In the good old days, when a new family moved to a town, a cheerful greeter would contact new homeowners and welcome them to their new community with packets full of information, useful phone numbers and discount coupons. Some of us may recall having gained some helpful knowledge of our new surroundings through such a visit. But as small towns grow, and as the nature of society changes, a knock on the door from a stranger is hardly as welcome these days as it once was. And with many of southern New Hampshire’s towns functioning more as “bedroom communities” for Massachusetts, there’s often a knowledge gap about the place newcomers have chosen to hang their hats.
Yet residents are far from being left to navigate unfamiliar territory on their own. Your local newspaper – and we mean local – has been the source of hospitality for over a decade.
Just a quick glance at the local calendar section in today’s edition offers myriad options, including: social gatherings – civic club, garden club, mothers’ club; support groups for health concerns; entertainment for all ages; and plenty of sports, again for all ages. It’s like having a phone and email directory for town activities at your fingertips.
Need information on voter registration? Kindergarten registration? Transfer station hours? Your local newspaper announces those on a regular basis. But why stop there?
New residents may have little knowledge of how government operates in their chosen hometown, so where else but in the local newspaper can they find out what’s happening, in detail, at the town council or planning board?
There are plenty of naysayers who say that type of news is boring, but if a development is going in next to the home you just bought, or the road is being realigned in front of your house, that’s the kind of news you need, want, and expect your local newspaper to provide.
And then there’s the give and take of the letters to the editor, where residents are welcome to share their views on sundry topics, and get to know a little more about each other in the process. And of course the advertisements throughout the newspaper, letting readers know what businesses serve and support their community.
So while we aren’t going to be knocking on your door with a basket of goodies and a big smile, we are indeed going to your mailbox with a news and advertising package full of information you can use to make yourself feel quite at home. Whether you are brand-new to town or have lived here all your life – we’re here for you.