The Gazette’s Thursday evening open house was a huge success, with as many as 150 fine Sequim folk showing up to partake in cake, contests and the friendly welcome of the Gazette staff.

We held the open house to provide an opportunity for those in the community to get to know the Gazette better, and for Gazette staffers to better know those we serve.

For many of our guests, this was a first opportunity to put a face to a familiar name at the Sequim Gazette.

Perhaps the best aspect of the get-together was the opportunity it provided to explain to our old and new friends how a newspaper works: how ads are designed and created, where our story ideas originate, and how photos and other "art" create a more pleasing and more highly readable newspaper.

While we were at it, we raised money for the Sequim Food Bank — and collected a substantial package of goods for delivery to the bank.

The Gazette staffers also took the opportunity to make an important point:  yes, we’ve undergone many changes since we were purchased a year ago by Sound Publishing, but we’re still your friendly hometown paper, staffed by your neighbors and friends.

Of course, the Gazette’s commitment doesn’t stop with one open house.  Our doors are always open. That’s the best way to ensure our advertisers get the biggest bang for the buck. It’s also a good way to let you, our readers, know we are dedicated to serving you.

Again, thank you to everyone who dropped by, and an every-day-of-the year thank you to our thousands of readers.

— Debi Lahmeyer, General Manager