How can it be February already? It seems like I blinked, and January was gone.

January was an eventful month. Not only was it the beginning of a new year, but for me, it was also the beginning of a new era. You may have already noticed that I am no longer editor of The Humboldt Beacon. I have moved on to another job, leaving the Beacon in the capable hands of Franklin Stover. Don't worry; the Beacon will remain the same great community paper it has always been. I'll just be involved in a different way from now on.

When I first came to work at the Beacon 13 1/2 years ago, I thought it was the staff that made a newspaper great. In the years since then, I've learned differently. What makes a newspaper great is its readers. You read our words, point out our mistakes, energize us with your compliments, support us with your advertising, keep us informed about your events, and trust us with your photos and your news. Together, we are like one big family, and the Beacon is our family album. The Beacon staff puts it together, but you, the readers, help shape it.

Please keep those submissions coming in. Share your sorrows and your joys, your photos and your opinions. I'll be reading them every week -- and contributing, too; Frank has kindly agreed to continue printing my column once a month. Let me start by thanking you all for 13 1/2 great years. I know that the Beacon will continue to be the Eel River Valley's own family newspaper -- and a great one, too, because it has great readers.