Dear readers,

Most of us will celebrate Thanksgiving this week with our family and friends. The event usually centers around the gathering of loved ones for a meal highlighted by turkey or ham and finished with pumpkin or apple pie with possibly some ice cream on the side. This longstanding tradition has been honored in our country since the first immigrants arrived and feasted with the Native Americans already living here. Then it was a time to express our gratitude for all the blessings bestowed upon us just as it is today.

The world has changed through generations of new stewards and caretakers and a plethora of new inventions and innovations. In our country, American entrepreneurs, with their can-do attitude and ingenuity, have helped build a world that we lead as the most powerful nation. With leadership comes responsibility, and for the most part we have boldly faced the challenges.

In our small corner of the world, we fortunately are a little more insulated than the more densely populated cities and thus more able to live our lives less encumbered with such global issues as terrorism. The feelings of community with people helping each other run high. Almost every day one hears a positive story about someone helping another in a time of need. People actually care and show it in real acts of kindness when a family or friend is down and needs a helping hand.

Let us continue our path of compassion whenever and wherever we can. Together we can and do make a difference. We have so much for which to be thankful. We have each other to express our gratitude and of course to an almighty inexplicable being some call God.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Patrick J. Wood

Publisher