the inaugural issue, no. 1

You get lost on long walks in the woods. Birds become an obsession. The change of seasons is a revelation. Growing your own food seems logical. And all of this cracks something open inside you, engendering a desire to engage with the world in a new way. A lot of artists seek refuge from the city, looking for bigger spaces and better light. But a lot of other people also move up here and discover that they, too, are artists...or at least craftsmen, or artisans...or entrepreneurs in a way they never knew before. As the pace of life continues to accelerate and urban dwelling be- comes increasingly untenable, the siren song of upstate beckons. Growing numbers are taking the leap and the result is a burgeon- ing sense of community and of possibility.

We started DV8 to cover this evolving upstate scene and to bring attention to the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit that are thriving up here. Modern rural life in the Upper Delaware Valley is still defining itself and we’re interested in documenting that. Our name derives from the scenic region we cover, including eight flourishing towns on the New York and Pennsylvania sides of the Delaware River: Callicoon, Narrowsburg, Barryville, Livingston Manor, Bethel, Roscoe, Honesdale and Milford.

If you live here, good for you. If you’re just discovering what we have to offer, welcome.

Laura Silverman, Editor in Chief