Re: 'A Message from our Publisher' [Letter, Village News, 3/15/2012]

The times since the wildfires in the fall of 2007 have not been so kind to Fallbrook. The wildfires brought the recession of 2008-2009 early to Fallbrook. We can look around at many empty storefronts. Those of us active in the community are well aware of the often silent pain of failed businesses and challenging lives brought on by the deep recession.

As an occasional contributor as a financial columnist to the Fallbrook/Bonsall Village News and the wife of a professional journalist and editor who contributes to the family of local weekly papers, we know times have been tough.

A local community paper in Fallbrook, Temecula, and Anza is a fish swimming in the local economic waters. The papers rely on the economic health of the community.

This short letter is a plea to the community. We would be so much less without a local paper to trumpet our kids sports achievements; give us notice of events and fundraisers; cheer on our community with stories such as the Avocado Festival.

Support the local paper which is the glue binding our community. Subscribe to the paper for less than $40 a year. If you are a small business, dig deep and be willing to pay for your ads. Together, supporting the weekly newspaper, we will be a stronger community and prosper.

Margaret Singleton O’Leary