We’ve got three big (and related) developments to share in this issue. So getting right to it, here they are:

1. Best Of voting is on now! For the first time, we’ve moved voting in our annual Best of the Chippewa Valley Reader Poll to more toward the end of the year – now through Dec. 13 – so it better lines up with the yearly calendar (results come out  Feb. 6). Visit VolumeOne.org/bestof to add your votes to the mix. We’ve added a couple of dozen categories we’ve never had before, but the biggest news is we’re going to throw a huge party to celebrate all those great things about the Valley that thousands of you vote on every year (more about that below!).

2. Concurrent with voting for the Best Of we announce nominations for Volume One’s new Chippewa Valley Vanguard Awards, which will recognize up to five individuals from a broad spectrum of interests and industries who lead the way in pushing our communities forward. Now through Dec. 13 you may nominate these kinds of thinkers and doers at VolumeOne.org/vanguards. More info on the Vanguards can be found on page 8.

3. Finally, combining both the Best of the Chippewa Valley and the new Vanguard Awards, Volume One is hosting an exciting new event called The Best Night, held at the Lismore Hotel on Friday, Feb 9. Think of it like the area’s best and brightest cocktail party: a highly interactive, dynamic, and celebratory evening of food, drinks, music, art, and camaraderie. We’ll be pulling out all the stops, forging some killer collaborations, and raising money for a great community cause. Get it on your calendar now and watch for more details and tickets in the coming weeks.