I can hardly believe it has been a year since I began writing for The News & Observer. Initially my editor, Dan Holly, told me, "Write about matters that interest North Raleigh residents, but stay away from topics that are covered elsewhere in the paper."

That was a wide and yet narrow scope of potential topics. My topics were limited -- no religion, politics, business, or education, in the traditional sense. Yet they were boundless given North Raleigh's diversity of economic status, ethnic backgrounds, locals and transplants.

At times it was difficult to determine what topics were of common interest. What unites us in thought if not necessarily in viewpoint? Monthly, I wrestled with this question in an effort to determine whether it was appropriate to discuss honoring our veterans or watering lawns. This past year has challenged me to think critically about our community psyche and priorities.

I have come to realize there are many things that strike a communal chord with us. Probably, the biggest thing that unites us in thought is change. It is part of our lives in terms of how we are now required to conserve water and other resources. It is all around us in the development of a new neighborhood at Louisburg Road and 540 and the revamping of older neighborhoods like North Hills.

Just think about how much has changed in North Raleigh in this one year that I have been writing the column. Although there are many new people, places and things, some things like red hot dogs or pulled pork or local college sports, remain constant, and call newcomers to acknowledge and conform.

This push and pull is what allows us to grow and at the same time maintain our unique North Raleigh identity. After all, we are not attempting to become another Brooklyn or Buckhead. We are North Raleigh in all our glory.

For most of this past year -- this election year -- many people have desired change and politicians have promised change we can believe in and be a part of.

But human nature makes us seek comfort in the familiar and be skeptical of the unknown. At times, I encouraged readers to resist change and value the standards of the past like mom and pop pharmacies. Other times I encouraged change by sharing my efforts to purposefully shop locally for the holidays.

As with all change it is up to us whether we take part in the stirring, go with the flow, or resist.

Although we are sometimes unsure of change, overall the experience is often not as bad as we fear it might be. In July 2007 I wrote about local hospitals going tobacco free. Some hospital administrators thought there may be significant push back, but there hasn't been much "ado" at all. Before we know it we have adjusted to change regardless of how we initially felt about the proposition.

Case in point, I lamented losing our local radio voices in June 2007. Sometime during this past year I found other morning shows and I continue to gleefully surf stations during my commute.

Recently I watched a group of high school seniors on their way to the prom and I thought about their impending graduation, which will mark the end of their high school careers and signal the beginning of college or work. All things must come to an end.

But every end signals a beginning. The end of my column and other North Raleigh News columns signals the beginning of changes for this section of The News & Observer.

Just like North Raleigh, the North Raleigh News is developing. Winds of change blow constantly sometimes gently and at other times with great force.

I feel confident that many of you will enjoy the new North Raleigh News format. Thanks for a wonderful year. I'll see you around the neighborhood.