Thursday, December 29, 2016

Insight - New adventure awaits by Michelle Libby



Almost four years ago we envisioned an idea of a new newspaper and we haven’t looked back since. There was a lot of talk about how newspapers were dying. We ignored those naysayers and created The Windham Eagle to report on the good in our communities of Windham and Raymond.

To this day we are the positive and solutions based news for the Sebago region. Our readers stuck with us through our growing pains and learning curve to bring you the paper you see today. With Melissa Carter doing design and advertising, our paper took off making The Windham Eagle the paper of choice for local businesses.

All of this being said, I will no longer be the editor-in-chief of The Windham Eagle. After four years, it is time to give someone else a chance to find the news in our communities. The reporters will continue to be the same, Elizabeth, Stephen, Walter and Lorraine, with me also still contributing. I feel like I’ll be the guest star, like on a television show, even though the actor is there every week. “And staring special guest…”

I have learned so much about our community and the business world, and have met amazing people who have let me into their homes and businesses and shared their stories with our readers. I will take everything I have learned and use it moving forward in my writing career.

To our faithful readers, I am grateful for your dedication and willingness to send story ideas, letters to the editor and positive comments about what we have printed. Despite one woman who couldn’t believe there were so many positive things that happened in Windham and Raymond, readers have loved to hear about members of our towns doing great things to help one another. I like to believe that the existence of The Windham Eagle has helped many people benefit financially through donations, build self-esteem through publication and be educed about  our amazing communities. 

The future for me is still unclear. I plan to do more writing in other fields, including fiction writing and ghostwriting. I also plan to be a helicopter mom over my son, who is a junior in high school. (Just kidding, Josh.) I want to be there for him and for my daughter before they are no longer at home. You empty nesters out there know what I mean.

The transition from editor to mom and author will be challenging for a while. I expect that I will never be able to fully leave the paper I created with the support of my husband, children, parents, friends, Kelly and Niels Mank, Ernie, eMichelle, Melissa, Dave DeBree, Rob, and all the columnists and contributors over the years. None of this could have been done without you.

Now it is time for Lorraine Glowczak to put her stamp on The Windham Eagle and the community. I know you will all support her and help her in any way you can.

Change is difficult, but through change is growth. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for four years of excitement, challenge and growth. I’ll see you around town.

Michelle Libby 

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