There is something about May in the Mohawk Valley that feels like forward motion.
The air shifts. The days stretch longer. You start to see it everywhere. Fields coming back to life. Outdoor spaces waking up again. A calendar that begins to fill. There is an energy that builds quietly at first, then all at once.
This issue is about that momentum and the people and places that bring it to life.
Our Next Generation of Leaders feature highlights individuals who are already shaping what comes next for this region. They are building businesses, leading organizations, and reinvesting in the Mohawk Valley in ways that are visible and lasting. Their impact goes beyond titles or roles. It is felt in the strength of our communities, the opportunities they create, and the momentum they are driving forward. They are not waiting for the future. They are defining it.
We are also introducing two new features this month. MV Roots is a space dedicated to those who were born and raised in the Mohawk Valley and have gone on to do remarkable things beyond it, while still proudly calling this region home. Serving as our inaugural profile, Libby Leist embodies that idea, a Mohawk Valley native making an impact while staying deeply connected to where it all began.
You will also find our first May Musts, a curated look at ways to celebrate the season, featuring thoughtful ideas for Mother’s Day and moments worth making time for.
And of course, MV Eats returns with RoAnn Destito as we take on one of the most talked-about staples in the region, pizza, a tour that feels personal to so many across the Mohawk Valley.
At the same time, we turn to the roots of the season. In Where Beauty Took Root, we share the story of Clinton Florist owner Cathy Clarke, whose path from landscape design, including work with Ralph Lauren, to floral design reflects a deep understanding of her craft.
We also highlight our go-to greenhouses across the Mohawk Valley, the places where the season begins to take shape. It is all part of the rhythm of May, when agriculture, local businesses, and the community move forward together.
As you turn these pages, I hope you feel that sense of possibility. Because what is happening here is not accidental. It is being built every day by people who care deeply about where we live and where we are going.
And if May is any indication, the best is still ahead.
You can also continue the conversation with us on Mohawk Valley Living TV, airing Saturdays at 7:30 PM on CBS, Sundays at 7:30 AM on NBC, and 10:30 PM on FOX.
Make the most of May, I’ll see you out there,
Carrie
