Tony Dodero -- From the Newsroom

Every year at this time, we ask our readers to tell us what they are

thankful for. It’s always been one of my favorite features to read the

heart-wrenching and touching stories.

This year, though, to say we all have much to be thankful for is,

well, you know, a major understatement.

Our country, countrymen and countrywomen have lived through more these

last two months than anyone should have to. We all felt the pain and the

sorrow and, in turn, the subsequent burning pride of patriotism that

followed the ugly terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.

The tragedy has given a whole new meaning to the word gratitude.

So for my little bit, I’d like to say what I’m thankful for.

First and foremost, I’m thankful for our readers.

Here in the newsroom, we take our job as the hometown newspaper for

Newport-Mesa very seriously. We work hard, long hours to give our readers

what we believe is the best community journalism in the country.

Sometimes, unfortunately, we get it wrong, and our readers let us know

-- from the grammar watchdogs (you know who you are out there) to those

who question our news judgment or take us to task for being to hard on

some or easy on others.

But we can take the criticism because our readers keep us honest and

make us better and that’s what makes all of our readers the best

community news audience in the country.

I’m thankful for them.

I’m also thankful for the tremendous political leadership we have in

our school, city, county, state and federal governments. Sure, there are

times when we disagree or don’t see eye to eye, but for the most part,

Newport-Mesa is blessed with dedicated and hard-working elected officials

who, for very little money, spend very many hours trying to make this

community better.

I’m thankful for them.

Of course I can’t neglect to mention the city and school chiefs --

Allan Roeder in Costa Mesa, Homer Bludau in Newport Beach and Robert

Barbot at Newport-Mesa -- who ensure that taxpayers receive the best

services and students the best education for their money. They lead city

workers and teachers in their daily toil to improve our world.

I’m thankful for them.

Who wouldn’t be thankful to have the people we have running the police

and fire services here? You’d be hard-pressed to find a finer bunch than

police chiefs Dave Snowden in Costa Mesa and Bob McDonell in Newport and

fire chiefs Tim Riley in Newport and Jim Ellis in Costa Mesa. And the men

and women of the police, fire and marine safety departments who work for

them make them proud all the time.

I’m thankful for them.

There are also the activists and organizers who belong to groups and

associations and charities whose collective goal is to keep

Newport-Mesa’s community strong. They join groups like Greenlight,

Citizens for the Improvement of Costa Mesa, the Airport Working Group, or

work for Save Our Selves, the PTAs or Neighborhood Watch.

I’m thankful for them.

I can’t forget my news staff. I am fortunate to work with a talented

crew of reporters, sports writers, editors, photographers, designers,

columnists and the best darn newsroom administrator there is. They are

professionals through and through and I admire all of them for their hard

work. But the Daily Pilot is much more than just a bunch of writers and

editors. The advertising and support staff here at this paper care deeply

about this paper and the community it serves. It’s because of their

dedication that this newspaper is so good.

I’m thankful for them.

Like everyone, I have mentors who have provided me with great examples

of what it takes to produce good community journalism and a great local

newspaper. These mentors include my boss, Tom Johnson, and my former

editors, Bill Lobdell and Steve Marble, now at the Times Orange County.

I’m thankful for them.

Last, but most certainly not least, are my friends and family,

especially my wife and two young daughters.

I’m so very thankful for them.

So again, thanks to you all for being a part of my world, for helping

me make this newspaper the best community newspaper in the land. And with

your help, we can get even better still.

Happy Thanksgiving.

* TONY DODERO is the editor. His column appears on Mondays. If you

have story ideas or concerns about news coverage, please send messages

either via e-mail to tony.dodero@latimes.com or by phone at 949-574-4258.