Editor
By Connie Whitlock

Have you ever caught yourself talking about a dream for years, only to realize you’ve never actually taken that leap? My songwriting partner and I wrote a song about that feeling called “Dreams in a Graveyard.” You can find it on Spotify under Honey and Wine Music. The message of that song stays with me. It reminds me to examine what I talk about doing, and ask myself why I’m not doing them.

While music is my passion and the skill I have honed since I was three, publishing has long held a special place in my heart. After stepping away from the local newspaper, I continually dreamed of launching a magazine. The newspaper was an excellent chapter, but it wasn’t quite the right container for the vision growing in me. And with a changing world, a magazine might be.

So here I am, kicking off 2025 with the launch of an online publication dedicated to the stories, people, and spirit of Pleasant Hill. I’m dipping my toes in the water to see where this adventure might lead. Two residents have already committed to writing monthly articles, and another will create a video segment covering weather and local events. I’m also thrilled to introduce our video podcast, Voices from the Hill. I would love your interview suggestions.

My time running the newspaper was a crash course in small-town publishing. The friendships I made and the community connections I forged are treasures I still carry. That experience has shaped and prepared me for this new venture in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I’m honored to have been the last to own the historical newspaper.

Now, I’m inviting others to come along for the ride. If you love Pleasant Hill and have a story to tell, an insight to share, or a creative spark to lend, this magazine is for you. Let’s not let our dreams lie dormant. Let’s bring them to life.

Welcome to a new chapter for Pleasant Hill.

(You can contact me at constancewhitlock@gmail.com)