In a few days, we will experience the end of 2012 and the beginning of 2013. In that same line of thought, today is The Sun’s last edition. We made a good showing with the weekly paper, which started in August, 2011, but the economic forecast is that The Anniston Star will be covering more Oxford stories in the future since the population is shifting here.

We writers of The Sun have had a great 18 months creating stories about our friends and neighbors in Oxford and nearby areas. I speak for them in saying thanks to those who have allowed us into their homes and businesses. Some of us writers plan to continue writing in other Consolidated newspapers as free-lancers, and I encourage readers to continue sharing story ideas with the editors at The Anniston Star.

Endings usually carry with them negative thoughts, but that should not always be the case. The ending of one thing usually means the beginning of something else, and I know the editors are talking of writing more special magazines for Oxford, which are always popular products.

This past couple of years, I have had the chance to visit many of the small towns in South Alabama. The buildings along what were once bustling streets are often falling in, and many of them have not even one business left there.

Oxford is fortunate to be a growing town, and even though a business closes here and there around the city, there is usually another that takes it place, often in the same building.

Because of the large tax base in Oxford, and because of prudent spending by its leaders, buildings, such as the Oxford Civic Center, are not only preserved, but also they are often enhanced. Instead of allowing the old part of the Oxford downtown area to fade, the city leaders wisely decided to convert an old government building into a performing arts center. The purpose of one building ends, and a new purpose begins.

Recently, I was driving around Oxford observing how some of the neighborhoods have aged since I lived in Fowler estates about 15 years ago. However, even in the areas where mostly elderly people live, there is usually a young family with a few kids, evidenced by either toys and bicycles in the yards. One reason for this is that no matter where families with children live in Oxford, they have access to good schools. This bodes well for Oxford and keeps neighborhoods from declining toward a bad end, as young families remodel house or build new ones.

Sure, I am sad that The Oxford Sun is ending, just as I am sad that other positive things sometimes end no matter how much effort is put into them. However, focusing on new opportunities and new beginnings can lead to success. There will always be good stories to write about, interesting people, new programs, successful businesses and positive projects going on in Oxford. As far as covering all of these, there will be a variety of new ways to capture Oxford in print. Consolidating Publishing is dedicated to being successful as it moves forward toward that goal.

Email to Sherry at skughn@hotmail.com.