In a world brimming with reasons to be grateful, we're ecstatic to revive our beloved "Smiles Around the Neighborhood" article!  On a Friday afternoon in mid-March, we had plenty of reasons to beam with joy.

Personally, I find so much fulfillment in connecting people—I feel it's both my passion and my gift rolled into one. Reason number one to smile? Stroll Ledgeview recently joined forces in partnership with Take Action Realty Group. As we brainstormed ideas for an upcoming Strollin' the Streets event, we decided to meet up to finalize our plans. And where better to convene on a Friday afternoon you ask?  Of course lets support local, and we headed to Cocoon Brewing!

Reason number two to smile? Picture this: beer, delectable food, and cherished company—all nestled in to our favorite neighborhood brewery. Cocoon Brewing isn't just an incredible hangout spot; it's also a way to support community and is owned by our friend and Stroll Ledgeview neighbor, Matt Walters.  We absolutely love this addition to the neighborhood!

Now, onto reason number three to smile: forging connections between businesses and locals! We were thrilled to introduce our partners at Take Action Realty to the folks at Cocoon. Little did we know, one of Take Action's agents, Kevin Barry, also owns a party bus company, Own the Night. After a quick introduction to Brett Schaetz, Operations Manager/Coordinator at Cocoon, it became clear that the Brewery might just have a use for Kevin's services in the future. It's incredible how our neighborhood circles intertwine!

And reason number four? Well, what's a great lunch without a sweet treat?  Prior to our lunch meeting, I stopped by our friends at Uncle Mike's Bake Shop, owned by yet another Ledgeview neighbor. I brought my personal favorite, the NYT Chocolate Chip Cookies and as luck would have it, some of their goodies perfectly complement a few of Cocoon Brewery's menu items!  I couldn't have planned that better if I tried!

After our delightful lunch, we hopped aboard the party bus and set off through the Ledgeview neighborhood. Along the way, we surprised a few lucky neighbors with sweet treats and even gifted a few select residents with spa services at Weiler Academy, another valued Stroll Ledgeview Partner.  It was a a small token of appreciation from me for being such valued supporters of the magazine!

Our impromptu tour didn't stop there. We peeked into some homes listed for sale, tidied up the streets a bit along the way, and even took a spontaneous "stroll" with some kids home on spring break. To the parents who entrusted us with their children for a special party bus birthday ride, we extend our heartfelt thanks to you for humoring us!

If you find it challenging to connect the dots, trust us, we do too sometimes. But there's nothing quite like the joy of bringing people together. I'm dedicated to serving the residents of Ledgeview and fostering connections among our business partners as well—all with a smile on my face. After all, spreading happiness is what makes our neighborhood truly shine.

We are thrilled to welcome back our Smiles Around the Neighborhood page sponsored by our newest partner Lakeland Lawn Care!  If you would like to nominate a story idea and a reason to smile, reach out to Brittany at strollledgeviewcontent@n2co.com