January is a difficult month for most businesses, and especially difficult for retailers and restaurants.

Christmas, in every sense of the word, is over.

In the best of times a new year all too often begins, not with a bang but a whimper, punctuated by taxes, bad weather, people on diets, and the sad remains of businesses that couldn't make it for another year.

Here in Middleburg we are blessed with an economy that, in comparison to our friends in places like Danville or Martinsville, Virginia, is, if not the best, at least sound enough for many of us to look forward to the new year with hope.

We are also blessed with a business community and Town Government that not only works together, but works well to improve the Town, improve the businesses active here, and make both as attractive as possible to our neighbors, friends, and customers.

A lynch pin in those efforts has been the Middleburg Business Association.

Never content to rest on its laurels (and there are many), the Association is constantly in search of new and better ideas and the people necessary to make those ideas a reality.

The Association is now in the midst of a drive for new members. If you're in business in or around Middleburg and are not already a member, you should join.

It's not only good business, it's great fun, and a chance to meet and work with an extraordinary group of people.

To join contact: Punkin Lee at 540-687-5888