons is about more than just our staff. It takes the cooperation of the entire community to make a successful project n from advertisers who support the effort to readers who tip us off to good stories and people who cooperate by being the subjects of stories. Thanks to all of you and I hope you enjoy Horizons. Watch for it every Sunday this month.