Editor's Note
Sweet Sixteen!
By Jillian Melnyk, Editor 
Sweet sixteen: that label carries a lot of connotations these days. You may be thinking of the MTV program or fondly remembering your own celebration where you may have been clad in bellbottoms, spandex, or flannel. For us here at Genesee Valley Parent Magazine it means another great year gone by. We've been publishing now for sixteen full years — wow!
A lot has changed in that time. For starters, I remember what "computers" were like in those days (yes, I put that in quotes because compared to what today's magic machines can do, those old computers just don't stack up). And the internet? I remember playing an online version of Mad Libs on Prodigy and thinking it was the greatest thing in the world. And now look at us; this January we launched our all-new web site that is even more family friendly than before! We're on Twitter. We're on Facebook. We're digitally connected. I would have thought I stepped into a Twilight Zone episode if you told me about these things back in 1994.
This February there is a lot to celebrate. In honor of that sprit, we bring you our Annual Party & Celebration Guide. Plus, this February also features the Winter Olympics – check out Jon Buzby's article in our "Family Time" department; it's packed with ideas for you to enjoy the games with your family. If you're starting to feel a bit of cabin fever setting in (and by this point in the winter, who isn't?), then check out our calendar, which is packed with family-friendly exhibits, events, and more to get you out of the house and having fun.
I know it's hard to plan for the summer when it looks like the dead of winter outside, but it's always best to be thinking early. Don't miss our 16th Annual Summer Camp & Activity Fair at Eastview Mall on Sunday, March 10th. I've also added a handy chart of some of our upcoming features for each month this year so you can be sure not to miss the issues that matter to you most!
Jillian
This column appeared originally in the February 2010 issue of Genesee Valley Parent Magazine.