As we continue to deal with a wobbly economy, staffing challenges and an increasingly divided political landscape, the need to highlight what brings us together as a community is even stronger. Likewise, the need for robust, independent and local community journalism has never been greater.

Every day, our experienced and professional reporter and editor at the Snoqualmie Valley Record bring you stories that celebrate the common bonds that connect the people, businesses, nonprofits and community groups of North Bend, Snoqualmie, Fall City and Carnation.

In our print and digital pages, we hope you’ve been informed, enlightened, inspired, entertained or educated by our coverage of the things that make our Valley unique and that help keep the Valley ticking.

Recently, the Valley Record has run stories on the affordable housing summit, the changing local real estate market, and progress on the I-90/Highway 18 interchange. We’ve covered post-pandemic relief to our local business community and we have taken deep dives into issues like the Fall City Totem Pole, challenges facing small farmers, and salmon restoration projects.

We also continually cover issues like the Mill Site cleanup, outgoing community leaders and North Bend’s water challenges. Speaking of water, we also wrote about the Snoqualmie Tribe’s new river management plan.

We also remain committed to keeping our local business community thriving. We’ve introduced our readers to Sweet Honey Esthetics, Quill and Ink Tattoos, Remlinger Farms’ new brewery, Wild Hare Antiques, Arete Coffee Bar and Snoqualmie Falls Brewery’s beautiful new outdoor space. Highlighting business events like Snoqualmie Casino’s new hotel plans, the SnoValley Chamber of Commerce’s new mobile app and the recently organized branding, marketing and advertising seminar for local businesses that the Valley Record hosted.

Our staff are at Chamber events, ribbon cuttings, grand openings and other community festivals like Fall City Days, Festival at Mount Si, Snoqualmie Days and others.

Reporting on local arts, culture, nonprofit and service groups, we covered Empower Youth Network, Snoqualmie Valley Shelter Services and Keep it Local Snoqualmie Valley as well as our wonderful community-oriented Rotary Club.

As we cover the area, the Valley Record continues to provide accurate, fact-based reporting that offers public scrutiny and oversight.

But the trained, seasoned reporters and editors also require an investment. Whether it is from our digital and print advertising partners or from our loyal reader subscribers, our local journalism efforts need to be supported to ensure that we can continue to cover the Valley with valuable, unbiased and honest reporting.

Readers of the Snoqualmie Valley Record have shared in our mission by investing in partnership with their neighbors up and down the Valley. Since 1913, our readers and our advertisers provide financial support that protects our independence — which in today’s world has never been so critical.

Check your mailbox in mid-October. Some of you will find a mailer inviting you and your household to support local community journalism in the Snoqualmie Valley Record’s 109-year mission by becoming a digital or home delivery print subscriber. You can also visit www.valleyrecord.com/subscribe for special subscription offers.

And, if you have a hot news tip, a comment or critique, a letter to the editor, or a great story idea, please connect with me or our award-winning reporter and editor. We’d love to hear from you!

You have my personal thanks for reading and supporting the Valley Record and www.valleyrecord.com. I wish you and your families the very best during these quite interesting times.

William Shaw is the general manager and publisher of the Snoqualmie Valley Record. You can reach him at wshaw@valleyrecord.com