This week’s paper is an anniversary of sorts.

The October 5, 2023 edition was the first in which I’m listed as the editor of the Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber. That means this week marks one year of my tenure here.

This has been the hardest job I’ve ever had. It’s also been the most rewarding. I ascribe that to the high standards this island holds for its newspaper — and our tiny, dedicated staff.

Allow me a moment to reflect on what we’ve accomplished in the last 12 months.

We’ve covered high school sports, extreme weather, our flourishing arts community, graduation, county elections, local personalities and all the other wonderful classics of a small-town newspaper.

We’ve held island organizations accountable, detailed the extent of the ferry crisis, and explained the county comprehensive plan and the island school district’s budgeting process.

We’ve covered difficult but necessary conversations on the island about our LGBTQ+ community and our Indigenous and Japanese neighbors.

We’ve covered triumphant moments such as Jacob Plihal’s Olympic win and the expansion of water taxi service.

We’ve walked you through the push by Vashon Island Fire & Rescue and the Vashon Health Care District to provide urgent care on the island, and the Seattle Indian Health Board’s proposed Thunderbird Treatment Center.

We’ve written about orcas, bears, deer, osprey, kelp, dogs, gray whales and maple trees, covered island events, published our first Pride special section, and broken more news than I can keep track of.

Just this edition, we published our guide to fall sports at Vashon High School.

There’s still so much left to cover. We’re not perfect, and we’re not always as quick to the draw as we’d like. But I’ve always believed that slow and steady wins the race.

I only have one request, Vashon — please hold off on making any more news this Friday.

I could use a three-day weekend.

Alex Bruell is the editor of The Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber.