As there are no letters to the editor this week, we feel compelled to write a letter from the editor.

Historically, the letters to the editor section has played an important role in the public discourse of myriad topics, from criticisms, kudos and questions of a political nature to thank you notes of a more personal or community nature. Readers often tell us that the letters page is the one to which they turn immediately after reading the front page in order to see what their neighbors have to say.

Elections, of course, offer the most opportune time for public comment, as does the emergence or resurgence of a "hot topic." However, we are aware that the community continues to discuss among itself any number of topics of a political, civic and social nature. This knowledge begs the question: Why aren't you writing?

As far as we are concerned, there are few things more vital and interesting for our local paper than what our readers are thinking and what they're saying. For that reason, we encourage you to keep those cards and letters coming. The community needs the public dialogue to continue, year-round.

We'd like to hear from you. We are your voice to the community. If you've got a complaint, let us and the general public know. If you have something nice to say, say it in print. We are a community, after all, and what better way of communicating with each other than through the letters page of your community newspaper?

- CS