When I was asked to take over as editor of The Shepherdstown Chronicle nearly eight years ago, I was filled with excitement. Shepherdstown was a town that my family had long been connected with, both in the news world and otherwise.

My great-great-something ancestor served as a reporter for The Shepherdstown Register in the late-1800s. Another ancestor, my great-great-great-grandfather, was a lifelong Shepherdstown resident and riverboat captain, who led a group of Shepherd College students on at least one scenic tour of the Potomac River, from Shepherdstown to Harpers Ferry, in 1874. Over a century later, the family connection with Shepherdstown continued, with my mother, followed by my cousin and brother, all having joined the ranks of proud Shepherd University alumni. I myself was introduced to the wonderful world of Art as a child, through performances at Shepherd University and coaching from various music teachers connected with that academic institution.

This is all to say, that Shepherdstown has always held a significant place in my history, as well as in my heart. Being given the opportunity to cover its happenings felt like a dream come true — a dream I was privileged to live for many years. And so it is particularly sad for me, to know this newspaper and its 34-year legacy will now come to a close with the publication of this final edition.

A big ‘thank you’ must be said to all of you who have helped support The Shepherdstown Chronicle as faithful subscribers — some of whom, I have been told, have stayed subscribed to the newspaper since its founding in 1991 by longtime Shepherdstown residents John and Mary Lehman, right here in the same office I am currently writing this from on Duke Street. These wonderful subscribers have remained committed to learning about and supporting local news, in spite of the many changes they — and the newspaper — have lived through: the sale of The Shepherdstown Chronicle to Ogden Newspapers in 2001, the rise of the Digital Age, the Great Recession and the COVID-19 Pandemic, to name a few.

Gratitude must also be expressed to the businesses that have faithfully advertised in our pages and collaborated with us over the years. You have played a significant role in our success.

Although we fought the hard fight for many years, we have found that the Digital Age could simply not be beaten. Advertising sales and subscriptions have both fallen too far to continue producing this newspaper — and so, our story comes to a close.

Yet, a new page is turning. I will be transitioning to working full-time for The Journal at the beginning of the year and will, in that role, continue to share much of Shepherdstown’s news with you, our loyal readers, as well as with a broader audience.

This ending is, therefore, not a leave-taking. It is instead a real-life example of the truth behind Indian mystic and philosopher Osho’s belief, that “Each end is always a beginning, because nothing ever ends totally, nothing can ever end. Everything continues, only forms change.”

How sad that this form has to end, but how glad I am to have known it and to have shared it with you.