It's been a tough year for the town of Blacksburg. These past months were especially trying as we searched for some sense of closure in more than one community tragedy. We looked on as Will Morva received the death penalty for his crimes. One full trip around the sun from April 16, 2007, and we lit candles once again and looked on as the unblinking eye of the media descended upon our town. As has been said, we prevail. Perhaps this simply means that we deal with the aftermath. We stay busy. We pick up the pieces. We persevere. We grieve. We remember. We question. We continue.

I think this issue reflects that. It was significant for us to release this magazine on April 17. It's the day after the anniversary of our town's biggest crisis, and we strove to attain a balance between looking back and looking ahead.

The staff discussed the cover at length. Flowers growing from spent shell casings is a striking image, one that Dave and Christina had planned well over a year ago, before the tragedy even happened. It is a profound image that neutralizes violence with a basic symbol of beauty and renewal, the flower.

It is the Spring, a beautiful time to be in Blacksburg. The days are warming, and a feeling of rebirth comes with the sunshine and the longer days. The time of blooms and bird-sounds and the end of the semester is enlivening.

And putting together this issue, our 7th and longest at 32 pages, has revived me. It has also helped me to heal. The 16 Blocks team has continued to grow and develop the magazine and I could not be more proud of this collective endeavor of ours.

I praise all of our writers, photographers, illustrators, designers, and event-organizers for their exceptional and inspiring work. Thanks especially to all of our sources and readers for allowing us into their lives.

Sincerely,

Hart Fowler

Editor-in-chief