Our own Roger and Mary Beth Lakner were featured in the Valentine's Love Stories featured in Prescott's Daily Courier, Friday, February 13. Here's the article:

"Five years ago this February, Roger moved from the Bay area of California to Prescott. He had recently become a widower and was determined to begin a new life in a totally new place.   

"He had chosen Prescott as his new home through the internet. His new house was in the Cottages at Prescott Lakes.   

"Being an early riser, he was often out working in his garage, especially assembling a workbench and cabinets.  

"Mary Beth, who lived in the house directly across the street, often would notice Roger working in his garage. She was glad to have another new neighbor.   

"Before moving to Prescott in September 2003, Mary Beth had been divorced after a long marriage. She decided to retire early and begin a new life in a place completely different from Wisconsin, where she had lived for many years. She chose Prescott partly because her daughter and son-in law lived in Prescott at the time. She had visited them and liked the area.  

"One Wednesday in March, Roger and Mary Beth met while walking back and forth to the shared mailboxes nearby. They talked and talked, standing outside in the hot sun. Mary Beth had gone to a few functions for singles by then, and she invited him to join her at a singles dinner that Friday. Roger thought that sounded fine, but he also suggested, "Why not tonight?!" So they decided to go out for their first dinner that night. From that day on, they dated often and soon fell in love. Both feel blessed to have moved directly across the street from one another! Last year, they moved once again to a larger house that they chose together.  

"Roger and Mary Beth celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary in January 2009 and are planning many more!"