Publishers: Support appreciated

Like so many other small businesses that have broken trail before us, we're pausing on our 10th anniversary to thank all who have supported the North Forty News from the trailhead and onward. Who knows where the summit might be?

From a room in a basement to an office with six employees, this newspaper has grown in steady steps rather than Olympic leaps. Volume 1, Number 1 was mailed to 2,000 households. Volume 11, Number 1 will reach 20,000 homes and businesses.

Over the years, many talented writers have provided readers with perspective on northern Larimer County. The news highlights that start below provide only a minimal glance at the stories carried in the North Forty News since 1993. In addition, readers have met their neighbors and strangers through scores of feature stories, photos, letters and even favorite recipes. Many pages took a turn to the past, reminding us of our adventuresome predecessors, their hard work, successes and failings.

Since its first issue, this newspaper has followed a goal of providing useful information. Sometimes we're just telling people where they can have a good time or how to support volunteers in their community. For readers who want to get involved in governmental decisions that will affect their future, we think it's important to say when, where, how and why. We look for stories not otherwise reported or try to find the angle more important to a countywide perspective.

In the next 10 years, issues will become more complex and challenging as more people move to this area. The North Forty News will be here helping to sort it out and to keep readers involved in what's happening to them and around them.

To get started, this special section includes four perspective pieces on future trends for rural land use, water, agriculture and transportation. We can expect that the 20th anniversary edition will evaluate whether we and our sources caught a glimmer of the future or had a cloudy crystal ball. In between, we will be monitoring all those topics and more, so that the year 2013 is no surprise.

We hope you'll enjoy reading these pages and remembering how far our communities and have come in the past 10 years. It is our intention that the North Forty News will keep you well informed for many more years to come.

- JoAn and Mike Bjarko, Publishers