This issue of the Kingston Observer marks the sixth anniversary of our little hometown publication. Looking back over those years, we feel we have been true to our instincts, well documented in our approach and resolute in our conclusions. Unlike the vast newspaper empire that now dominates our region, the little monthly Observer provides the inside coverage that the journalist giants either don’t understand or do understand but don’t wish to cover. We all live here in Kingston, what happens here affects us. We provide a different look, one drawn from the data compiled, from an understanding of our history and from projecting a conclusion.

A newspaper should never fear standing alone on an issue. While it is easy to run with the majority, it takes a lot more soul searching to walk with the minority; a position that we have no fear of taking. As a widely read publication, we have a responsibility to be accurate and an obligation to be honest in our conclusions. When something is not within the best interests of the community, we will tell you, and we have told you, despite where the numbers may stack up. The majority of our news does not come from sitting at a meeting, anybody can do that; the stories come outside those meetings. It takes work to root out the story behind the story, the analysis and commentary that is found nowhere else.

Going along to get along is a cheap and easy way to function. Swimming against the tide takes its toll, emotionally, financially and personally, but that is what we often do. We cannot operate any differently; it is part of our fabric born from the product of a working class family, uneducated, but wanting more for their children. When something is bad, when it becomes evident that we are being used, manipulated or even lied to, we will express our thoughts, without fear of consequence. We are firm believers in good public debate… if that is a byproduct of our thoughts, so much the better.

A big thank you goes out to our columnists, Jim Farrell, Dennis Randall, Susannah Locketti, Dorothy MacFarlane, Nancy Sapir, and Jackie Drake, all individuals with strong Kingston ties. We are grateful to our readership that may cheer us on or curse us, but read us every month. We pass on our thanks also to the many ‘tipsters’ who bring items to our attention that we may have missed. In addition, kingstonobserver.com has become a strong part of our efforts, providing many lively discussions on our public forum.

The years ahead will provide drastic change to our beloved town, more so then ever felt before, we will be there to follow the path that many of our leadership has crafted with support from the voting public. Decisions will be weighed in the year and years ahead and we will get a better idea of where we are going, how are we getting there and, in hindsight, was it what we expected, what we wanted.

We wish all a wonderful holiday season and a new year that will provide lower gas and oil prices, a continuing reduction in interest rates, and the safe return home of our men and women overseas. Finally, we wish nothing but the best for all Kingston citizens over the course of the New Year.