No one knew me in Sant’Agata; that lasted about five minutes.

As in small towns everywhere, word spread fast. People in the tiny mountain village in Italy’s toe knew exactly where to find my relatives, and I, a humbled American motorcyclist with just a few euros to my name, became a celebrated guest for six weeks in Calabria. That was this past January. By February, Italian was my first language and young and old were embracing me like a lifelong neighbor.

In the first month I’ve lived here with you folks, I’ve felt the same acceptance and affection. Thank you for making this Oregonian feel like a native son.

Now that I’ve become acclimated to your ways of life, I feel ready to begin tweaking our operations at The Courier-Herald to provide you with an even better level of service.

Here are some things to watch for in 2011:

• The debut of our new publications, such as The Courier-Herald’s 2011 Dining Guide (coming Dec. 29), and our Vehicle Buyer’s Guide

• You can also expect to see us strengthening our editorial and circulation teams (which means better content, delivered with improved consistency)

• More unique, in-depth features about local issues and community figures

• More specialized coverage in our Bonney Lake and Sumner papers

• The publishing of names in the weekly police blotter

• Greater coverage of public court proceedings

• A higher priority given to the Community Calendar

• Improvements to The Courier-Herald’s website and online presence

Many people have expressed what I’d describe as a giddy shock at the notion of publishing the names of those arrested by our esteemed city police. However, I consider this service to be central to the newspaper’s mission of keeping the public educated.

Additionally, I believe an educated public will be able to better conduct neighborhood watches and encourage law-abiding practices. The very act of breaking the law will now theoretically carry with it the prospect of public humiliation – a successfully proven deterrent since at least the Middle Ages.

In a community this small, such a decision will undoubtedly be polarizing. It will undoubtedly win me some fans and cost me others. Still others will support the idea – right up until they see their name in the paper. Love it or hate it, the police blotter will be copy everyone wants to read.

Please continue to share feedback on the stories you read in The Courier-Herald. We’re here, we’re local and we’re listening.

If you haven’t had the chance to meet me yet, my door is always open to chat. I’d love to see you stop in for a hand shake, hear about you and what you do.

And if you really want to get on my good side, I do love pie.