Thank-you notes from an editor as that great day for giving thanks nears. …

* Help wanted: Our 2007 Brighter Christmas Fund drive starts today. I’m thankful that I live in such a generous community. Our goal last year was $90,000. Our community donated $103,000. This year, we boldly are setting the goal at $100,000. Our board met Tuesday, and we sense that more people are in need this year. To help, please see our story on Page 1A.

*Giving back: Speaking of charity, our newsroom and online staffs collectively won an award last week for our gofridayfootball.com initiative. The prize is $1,000. Most members of these staffs have elected to donate their shares to two charities, including the BCF. I’m thankful for these caring co-workers.

* What’s news? I heard from a few readers last week about our streamlined Monday edition. Some complained that there wasn’t enough news. Actually, I was thankful for this feedback. So often all I hear is, “The crossword puzzle is the only reason I take the paper.” Or, “Obituaries are the only thing I read.” Or, “TV listings are the only …” Well, you get the idea. Thanks, but I think I know better.

*Cheap shot: One wise guy asked if we’re going to drop the cost of the Monday paper. No, thanks, but we’re not raising the cost on days when the paper is thick.

*Liar: Actually, we are raising the cost of one edition. On Thursday, the newsstand price of our Thanksgiving Day edition will be $1.50 (the price of a Sunday paper). Subscribers will not be charged extra for the largest newspaper in our history. It will include more than 40 “inserts” — some quite thick — that will help you prepare for Black Friday shopping. Thank you, advertisers.

* Be thankful: Our first “Best of Be” initiative was a big success. We asked readers to vote on the places, things, etc., that they like best in and around Anderson. We are thankful for a good response, and the establishments who received the most votes must be thankful, too. We revealed the winners Tuesday at a party at the Arts Center Warehouse and published the results in Thursday’s edition of Be. Congratulations to the winners. I want to thank reporter Jake Grove for all of his hard work on this special project.

* Pointing the Way: Thank you to all readers who have sent in nominations so far for our Pointing the Way Leadership Awards. We’re pleased to hear that you’re pleased to be included in this process, but we’re also a little puzzled, because we’ve had a trickle, not a flood, of nominations to date. Of course, the deadline isn’t until Dec. 7.

* This just in: Are you the type who likes to be the first to know when a big story breaks? Then thank us and sign up for breaking news alerts now on IndependentMail.com. You can get them via e-mail and/or cell phone. We promise we won’t send an alert unless it’s big news.

* Finally: Have a safe and happy holiday, and thank you for being a loyal reader.