Publisher’s Perspective – July 2026

A Birthday Wish!

I’ve never been one of those people who makes a big fuss over birthdays. In fact, if you know me at all, you know my favorite part of gift-giving is doing the giving, not the receiving.

I absolutely love surprising people with thoughtful gifts throughout the year. Truthfully, I’m not great at remembering birthdays, and I’ve never liked buying something simply because the calendar says I should. I’d much rather stumble upon the perfect gift and give it “just because.”

So imagine my surprise when my daughter decided to turn the tables on me this year!

At the July Girls’ Night Out event in Winston-Salem, she’s planning a birthday celebration for me and my dear friend, Robin Bralley. Our birthdays are July 15th and 16th, and we couldn’t be more excited. The best part? The celebration will benefit one of our favorite nonprofits, Second Harvest Food Bank.

For years, we’ve had the privilege of working alongside the incredible team at Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC. They aren’t just community partners—they’ve become family. We’ve seen firsthand the impact they make every single day, and we’re honored to support their mission.

Many years ago, we made the decision to focus on collecting monetary donations rather than canned food drives. While every donation is appreciated, we learned that food banks can stretch donated dollars much further than most of us can at the grocery store. Through their purchasing power, partnerships, and buying programs, just $1 can provide up to 6 meals for neighbors facing food insecurity.

When I was asked what I’d like for my birthday, the answer came easily: donations to Second Harvest Food Bank.

So this year, instead of gifts, I’m setting a simple birthday goal of $500. If we reach that goal, together we could help provide up to 3,000 meals for children, seniors, and families in our community. Think about that for a moment—if just 100 people donated $5, we could make an incredible difference this summer.

No gift could mean more to me than knowing we’ve helped feed our neighbors and strengthened our community together.

You’ll find a QR code below if you’d like to join me in celebrating another trip around the sun by helping provide meals for local families in need.

Speaking of celebrations, I’m especially excited about this month’s cover story featuring Aquaventure Boat Club. Owner Dustin Keith was one of the advertisers who believed in LKN Magazine near the very beginning of this journey. When you’re building a dream from the ground up, you’ll never forget the people who take a chance on you, and I’m forever grateful that he did.

Over the years, Dustin has become not only a valued advertising partner, but also a friend. He and his family are some of the kindest people you’ll meet, and everything they do is truly first class. Whether you’re interested in jet skis, paddleboards, pontoon boats, wake boats, or simply making more memories on the water without the hassle of ownership, Aquaventure has something for everyone.

Be sure to check out their story beginning on page 28.

As always, our team has packed this issue with stories, local businesses, community events, and inspiration from around Lake Norman. I truly believe there’s something for everyone in these pages.

Thank you for allowing us into your homes, businesses, and lives each month. Your support means more than you know.

See you around the lake!

Keela

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Keela Johnson

Hello! I’m Keela Johnson, the founder and publisher of Forsyth Magazines, a family of three publications that began in 2005 in Forsyth County, NC. After living in Clemmons for 30 years, I "retired" to Lake Norman and discovered a vibrant, active community filled with friendly people and new hobbies like paddle boarding, walking, and gardening. But with publishing in my blood, I quickly recognized an exciting opportunity to engage further with the wonderful Lake Norman community. Now, as the publisher of LKN Magazine, I’m thrilled to be part of a growing platform that celebrates the Lake Norman area. My daughter, Brooke Eagle, now co-owner and publisher, has been instrumental in helping take our family of magazines to new heights, and together, we’re continuing to share stories and promote local businesses in meaningful ways. At the heart of everything we do is the belief in the power of community. We’re passionate about creating a platform where local businesses can grow organically and meaningfully, and we’re excited to bring that same vision to the Lake Norman market. LKN Magazine proudly serves Catawba, Iredell, Lincoln, and Mecklenburg counties, from Statesville to North Charlotte. In addition to print and online advertising, LKN Magazine offers a comprehensive range of services to help tell your story—including editorial features, social media promotion, and a monthly newsletter. You can subscribe to our newsletter at lkn-magazine.com to stay connected with all that’s happening around the Lake Norman community. We’re so grateful to be part of such dynamic communities in Forsyth and Lake Norman, and I’m honored to continue this journey with you. Let’s keep sharing stories, supporting local businesses, and building something meaningful together. Here’s to many more years of growth, connection, and celebration!

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