Tuesday was my last day at Hoch Publishing. After five years, eight months, and 16 days, I am former Hoch Publishing news editor Adam Stewart. On the one hand, I hardly can believe I’ve been here that long. On the other, is that all the longer it’s been? This has been my home for several years, and it’s as familiar as my hometown now.

I’m glad Hoch Publishing has someone as talented and familiar with the area as David Colburn to take the lead in my place. I worked with David during one of his previous stints as a reporter here, and he has a knack for finding news, as well as a great eye for photography. With award-winners Olivia Haselwood and Oliver Good on staff, I expect good things for the newspapers, but the time is right to take my career in a new direction.

While I’m packing for my move, there are a lot of people I need to thank for the successes I’ve had here, starting with the reporters and editors I have worked with. I have learned a lot from everyone I’ve worked with, and you have all been great.

Thank you to Eric and Joan Meyer. Thank you for taking a chance on me when you hired me in 2008, and thank you for trusting me with the newspapers I know mean so much to you. Even when I wasn’t sure of myself, you showed confidence in me that helped me make it through. I don’t think people realize how important the newspapers and community are to you.

Most of all, thanks to all of you who have read my articles over the past nearly six years. You are the reason for newspapers. Knowing that people read what you write is a satisfying feeling. It’s even better when people tell you they appreciate the work that goes into the newspaper — and on that note, I particularly want to thank Gary and Karen Chaput for all their support and kind words.

My final piece of advice to all of you is to be interested and involved in your communities and have high expectations for yourselves, your communities, and your elected officials. Don’t take for granted that the way things are done is good enough just because they’ve always been that way, and don’t assume that you can’t make a difference.

— ADAM STEWART