As I sit down to write this Thanksgiving issue’s Publisher Letter, I find myself reflecting deeply on gratitude—specifically, gratitude for you. Each month, when The Hooksett Bridge arrives in your mailbox or appears on your screen, you make a choice. You choose to read it. You choose to value local stories. You choose not to toss it aside—and that simple choice fills me with more gratitude than I can express.
I am grateful for every email you send sharing what you enjoyed about the last issue—what stories captured your attention, what features made you think, and what pieces you found yourself returning to. I’m grateful for those of you who keep past issues like collector’s items, displayed on your coffee tables, ready to be enjoyed by visiting friends and family. The idea that this publication becomes a small part of your home is something I will never take for granted.
I am grateful for the way you talk about The Hooksett Bridge to your neighbors, your families, and your friends. Word of mouth from passionate readers is the lifeblood of a community publication, and you all play a massive role in keeping this mission alive.
I am grateful for the businesses who see the value in partnering with us and supporting the stories we bring to Hooksett and the surrounding area. And I am especially grateful for those who contribute financially because they believe, wholeheartedly, in the mission and community-centered purpose of this publication.
I’d also like to acknowledge the grace and patience so many of you show as I juggle life, work, and the constant deadlines of a one-man publishing operation. Your understanding means everything.
Behind the scenes, I am continually grateful for the relationships this publication has created—connections with people from all walks of life that I never would have met otherwise. This newspaper brings people together in ways I could never have predicted, and I count those relationships among the greatest blessings of this work.
I owe immense gratitude to my commercial printer, The Concord Monitor, and especially my sales rep, Roger Brooks, who is always there when I need him.
But there are two people I need to thank in a big way:
Bill Ostendorf and Lisa Newby of Creative Circle Media Solutions.
They have been my walking angels since March of this year, working with me on every issue in print and online. They give me grace, patience, and a work ethic unlike anything I have ever witnessed. On our last issue, we worked together from 5 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. — I grabbed a few hours of sleep, and they kept going into the morning to ensure we hit our print deadline. Their passion and energy fuel my own. They care about this publication as deeply as I do, and having people like that beside you is something truly extraordinary. I am endlessly grateful for them.
And finally—I am grateful for you.
Thank you for reading.
Thank you for sharing stories.
Thank you for submitting event announcements.
Thank you for caring about our community.
In this Thanksgiving issue, you’ll find reflections on gratitude from some of our own residents, updates on upcoming warrant articles for next year’s Town Meeting, new developments going before the Planning Board, milestones from the Hooksett Kiwanis Club’s 25th Anniversary Celebration, the Hooksett Area Rotary Club’s official Charter launch, updates on the Hooksett School District’s roofing issues, and more.
You may notice this issue is a bit shorter than usual—back-to-back publication deadlines didn’t leave enough time for a 24-page edition. But don’t worry—the Holiday Issue is right around the corner and coming out in just a few short weeks!
Ahhh, the joy of monthly publishing!
See you around town,
Tony
P.S. We want to hear what you are grateful for, too!
Email us at publisher@thehooksettbridge.org or use the share your news form on www.hooksettbridge.com or share your thoughts on our Facebook page, The Hooksett Bridge.
