Publishing a newspaper is no small task. But nobody prepared me for how much fun it would be. During the months that Karen and I have been building the Lansing Star, it has already brought many rewards. Now that we are publishing weekly issues, I have been reflecting on what we hope to accomplish. First and foremost we hope the Star will become, in Karen's words, "an on-line Main Street" for our community.

We've lived in Lansing for about 18 years, and the Star is one way of giving back to the community. We intend to cover all aspects of Lansing, a task I hope isn't too ambitious for a Mom and Pop outfit. We plan to give back to the community whenever we can. In addition to featuring the community every week, this will take the form of a scholarship for a graduating High School Senior who has an interest in journalism or online publishing, contributions to local efforts whenever we can, taking on young Lansing people as interns and providing a forum for the community that is welcoming and available. We are thrilled to have volunteer writers of all ages, including several Middle School students and adults from different corners of the community, contributing news, columns and humor.

We plan to cover the news without bias, perhaps an impossible task. We will not sensationalize the news, but will let it speak for itself as much as possible. We will inform the community about what is going on in Lansing government, schools, places of worship and local organizations. We will feature local businesses and individuals.

Publishing on-line offers many advantages. We'll be posting emergency information such as school closings and road construction. Lansing weather is automatically updated several times a day. We have "instant polls" and a message board for the on-line extension to our community. Best of all you can keep up with what's happening when you travel, or if you have moved away from town for a job or to go to school.

We need your help, too. Please read us weekly and tell all your friends. When you have something to advertise, we have reasonable rates. Please support our advertisers by clicking on their ads and doing business with them, because they make it possible for you to read the Star for free. And we hope that when you have news you will send it our way.

Lansing is a town of talented and fascinating people. Everyone I talk to has something amazing about their lives, be it an accomplishment, a talent or just something about their personality. It is surprising how much goes on in town, and how involved the community is in the schools, sports, town life and the spirit of giving.