Well, dang

Eighty-One magazine, that free monthly publication found in Harrisonburg, Staunton, Waynesboro, Augusta and Rockingham, is folding.

Well, dang!

I'm going to miss seeing the stack of mags on the shelf at Martin's and Kroger. While the writing was sometimes more left-tilting than I liked, they often had good cover stories and their "Hindsight" column was an interesting look back at soundbite happenings from the previous month. In a nutshell they reminded the reader of interesting events such as these tidbits found in the March issue's Jan. 20-Feb. 20, 2009, "Hindsight" column:

Walter Curt, a wealthy East Rockingham businessman, stepped down after six months as the Republican Party of Virginia's voluntary finance chairman. In his resignation letter, he called the party's organizational structure "dysfunctional" and said he didn't see that changing anytime soon.

... and ...

Residential property assessments averaged 27.7 percent increase over 2005 figures in Augusta County. Residents were outraged. Churchville attorney Francis Chester threatened to sue, petitions flew and Supervisor Tracy Pyles said the county needed to reassess the assessments. Land, not buildings, grabbed the bigger boost, and January sales figures reflected that the assessments were about on target. [That has been contested.] Waynesboro residents saw an average 3.7 percent increase. Staunton's assessments jumped an average of 4.3 percent.

They usually offered a front-page feature (in March it was Staunton prosecutor Ray Robertson), a calendar of events, multiple ads, dining guide of local non-chain restaurants, classifieds, and "LastWords."

The April issue will be the last, according to the link on the left sidebar that said, "April will be "eightyone's" last issue." What?

I clicked on it and there it was ... a statement from editor/publisher Deona Landes Houff:

"I am sorry to say that the April 2009 issue will be eightyone’s last. Our members, advertisers and staff have hung in there a long time, well past the point of financial feasibility. I am very grateful to have been part of such perseverance.

"I believe our country will come out of this challenging time stronger, wiser and more compassionate. Thanks so much for your years of readership and support."

Another hard copy publication bites the dust. So long, EightyOne. You will be missed.

H/T Harrisonburg News