I would like to take this opportunity to wish each of you a Happy New Year. I hope your 2015 is off to a good start. We here at the Town are kicking off the new year with several exciting projects including numerous capital improvements and outreach initiatives. What you can expect from us over the next year is more completed community improvement projects, new communication tools designed to promote dialogue and transparency, additional outreach and engagement programs to strengthen community relationships and increase opportunities for involvement, and you can expect to continue to receive superior public service from all our Town departments.

In this month's E-Brief you'll find more information about our increased efforts to build a sense of community by bringing people together, exchanging information, and leveraging strong partnerships to improve Mount Pleasant. Our Spotlight Section this month focuses on our Cultural Affairs and Tourism Office, which plays a key role in bringing people together to make our Town the best community in the nation. With award-winning special events, a directed creative image, and world class tourism marketing, the Cultural Affairs and Tourism Office is working hard to advance the quality of life for residents and enhance the visitor experience in Mount Pleasant. Through this office, the Culture, Arts, and Pride Commission is also integrating art appreciation, art expression, and civic pride in all facets of the community. Be sure to check out the Office Spotlight to learn more about upcoming events, art initiatives, and special projects led by our Cultural Affairs and Tourism Office.

In closing, as we prepare for the rest of 2015, I'd like to encourage you all to take on one more New Year's resolution to help make this our best year yet, and that is to be more involved in your local government. We are working hard to create additional opportunities to interact, share information, and work together to resolve our community's most pressing issues, but we cannot do this alone. We need your input and your participation to help define the future of our town. I hope you will decide to take on this resolution and I look forward to seeing you at a future outreach or engagement event.