Dear Weekly News Readers,

If we were allowed to gather, and Weekly News subscribers came together in one room, there would be 135 more of you – and spouses and families – than a year ago. Bless you for taking the subscription drive to heart. Circulation is up 15%. That is truly amazing.

Some 120 current subscribers renewed early, partly to beat the new year’s increase to $60 and many to show support for their community newspaper. New and old readers both made donations. Thank you for helping me to pay my taxes. But more than that, you gladden my heart. You believe in the publisher as well as the newspaper he publishes.

Even if I am vain, I am realistic. You want your newspaper delivereed, not the owner. Your response is your desire for local news, for staying abreast of community events, for linking with your neighbors by seeing their names and photos in the paper. Hopefully, their words and yours will appear here, as a letter, article or reminiscence. Your contributions are always welcome and especially when they are critical of what you read here.

Early on I wrote “I own it but it is your newspaper.” I believe that, but your actions make it true, in your writing letters or calling in a news tip, telling of an upcoming special anniversary or award or recognition. Those are substantial ways to strengthen your community’s newspaper.

You strengthen your community when you discuss its news, events and announcements with friends and family over a cup of coffee or the backyard fence. News improves when it is shared. The community is stronger the more people participate. Call or email your government officials. Attend meetings via Zoom. Go to a rally or drive in a caravan.

The thing about exercising your civic muscles is that your efforts strengthen all of us.

I invite you to join me in offering more attention to this place we call home. I am not asking for agreement but I hope for engagement.

There will be times that some will be frustrated by my editorial views. My disappointment comes not from dissenting responses but from a lack of responses. Better that you accuse my mother of wearing army boots then stew in silence without telling me how wrongheaded and not understanding I am.

Last January I took advantage of joining 2020 and vision to write “My crystal ball is clouded with uncertainty” and “The only clear certainty ... is that we have very rough sailing ahead.”

I had no clue then that 2020 would upend all our lives or that the rough seas would be tsunami upon tsunami.

When we co-create them, visions become ours, shared. A year ago I wrote “Visions are not shared without strong relationships. Relationships won’t develop without trust.”

I have lived long enough to know, as I stated, “If we do not want to reach that common ground together, there is no need to start or stay engaged in the hard task of getting to a common goal and agreeing to a course of action that has all parties jointly navigating the route.”

As we enter year two of the novel coronavirus pandemic, we need to be pulling together to our shared good health.

Please offer your vision in these pages of the shared steps we must take to advance on that path.

My hope is to see more of your words in your community’s newspaper.

Ken Stern