The End of an Era, Compounded by COVID

Living gratefully today, I appreciate my abilities to read and write; that I was taught them at a young age and have used them constructively throughout my life. They are privileges and treasures.

Speaking of reading and writing, yesterday was a sad milestone in our community. Our local newspaper, the Hastings Star Gazette, printed its final edition: May 7, 2020, Volume 166, No. 40. "A News and Information Source for 158 Years" has bit the dust. 158 years. It started in 1852 and now it has to end in 2020. Like many newspapers, this one has struggled in recent years. Compounded by COVID-19, we learned a few weeks ago that it would be going out of print.

It's been a good weekly paper and we were proud subscribers for 20 years. I was also a columnist with the paper for a few years, with a monthly column titled "Gratitude Flow" which ran from late 2012 to early 2018. Below are my first column, and one from April of 2014 that highlights the beauty of our wonderful city.

Recent issues were thin and sad, with no spring sports to report on, no other school news. Limited activities and events limits what is reported. We are sorry to see our paper go, and we wonder things like who will be creating the senior insert that is done every year?  Will there even be one?

Many things, my emotions included, are compounded by COVID today. Beneath it all though, some gratitude continues to flow. There are things to celebrate and we will!