As a type 1 diabetic, this story in the November issue of November 2011 issue of Maple Grove Magazine hit close to home for me. I wanted this editor's letter and story combo to raise awareness for type 1 diabetes by telling the story of local teenagers living with this autoimmune disease, while also covering the important role the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) plays locally and nationally.

This feature in the July 2011 issue of Maple Grove Magazine highlights the many innovative steps the city took towards sustainability, including those taken by The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes, Maple Grove Hospital, Great River Energy and Allied Waste.

This story in the July 2010 issue of Maple Grove Magazine chronicles my experience as a rookie triathlete in training and provides tips I learned from local experts. I also had a Dared to Tri blog on Maple Grove Magazine's website that thoroughly detailed the process. This story and blog series helped promote the first ever Maple Grove Triathlon, which is still a popular annual fundraising event in Maple Grove.

The March 2010 issue of Maple Grove Magazine featured my story about Jim Reynolds, who died one year earlier of a brain aneurysm. Reynolds, a well known community ambassador and philanthropist in Maple Grove, lives on through the Jim Reynolds Foundation, a nonprofit created by his family and friends to give back to support research and development for brain aneurysm identification. This story highlights the foundation, as well as the impact Reynolds had on the local community.

I was granted an exclusive private tour of Maple Grove Hospital prior to its opening. This profile of the facility, published in the December 2009 issue of Maple Grove Magazine, covered all the innovative aspects that make Maple Grove Hospital unique.

Nick Kaufman was diagnosed with leukemia at age 13. This story, published in the August 2009 issue of Maple Grove Magazine, details the teenager's courageous battle.

This story I wrote for the Monticello Times was big news at the time, as all the stars aligned for Humphrey Cancer Center to be built in Monticello. Local healthcare and Monticello-Big Lake Community Hospital were part of my beat. I attended all hospital board meetings, one of which spurred this story.