STEVE SCHULWITZ

ALPENA — Now that Thanksgiving is in the rear-view mirror the Christmas season is in full swing.

The holidays are special to the residents of Northeast Michigan, as it is for the staff at The News. To properly recognize Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Years The News intends to share as many Christmas stories and photos as possible.

For years we have strived to have at least some type of daily holiday content on the paper’s front page and I have no intention of changing the tradition, which is special to me and I hope to our devoted readers, as well.

To kick off our Christmas coverage, we will provide full coverage of the Bolenz Holiday Parade and annual tree lighting ceremony at Culligan Plaza, which will be the first official event at the plaza since its renovations were completed. This event will also add a heightened sense of excitement as people can get a close-up look at the plaza and all of its new amenities.

Each day afterward, with the exception of Sundays, people can expect some type of Christmas coverage in the paper. However, there is a catch.

I have vowed to make The News a more community involved paper, and because my reporters can’t be in several places at the same time, I ask you, the residents, to help provide us with holiday content.

If a photo opportunity catches your eye, grab a quick picture and email it to us for consideration. If you know of a holiday themed event, drop us a line or give us a quick call so we can try to give it the coverage it deserves. If you attend, feel free to take a photo and submit it, in case we are unable to have a reporter there.

We are also looking for people to share their holiday stories with our readers.

For example, do you know anyone who was at war and overseas during Christmas? That must have been tough. Did you or someone you know have a baby on Christmas or lose a loved one during the holiday season? Did you receive an odd gift or have to go without for Christmas?

These are all stories of the heart and worth sharing. We want to tell your stories, share your memories, and stir the emotions of the people who are reading them.

I may be new as the editor for the paper, but I consider this opportunity an honor and an honor I would not have if it wasn’t for the community that has supported the paper and myself for many years.

I don’t consider The News “Steve’s paper” and I don’t consider it as our corporate company’s, Ogden Newspapers, theirs either. I have always considered The News the community’s paper and I intend to prove it.

The paper is here to serve you, to celebrate with you, to mourn with you, and hopefully to educate you or bring you a smile once in a while.

The News also depends on you, too. Not just to purchase subscriptions or buy ads, but to help bring the paper to life each day. Your stories, photos, constructive criticism, and advice matter and always will as long as I sit behind the editor’s desk.

I look forward to continuing to serve you, learn from you, and make you proud as I grow into my new position.

My job title and work responsibilities may have changed, but my love for Alpena, Northeast Michigan, and its residents will remain. I consider each and everyone one of you a neighbor.

So, let’s see what you’ve got Northeast Michigan. I’m excited to check my email in the coming days and weeks to see what you have for us.

We will do our best to accommodate as many people and events as we are able and will strive to do justice to every story we write and photo we take. I’m confident we won’t let you down.

Happy holidays everyone and may you and your families be safe and healthy during them.