With all the conversations swirling around regarding free press, newspaper closures, buyouts of local media outlets and so forth, it’s incredible that our little community is supporting its own paper.

Our volunteer team is dedicated to supporting you with the news we find and hear about. We are truly doing our best, and we thank each and every one of you who has advertised with us, purchased a subscription or donated to the cause.

I am also very proud that we could teach two graphic designers, both recent Fitchburg State University graduates, at Sitka Creations all about good newspaper design, publishing and how to put each issue to bed at the printer.

Our printer, The Springfield Republican, a newspaper that has been in print in Springfield, Massachusetts, since 1844, has gone above and beyond to help us with every aspect of producing your paper.

With the holidays and the end of the year approaching, we know you will all get busy. However, we hope you will continue to keep us in mind, send us tips, notices and press releases, run ads, and tell your friends we exist.

Our first anniversary will come around in February, so to cover our bases and make sure we have said our thank-yous all around, this is our almost full-term “thank you.”

— Tamar Russell Brown, Publisher