In the past couple of weeks, I have been writing about changes in the North Raleigh News section. Today, I want to tell you about the biggest change yet - at least for me. I will no longer be editing this section.

In fact, I no longer work for The News & Observer. As those who have followed the newspaper industry know, the business is going through a period of retrenchment. I firmly believe newspapers will be around as long as we remain a democracy (and let's hope that's a while). But, right now, economic realities are such that newspapers all over the country are trimming their payrolls.

A while back, the N&O offered buyouts to a number of staff members. I was among those who got the offer, and I decided to accept it.

It was a really tough decision until I decided the opportunities outweighed the risks. Yes, I have to find another job but, meanwhile, I have the chance to explore opportunities

You never know what life has for you unless you try -- really try. And to really try, you need the luxury of time. For the immediate future, I have that luxury. This was an opportunity I could not pass up.

I've enjoyed my time at the N&O and I'm not necessarily severing ties. In fact, I will be offering my services as a freelance writer to the N&O, so you may see my name occasionally.

Michelle Valenzuela will be handling the section. She is an experienced editor -- currently the designer and copy editor for the North Raleigh News --and a North Raleigh resident. I'm confident she'll keep this section moving in the right direction.

I don't have enough space to get into how fun and rewarding it has been to edit this section for the past five years.

My favorite columns have been the ones that helped people -- the teenager determined to go to school despite a crippling illness, the elderly man evicted from his apartment after a minor financial error threw him into a tailspin.

Now, I'm looking forward to moving on to a new phase of my life.

You can reach me at dholly@mindspring.com.