Spoiler Alert: It’s Because of YOU!

I ❤️ Buckeye because people - YOU - are different here: generous, kind, supportive and welcoming to new people and new ideas! Which is why it should not have surprised me when I received such overwhelming support about the launch of this publication.

I was bawling my eyes out at my desk with the love you sent me in messages, posts and emails. It just confirmed why I wanted to do this in the first place!

After the launch, people started asking the same questions so - since this week’s feature “Spotlight Story” fell through - I thought I’d take this opportunity to share about that now.

Because I cannot tell a short story, I will share in parts… This is Part 1!

The Story Behind “The Buckeye Buzz”

Quite simply, The Buckeye Buzz was born out of necessity.

In July, I missed events at Heritage Pool TWICE - finding out about both in my FaceBook Feed days after they had already happened. This frustrated me; I missed out on supporting a local small business and that small business missed out on my support.

I consider myself a solution finder, so I set out to solve that problem.

An Accidental Discovery

It just so happened that the day after I I found out I missed the second event, I heard a podcast about someone in Maryland who started a local community newsletter. I started mulling over the idea and started getting excited - this seemed like the perfect way to connect the community to events and businesses and vice versa!

So I Started Writing

Even though the experience and skills I have both personally and professionally line up perfectly with all that’s required to put this together, I wasn’t sure I could actually “do this.” I have a difficult time believing in myself (working on that!) and I am also a private - but very open - person (over-sharers unite!; I’m working on that too!). I’m shocked to be even typing this now, knowing that people are going to read it. 🫣 

Facing My Fears

I had to fight a lot of negative voices in my head. The day I hit send on the first issue, my hands were shaking so bad I could hardly work the keyboard. But, I love this community so much and I knew this could help a lot of people in a lot of different ways.

The Close of One Chapter…

Shortly after I started putting the framework for this together, my best friend, Bamboo, started nearing the end of his life. If you’re a dog owner and have been through this before, you know that taking care of them at the end becomes a 24/7 job. I stopped writing and focused all my love and attention on him.

On August 10, 2024, he crossed to the Rainbow Bridge - at 16.5 years old - with the help of Katherine at K.C. In Home Pet Euthenasia. As I’ve written before, she made that whole experience so much easier on all of us.

Bamboo’s departure meant the closing of a long chapter in my life and I wasn’t sure what I was going to do without him by my side.

Leads to the Opening of Another…

On Monday, August 12, 2024, I sat back down at my desk and got back to compiling event information, excited to have something to distract me from the quiet of my house and the hole in my heart the shape of Bamboo.

This is the first time in my adult life I have been without an animal companion and I wasn’t sure how I would handle it. Luckily, I have a few dogs I dog-sit periodically and their visits have been so good for my soul.

From My Heart to Yours

Mainly, I want everyone to know how much I love Buckeye! This town and the people in it, have healed my heart (more on that later). It is my main objective to connect us, spread love and happiness, and help make everyone’s life easier (and more fun)! With all the growth happening, I intend to do everything I can to keep the ❤️ in Buckeye!

To Be Continued…

🔎 Know of an inspiring local person or business we should feature? Please email me at [email protected]