Ten years ago, a new magazine landed in Hallsley mailboxes with a simple idea: tell the stories of the people who live here.

The first issue of Hallsley Living arrived in October 2016, introducing readers to Shannon and Joshua Underwood and their daughters, Reagan and Aylin. Their story already sounded wonderfully Hallsley — lacrosse and basketball, the High Tides, fishing at the pond, walking the trails, traveling together and keeping up with two energetic Airedales named Ozzy and Pippa. Readers were invited to nominate the next Feature Family, beginning a tradition that would continue for the next decade. 

From the start, the vision went far beyond beautiful family portraits. The original team set out to cover families, pets, resident recipes, yards and community events. The stated mission was to capture the spirit and personality of Hallsley through meaningful stories and to “build community spirit” along the way. 

One hundred twenty issues later, those stories have created something we couldn't fully appreciate back in 2016: a history of our neighborhood told through the people who call it home.

Some of the stories we've shared have reminded us just how much can be happening behind a neighbor's front door.

When the Hale family appeared in 2018, readers learned about Mailoan Hale's journey with breast cancer and remission. Cancer changed the family's perspective on everyday life, teaching them to approach each day with confidence, patience, and appreciation. Mailoan turned that experience into a way to help others, mentoring younger breast-cancer patients and participating as a Celebration of Life dancer at the Bon Secours Cancer Institute Pink Tie Gala. 

Years later, the Griffith family shared another story of resilience. Britt Griffith was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021. By the time her family's story appeared in Stroll in 2023, she was described as a proud survivor, an eternal optimist and a friend to others facing their own cancer battles. Her story also captured something special about Hallsley: the tremendous support she received from neighbors, school families and longtime friends. 

Cancer touched the community in heartbreaking ways as well.

Early in the magazine's history, we shared the story of young Hallsley resident Luke Ungerer, who died from a rare brain cancer. In just seven months after his death, his family raised more than $110,000 for childhood-cancer research. Inspired by Luke's story, neighbors Deana Roberts and Amy DeBaugh gathered neighborhood children for Lemonade for Luke. The stand raised another $1,300 for St. Baldrick's Foundation, and East West matched the contribution.

 

That spirit of giving continued. Hallsley resident Allison Casella turned her love of baking into fundraising for Cookies for Kids' Cancer, beginning with a Homearama bake sale in 2016. By 2024, a new generation of neighborhood teens came together for the cause, raising $6,626 in a matter of hours for safer pediatric cancer treatments. 

The stories changed. The instinct to help did not.

One of the best things about producing this magazine has always been discovering just how interesting the person down the street might be.

Take Lyn Whitmer.

Before readers met him as a Hallsley neighbor and family man, Lyn graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, flew helicopters, became a test pilot, and eventually served as Commanding Officer of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. After retiring from the military, he worked in aerospace and helped establish a flight academy for middle- and high-school students. 

Then there's Jackson Fooks, who may win the award for fastest Hallsley resident.

When Stroll featured him in 2025, Jackson was just 12 years old — and already a race-car driver competing in Legend Cars and kart racing. He had driven at speeds over 90 mph, won back-to-back Virginia state karting championships, held a junior kart lap-time record, and finished fourth among 27 drivers at the Charlotte Summer Shootout. He was even competing against adult drivers more than three times his age.

His goal? The NASCAR Cup Series. 

Somewhere in a future anniversary issue, we may be saying, “We knew him when.”

One of the unexpected gifts of ten years of magazines is watching children grow up on the pages.

We've introduced kindergartners discovering sports, high-school students chasing championships, college-bound seniors, young entrepreneurs and student writers finding their voices.

Competitive swimmer Camryn Curry demonstrated the extraordinary commitment required to pursue a dream. Her schedule included waking at 3:30 a.m. to train before school, then practicing more afterward. She earned honors including All-American Scholar and Athlete of the Year before heading to Arizona State University, where she planned to continue swimming.

 

Maddie Fisher took athletic ambition in another direction, competing in cycling and off-road triathlons. She and her team placed first in a National Interscholastic Cycling Association event, and she later won an Xterra off-road triathlon as she pursued her goal of becoming a professional athlete. 

And not every childhood dream involved a finish line.

At just 12, Sophia Simmons was already running Wags and Whiskers, offering dog walking, pet sitting, and homemade treats while balancing school and horseback riding. Her story reminded readers that entrepreneurship doesn't necessarily wait for adulthood. 

Our student contributors grew along with the publication, too. Evie Anderson later looked back on beginning as a fourth-grade writer. Her first published story, about her dog Honey, appeared in June 2018; by 2023 she said she had contributed more than 300 articles to the magazine. 

That's a pretty remarkable way to grow up — with your childhood literally bound into the history of your neighborhood.

Of course, Hallsley's story isn't only about individuals. It is also about the things we have done together.

The inaugural Splash & Dash arrived in 2017, creating a neighborhood event that combined kids, competition, and support for the Hallsley High Tides.

 

The High Tides themselves have provided one of the clearest visual markers of passing time. Children who once appeared as tiny swimmers grew into teenagers, coaches and leaders. By the team's 10th season, the High Tides had risen through the divisions and captured first place at the CAL Championship Meet. 

We've also followed Turkey Trots, neighborhood races, charity fundraisers, art shows, car shows, book clubs, parties, resident businesses, local authors, and countless opportunities to simply gather.

The very first Stroll-sponsored gathering in 2016 was a Hallsley Martini Night at Latitude Seafood. Residents were invited to taste-test a cocktail created especially for Hallsley while enjoying food and meeting neighbors. 

Ten years later, the events may be bigger, but the reason for them is strikingly similar.

Over the years, Hallsley Living became Stroll Hallsley. Covers and departments evolved. Children grew up. New neighbors arrived. Beloved pets came and went. Families celebrated milestones, faced hardships, started businesses, and set off on adventures.

But the original mission has held up remarkably well.

In 2016, the publication asked residents to help create a magazine that represented their community — one built around meaningful stories and connection. 

Ten years later, we don't simply have a collection of magazines.

We have snapshots of childhoods.

We have family histories.

We have stories of survival and loss, championships and first attempts, businesses begun at kitchen tables, neighbors helping neighbors, and pets who somehow always managed to be described as “spoiled.”

We have a record of Hallsley becoming Hallsley.

And the best part?