My, How Time Flies!

Happy anniversary to … us! This week CV Weekly celebrates 10 years of serving the foothill communities. Our first newspaper hit the streets on Sept. 4, 2009 – a Friday. Why a Friday, you ask. Because the Station Fire was blazing away and many of our local streets were barricaded off on Thursday, Sept. 3. We couldn’t deliver the thousands of newspapers to our friends and neighbors!

When the paper hit the doors on that Friday, another type of fire ignited – a fire of appreciation and gratitude. Since the CV Sun (where I was editor) had closed in July, there wasn’t a dedicated newspaper for the foothill communities. I thought this was wrong. So with the help of Mary O’Keefe and Charly Shelton, and the confidence of my husband Steve, I decided to start the Crescenta Valley Weekly.

After being evacuated three times from my house where we were working on my dining room table on the inaugural issue, we finally pulled it together at Mary’s house. I remember being so nervous uploading the files to our printer, anxious to see how our first paper looked and wondering how the community would respond to our efforts.

My anxiety was unfounded. Soon after the papers were delivered I got a knock on the door from my neighbor. In his hand was a check for a year’s subscription! His check was the first of many as others generously sent in subscription money – much of which paid the bills for the first couple of months! Over the years I relied on subscribers (and donors!) to help when things got tight.

I would be lying if I said I didn’t question my decision these past 10 years to start the CV Weekly. But because of our subscribers, advertisers and other supporters I know it was a wise choice. Like I was on day one, when my neighbor came with check in hand, I am so grateful to the many people who helped make my dream come true.

Next week we will have our anniversary issue that includes messages of congratulations from our supporters and reflects on the many stories covered these past 10 years by the CV Weekly. For more information on the anniversary issue, see page 7.

  robin goldsworthy