It’s time to celebrate! Our Newtown Edgmont Friends & Neighbors magazine is turning THREE this month, thanks to our dedicated Publisher, Bob Blaisse, whose vision of Bringing People Together in our hometown is now 36 issues strong! But this milestone is more than just numbers—it’s a celebration of Bringing People Together. From our inaugural issue in October 2022 to becoming a cherished hometown publication, we’ve become a vital source of inspiration and valuable information for our readers.
We take great pride in spotlighting local families, individuals, entrepreneurs, authors and volunteers. We love to hear from you about how much you enjoy our cover stories and features. We enjoy sharing them with you as much as you love reading them. Every month, you’ll also find local events and the latest news on what’s happening around Newtown Edgmont.
Some families travel the globe, while others love the Jersey shore. Over the years, we have featured residents who are making a difference in the world, as well as those who volunteer their time to support our local youth programs. And for those of us who grew up here, it’s a treat to learn about families who choose to move to Newtown Edgmont because they’ve heard it’s a great place to live!
Since the very first issue was mailed to homes in 2022, we’ve consistently highlighted the unsung heroes of the community—those who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make our town a better place to live. From educators to first responders, these families and individuals remind us of the importance of community and shared responsibility. (See all 36 past issues at TheNEMag.com.)
One particular memorable and meaningful issue featured an article honoring the life and service of Private First Class Clifford Douglas Murray, Jr., the only soldier from our area to die during the D-Day invasion in Normandy. Connecting with his family, telling his story and recounting what our brave soldiers endured was a great honor for me and my co-author, Doug Humes.
To further honor his service, a flag-raising ceremony was held the following month at the Veterans Memorial in Newtown Square. Clifford’s great-niece, Karen Short, was in attendance along with her sister, Debbie Peters, Debbie’s husband, retired USMC Captain, Chris Peters and Debbie’s son, Sean Thistelwood. “This has been such an amazing experience,” Karen said. “To see my great-uncle’s flag flying high and to have his service and sacrifice recognized means everything to us.”
In June 2023, we turned our attention to the Edgmont Township Fire Company No.1, which has a proud tradition of volunteer fire service dating back over 80 years. Our community has grown substantially over the years, and our residents know that when there is a call for help, they can always rely on the fire company’s highly trained team of firefighters and fire police to respond quickly. We were excited to honor our hometown heroes dedicated to protecting our community that year as our annual recipient of the Newtown Edgmont Friends & Neighbors of The Year!
There are often times along the way when we are asked how we find and select our Resident Feature and Community Feature stories. That’s a question that doesn’t have a standard answer because each feature is unique. What we can tell you is that many times, the recommendations come from you, our valued readers of Newtown Edgmont Friends & Neighbors.
So, what is involved in being featured on the cover of our magazine? Great question! The process, from start to finish, is relatively simple. Being a monthly publication, we work under tight deadlines, so once a family, individual or organization is chosen, they are contacted by the Content Coordinator who sends an email with preliminary interview questions. Next, our Contributing Photographer makes the call to set up a complimentary photo shoot at a mutually agreed-upon location. Our photo shoots often focus on highlighting some of the best spots in our community, like local parks, churches and historic landmarks.
The Content Coordinator then begins writing the story and often follows up with a phone call or an in-person meeting to gather more details. A draft is written and reviewed by the featured family, individual or group. After a round or two of edits, the article is submitted to our Designer. That’s it! It’s simple and easy, and most of all, it’s a fun and memorable experience!
One of the greatest rewards of seeing these stories about our neighbors in print and online at TheNEMag.com is the feedback we get from our readers. Whether it’s a social media comment or an in-person compliment, these interactions remind us that our work has an impact.
We would be remiss if we didn’t give credit where credit is due. Our free monthly publication is made possible only by the funding from our advertising Sponsors, whose decision to advertise in our hometown magazine reveals just how vital Newtown Edgmont residents are to the success of that business. We rightfully show our gratitude to our Sponsors by showing our loyalty to them and choosing to do business with them first.
So, what lies ahead for our hometown magazine? As we enter our fourth year of Bringing People Together, we look forward to sharing more of your stories. Please continue to submit your nominations. On behalf of our entire team, thank you for your kind words, appreciation and support of our Newtown Edgmont Friends & Neighbors magazine.