SALISBURY — The October issue of Salisbury the Magazine, a publication of the Salisbury Post, has reached subscribers and is available in locations throughout Rowan County.

This 38th edition also can be picked up at the Post, 131 W. Innes St.

The cover features artist Sharon Forthofer, a member of Plein Air Carolina, painting a scene at Hurley Park. The issue includes a story on the plein air artists, who meet every Friday at locations throughout Rowan County to paint outdoors.

Elsewhere, contributing writer Maggie Blackwell teams with Photography Director Jon C. Lakey for a piece on the young husband-wife team of Josh and Lara Musser Gritter, who are serving as senior co-pastors at First Presbyterian Church.

As a way of getting readers ready for OctoberTour on Oct. 12-13, contributing writer Elizabeth Cook and Lakey offer stories about two homes on the tour.

Featured are Kathy and Jerry Short’s Slater-Miller-Martin House on West Fisher Street and Rachel and Ken Davis’ Rufus G. Hunt House on South Ellis Street.

Contributing writer Susan Shinn Turner provides readers five things they should know about China Grove in a new department called “The Big Five.”

On the Food pages, Darrell Blackwelder gives an account of his and friend Mike Jacobsen’s personal tour of 30 breakfast spots in Rowan County. They called their endeavor the Rowan Breakfast Challenge.

The October edition also visits with well-known local singer Rebecca Stinson, who recently has written a memoir focusing on her childhood growing up in China Grove’s Westside community.

Deirdre Parker Smith provides some reading recommendations in Bookish. Richard Reinholz, executive director of the J.F. Hurley Family YMCA, is the subject of the Rowan Original Q&A.

Also look for a Through the Lens photo by Lakey, a Salisbury’s the Place art contribution from Connie Eads, an October calendar, and Scene photos from a Bell Tower Green gathering, a reception at Mount Zion United Church of Christ, History on Tap, the Utzman-Chambers House’s 200th anniversary, the 2019 induction ceremony for the Salisbury-Rowan Sports Hall of Fame, the Dragon Boat Festival and a celebration for the Rowan County Little League Softball World Champions.

Salisbury the Magazine publishes nine times a year. To advertise or subscribe, visit the Post, call 704-797-POST or go to www.SalisburyThe Magazine.com.

— Mark Wineka