LOCALadk Magazine

Rhiannon Happy Summer, Editor rhiannon@localadk.com LOCALadk 6 A M E S S A G E F R O M R H I A N N O N LOCALadk Since my days as a five-year-old Mighty Kicker with grass- stained knees and allergies to the daisies I longed to pick during matches, I have held an affection for soccer (ahem…I mean, football). This summer, I have found myself more tak- en by the World Cup than usual. It hasn't been the incredible matches and unlikely victories that have captured my atten- tion (although they certainly have). It has been what can only be described as the love-affair forming between the visiting fans and their host cities, the sense of family forming be- tween fans from opposing countries. Whether it be Scotland's Tartan Army seemingly taking over Boston with joyous fanfare — much to Boston's delight, South Koreans and Mexicans dancing together in the streets, the Norwegian "ro" appearing ever ywhere from the pitch to the subway to the escalators in local malls, a sole Congolese singing his national anthem with pride and promptly being swarmed with love and support from a sea of surround- ing Colombian fans, or Brazilians consoling Japanese fans mourning the elimination of their team, one thing has been abundantly clear: human beings, while complex, are a com- munal species at their core. While our uniforms, flags, chants, and languages antici- pate rivalr y, these past weeks have invited recognition. They have invited the reminder that there is far more that unites us than divides us. I hold a deep appreciation for such experiences which dis- solve distance, whether it be sports, music, art, or nature. Living in the Adirondacks holds an abundance of these mo- ments and more, bringing in people from all over the world — some to visit and some to weave themselves into the tap- estr y of our communities. And we are richer for it. We at LOC ALadk are honored to continue bringing local stories which allow our readers to dissolve distances, to feel united in the quiet pull towards this region and towards one another — something we hope to do for many years to come. We thank you for your readership and for playing a part in this vibrant community. As always, we encourage you to sup- port the wonderful and talented local business throughout the Adirondacks whenever possible. It is through their con- tinued support that we are able to bring LOC ALadk to you and yours as a free publication. We also ask you to consider reading and contributing to our GoFundMe fundraiser to support the future of our magazine. Visit www.gofundme.com/f/localadk or scan our QR code be- low for details. We thank you — truly — for your support.

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