Because of you, we have improved as a paper

We started with a simple plan. We knew that if we produced a high quality weekly newspaper that covers local news, people would read it. With readers come advertisers, and if the paper is a quality product, it goes into homes instead of recycling bins. We reasoned that this formula had worked before and would work again.

The Thousand Oaks Acorn was founded a decade ago, and we're celebrating our 10th anniversary. We owe this success to our readers and our advertisers. To you.

Was it easy? No, it wasn't. It takes hard work and dedication to build something from scratch. It takes talented reporters, copy editors and proofreaders. It takes outstanding photographers, receptionists, bookkeepers and production personnel. It takes professional sales consultants and a diligent classified advertising department.

It also requires a forward-thinking publisher and associate publisher. It takes a printing company that consistently meets our demands for quality, and a distribution company that understands all the ins and outs of delivery.

Most of all, it requires people who are happiest when they're working as a team. It means hiring folks who take pride in their work, who realize that you can't cut corners if your goal is perfection. It requires people who can cope with the stress of deadlines.

The reward comes every Thursday. Producing a weekly newspaper is like having a baby 52 times a year. Some weeks are better than others. One thing, however, never changes: We always try to improve, and each week gives us a new opportunity.

We've grown and thrived over the past decade because of our teamwork and dedication to serve our readers and advertisers.

Thank you. You have all helped motivate us to produce a stronger community newspaper.

This milestone anniversary is, after all, as much about you, the person reading this message, as it is about us.