At a recent business leader event that was held in the Naples area, Joan Lunden (former “Good Morning America” host) said something that stuck with me: “If you are doing things the same way you were seven years ago, you are in trouble.”

In our fast-paced, ever-evolving world, we as business leaders and community advocates need to constantly be changing, updating and modifying our products so that we are able to stay slightly ahead of the curve.

So, today you are holding the newly evolved version of the best community newspaper that serves the Lakes Region. The Lakes Region Weekly will celebrate its 10-year anniversary in just a few months, and we are pleased to be bringing you a brand-new package for the most comprehensive local news in your area. We are excited about these design and format changes, and we hope you are, too.

There are a number of reasons why we are making this change from the larger, broadsheet size to a tab-size format. First, it will enable us to operate more efficiently in our production area. Having all of the six Current Publishing weekly newspapers the same size will allow our talented graphics staff to spend more time on each ad, rather than spend time re-sizing ads for different papers. This will translate to better customer service. We have also heard from many readers through the years that they prefer a paper that they can read front to back in one section, and one that they can easily hold in their hands while reading on the bus, in the car or while lounging in their lawn chair. The larger-size, two-section paper can be difficult to hold.

And, there will be some cost savings involved in this new design, which will allow us to put more time and effort into our news coverage. In this paper, as in all of our weekly newspapers, we strive to provide the best local news coverage for the residents of the communities we serve. We do this by hiring experienced and talented editors and reporters who are present and involved in the cities and towns that they cover. Our news staff works to bring you up-to-date and breaking news, every week in print and every day online. If you aren’t following us on Facebook or checking our website regularly, www.keepmecurrent.com, you may want to start doing that. Every week we reach more readers via the web and social media – just another change in our business that helps us to stay in touch with you, the readers.

We like to hear from you. Please call or email anytime with your feedback. And, take a minute to “like” us on Facebook and stay in touch with us that way. Thank you for going out of your way to pick up the paper every week. Our circulation is growing and we appreciate that you take the time to pick up the paper and read it faithfully.

Lee Hews, The Publisher