Just as I have been lamenting the disintegration of local newspapers, along comes a great issue of the Village News, accompanied by a colorful new Country Review magazine.

What a contrast to the local, daily newspaper – no need to mention its name! On Thanksgiving Thursday, "their" issue consisted of six pounds worth of advertising wrapped around a poorly edited jumble of sections. The only choice was to grit one’s teeth, make space on the table, and approach the morning search for news like a mystery tour!

The November 22 issue of the Village News, on the other hand, was clean, neat, well-assembled and full of good articles. I was especially happy to read two really upbeat stories: the demise of Granite Construction’s Liberty Quarry, and Advertisement

[ Metalography ] a feature on how Fallbrook Hospital literally saved one resident’s life and continues to operate our "full service" local hospital despite some earlier rumors to the contrary.

The accompanying Holiday Edition of Country Review magazine will definitely have a place of honor on my coffee table. It struck a responsive chord in this lifelong beer lover’s heart with the cover story that "something is brewing" in our little corner of the world. Imagine, there are now no fewer than seven breweries within a 25 mile radius of Fallbrook!

Thank you, Julie Reeder and staff, you’re doing a great job and I’m constantly encouraging Fallbrook friends and neighbors to subscribe to this must-read publication if they want to enjoy our active community to the full.

Sue Thorne