As you read this, the Rochester area is immersed in the heart of autumn, unquestionably the most sensually stimulating of the four seasons.

Jason Maholy, Editor Community Health Magazine

The reds, yellows and oranges of dying leaves dazzle the eyes with colors not frequently seen in nature – at least not in such abundance and concentrations. The sounds of dry leaves rustling in the breeze and crackling underfoot are pleasantly striking to the ears. The earthy scents of mold and fungi, and of bonfires and burning leaves, can conjure pleasant memories of youth – of camping, walking in the woods or Trick-or-Treating. Smell is, after all, the sense most tied to memory.

So get out this fall and enjoy the outdoors before the long, cold sleep of winter descends upon you. Take a stroll in the woods and breathe in the crisp autumn air; take in an Oktoberfest and feel the year’s last warm rays of sun on your face; or just sit outside, relax and bask in Jack-o-lantern’s weather. It’s good for the mind and the soul, and if you can incorporate physical activity into your endeavors that’s a day — or maybe just a few moments — of holistic wellness.

I hope you enjoy this issue of Community Health, which is awash with stories of great things happening in the school districts of the Rochester Area School Health Plan. A community garden in Gates Chili, the creation of a memorial to lost loved ones in Honeoye Falls-Lima, and Churchville-Chili preparing to induct its first Hall of Fame class are just a few of the topics covered on the following pages — and each one is inspiring in its own way.

Be well, everyone.