As time goes by

One of my favorite passages in the Bible reads, “To everything there is a season…” The verse can be found in Ecclesiastes 3:1. It can also be found in the 1965 song “Turn, Turn, Turn” by The Byrds.

The premise of the passage and the song basically says that there is a time and place for everything, and all good things must eventually come to an end.

Recently I was asked by Heritage Newspapers to consider moving forward with my career and take on the challenge of community point person and copy editor for two newspapers in the Heri-tage Newspapers West cluster –– The Chelsea Standard and Dexter Leader.

My new position will become effective following the release of the Dec. 10 edition of The Manchester Enterprise. After two-and-a-half years serving the Manchester community, I will now begin a new challenge.

However, this column is not written to say goodbye. Though I will be leaving the community in some form, I want to assure our readers that I will continue to attend events, cover stories, visit with friends, and help out the new community reporter anyway I can, as time permits. I also hope that the Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce and the Manchester Fair Board will invite my band, Delirious Love, back again next year, to perform at various events in town.

One of my favorite childhood movies, “Masters of the Universe,” says it best: “Don’t say goodbye, say good journey.” I am not packing my bags and hitchhiking out of town down M-52. I will be around. And Heritage Newspapers will continue to have a presence in Manchester.

Many of our readers know our staff writer, Ed Patino. He has been with the newspaper for three years and will continue to report on Manchester sports and other events. He can still be reached at epatino@heritage.com.

Over the course of the last few weeks, I have been diligently filling in my replacement with the ins and outs of local service groups, community contacts for events and news, meeting times and places for township and village government, and keeping her up to speed on the issues facing our communities –– from the financial constraints of the Manchester Community Schools to the Gourley Farm versus Sharon Township lawsuit.

The community reporter assigned to Manchester beginning Dec. 11 will be my colleague Jana Miller. She is currently the sports reporter assigned to the Saline and Milan communities.

Jana is a smart, eager reporter who will have no problem jumping feet first into my position. I am confident that Ed, Jana and myself will make this transition as smooth as possible for Manchester.

In preparation for this transition, I will begin bringing Jana with me to Manchester this week to introduce her to the community. I hope everyone will extend her the support and patience I received when I first took the position as editor for the Manchester Enterprise in 2007.

Also during this transition time, I have offered my assistance to Jana. There is no doubt that it will take some time for her to fully immerse herself in the community. However, where time permits, I will work with her to make sure Manchester events, meetings and activities will receive coverage.

Over the past two-and-a-half years, I have enjoyed my time in Manchester. There are plenty of people to thank who have made working in such a small town a pleasant experience. Next week, in my final editorial column as copy editor for Manchester, I will attempt to wrap up as many loose ends as possible.

God bless.