Looking at the Year in Review issue is an interesting process for a community newspaper. It shows the highs and the lows, the controversy and the calm and, of course, the progress and the projects that occurred.

The exercise also shows where the North Kitsap Herald put its ink. While we do our best to provide well-rounded coverage for the larger communities of Poulsbo and Kingston, we also have made great strides this past year in getting out into the smaller ones that are sprinkled around the North End and have identities all their own.

Our resolution in 2004 is to improve. Plain and simple. We feel that while 103 years of continuous coverage to the community we serve is certainly noteworthy, it’s also by no means an excuse to sit on our laurels and accept the status quo.

In order to make this the best year yet, we will need the assistance of you — the readership. Let us know how we’re doing. What stories are important to you? What stories aren’t? We are the voice of the community but without the residents of North Kitsap, we have no words.

Newspapers are a reflection of the areas they serve. They are not omnipotent beings. They make mistakes, miss stories and sometimes are unable to give as much ink to issues as some would like.

Some things are simply out of our hands. We are a small staff after all. Even so, we can improve.

We will improve.