New Year's Day: A time to reflect and plan for the future

New Year’s Day is upon us.

The first day of the new year gives us time to reflect on the events of the previous year and hope for things to change as we flip the calendar over.

We remember the celebrities who have died in the past year and also reflect on the friends and family who have left our lives. Newspapers will be chocked full of best of, top 10, and year in review lists.

On the last day of the year, the entire world joins in one big party.

As the day moves along, we’ll put aside our differing political views, faiths, and our stance on how people should live and celebrate the coming year as one common people.

I wish we could come together for more than one day, don’t you?

This year I’ve met some wonderful people.

They range from grade schoolers describing the total eclipse to listening to a member of the greatest generation share on his service during World War II.

I want to thank all those that I met and allowed me into their homes and places of business and shared their lives with our readers.

The breast cancer survivors, the teachers, the first responders, the mayors and local city councils, the ministers, and the doctors and nurses.

I also want to thank you, the reader.

I hope you’ve enjoyed what we’ve started here in the last few months and ask for your continued support and prayers in the coming year as we strive to bring you the most informative, enriching, and entertaining community paper in the region.

Enjoy the New Year celebrations.

Laugh and reflect with your family and friends and will be here in 2018 to report on and create more of those special memories.

Happy New Year.

See you out there.