In a time when algorithms and apps decide what people see, The Bridge Weekly Sho-Case stands apart. We don’t chase national headlines or viral moments. Instead, we share the stories that make our small towns feel like home: the high school basketball recap, the honor roll, the selectboard decision, the church supper, the new diner down the street. These are the details that may not make the news anywhere else, but they matter here. They keep us connected.

What’s encouraging is that more young people are turning to the paper. Teenagers flip through to find their names after Friday’s game. Young parents check the calendar for weekend events. Students look for stories about classmates who earned a scholarship or put on a play. At a time when studies show heavy social media use is tied to higher stress, anxiety, and loneliness¹, the simple act of reading local stories can offer a healthier sense of connection. It’s real people, real places, and real happenings—not just another scroll of noise.

But here’s the plain truth: The Bridge Weekly Sho-Case cannot exist without support. Each issue is made possible by local businesses, nonprofits, and municipalities who choose to share their messages in our pages. When a town places a notice, when a nonprofit promotes its fundraiser, when a family business runs an ad—they’re doing more than just advertising. They’re helping preserve the tradition of local storytelling.

That’s why we ask you, our readers, to support the advertisers you see in our pages and hear on WYKR radio. Visit their shops. Use their services. Attend their events. Tell them you saw their ad in The Bridge Weekly. Your support helps them thrive—and helps us keep telling the stories of our region.

Our role is simple: to serve every generation. For older readers, the paper is a familiar companion they’ve relied on for years. For younger readers, it’s a way to see themselves and their communities reflected. Keeping that balance—honoring tradition while engaging new generations—is what we strive for each week. But it only works if the whole community stands behind it.

Local papers and radio don’t just inform—they connect us. They give us common ground and keep us reminded of what makes this part of Vermont and New Hampshire special. Without them, the small things—the very things that make us who we are—can get lost.

So thank you for reading, for caring, and for supporting the paper and the radio. With your help, The Bridge Weekly Sho-Case and WYKR will continue to serve our towns, our families, and our future for years to come.

– From all of us at The Bridge Weekly Sho-Case

Sources:

U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health, HHS.gov (2023)

“The News Consumption Habits of 16- to 40-Year-Olds,” American Press Institute (2022)

MIT Sloan Study on Social Media Access and Mental Health Declines (2023)

Oxford Internet Institute Study on Teen Mental Health and Social Media (2022)

Have a story?