Fourteen Years and Counting. . . An Editorial By Kerri Snowdin, Publisher

    
        What does the number 14 signify? Yes, it is the number of lines in a sonnet, the approximate atomic weight of nitrogen, the retired number of former baseball players Jim Rice, Pete Rose, Jim Bunning and Eric Banks . . . but it is also the number of years The Coopersville Observer has been in circulation, with the Snowdin family at the helm.

    This February we will be celebrating our 14th anniversary in publication. Several readers have grown up with us and we’ve become a trusted source of information. Our readers want to know what’s going on in the community we serve and that’s what we deliver.

     How have we weathered the economic storm? Quite a number of you have asked how The Observer is doing and whether or not we will survive. This is a valid question - - one that deserves a public answer.

    We are fine. Yes, we are being impacted by the economy, however, so are many others. Our circulation remains strong, which tells me this newspaper remains a priority in the lives of our readers. Although we are no longer able to mail 3rd Class to Ravenna residents, they are still picking up free newspapers at their local newsstands. (Ravenna Village and Township Offices, Ravenna Library, the Round Table Restaurant, Ravenna Foods, Keefe’s Pharmacy and Speedway.) We have not seen a decline in readership and for that we are grateful.

    While our advertising has been decreasing somewhat, I believe it is due to the slower, winter months, just as much as the slower economy. With that said, the best thing about Coopersville and the surrounding communities we reach is that, for the most part, we take care of ourselves.

    We have a lot of small businesses that only do business here. Most of our advertising revenues come from these local companies and they truly are what keep us going. Although the tough economy has been hard on most of them, we continue to support each other.

     We are approaching the time of year that is notorious for decreased advertising revenues for all newspapers and we try to prepare for it. This is why we conduct our annual Volunteer Subscription Drive at this time of year and why we are also thankful to you - - our faithful subscribers. Your past donations have truly gotten us through the slow winter months and I hope you will continue to show that support.

    In spite of these difficult times, The Observer staff is even more committed to the ideals of this newspaper. By reporting the daily life events of local citizens, we serve an important function in the community and the economics of keeping it afloat. Small town newspapers can reflect, affirm and build a positive community atmosphere and we strive to do this - - even in tough times!

    We feel privileged to publish such a well accepted newspaper and I remind myself of this every day. I believe as long as we continue to provide a good product that informs the community of the positive things that happen here (and do it with respect, accuracy and integrity), while providing our advertisers with results that make their businesses successful, we have accomplished our goal for another year.

    As we look forward to 2010, I would like to personally thank all of you: the dedicated advertisers, faithful readers and especially volunteer subscribers. We owe our successes to every one of you. Many of you realize you don’t have to contribute in order to receive the paper, but you do it because you believe in our mission of bringing you the “community paper with the positive difference!”

     If you would like to donate to our “Volunteer Subscription,” Drive you may show your continued support by mailing it to: The Observer, P.O. Box 111, Coopersville, MI 49404.

    In closing, the staff of The Observer and I wish you a Happy and Prosperous 2010.
Most Sincerely,
Kerri