Every Friday morning, a quiet but significant ritual takes place—the Sentinel arrives in print, delivering the stories of Greenwich to the people who live them. This newspaper, now approaching its tenth anniversary in April, was born out of a simple but profound belief: that Greenwich deserved a publication deeply committed to its town, its people, and its future.
This past week, the conversation turned to us. Not a discussion we initiated, not something we sought, but there it was—unscripted, candid, and, for those of us at the Sentinel, deeply humbling. Readers reflected on how the paper has grown—how the reporting has sharpened, how the coverage has become more comprehensive, how the issues that matter most to Greenwich are covered with diligence and care. It was the kind of feedback that makes a newsroom take stock, that reinforces why we do this work.
When this paper started nearly a decade ago, it was little more than an idea, a conviction that Greenwich needed a newspaper built for and by the town. Those early days were filled with long hours and the effort to get the fundamentals right. Today, the Sentinel is stronger. The reporting is deeper. The scope is broader. But none of it happened in isolation. It happened because Greenwich stepped in—offering story leads, sending letters, pushing us to be better, supporting us through subscriptions, advertising, and engagement. A newspaper is only as strong as the community behind it. When a paper thrives, a town is informed, connected, and engaged. When it falters, something irreplaceable is lost.
The Sentinel is not a “gotcha” paper. It does not chase clicks or manufacture outrage. It operates from a simple premise—that most people, whether they agree or disagree, want what is best for Greenwich. That context matters. That fairness and clarity matter.
This is a newspaper built differently—rooted in community, grounded in the belief that local news is not about division but about a shared civic life. We do not seek to be the loudest voice in the media landscape, nor necessarily the fastest (though increasingly, we are). But we do seek to be thorough, comprehensive, and reliable. A source where readers can find what they need to know, in one place.
That is only possible because of you—because of the letters you write, the stories you share, the advertisements you place, and the advertisers that you support. This is not just a paper about Greenwich—it is a paper of Greenwich.
Across the country, small newspapers are disappearing. Some shutter entirely. Others shrink into something unrecognizable—cutting staff, filling pages with syndicated content, losing their connection to the communities they once kept strong. When a local paper vanishes, a town loses more than just newsprint. Civic engagement declines. Government decisions go unchecked. The small but meaningful stories—new business openings, student achievements, volunteer efforts—fade from record.
If Greenwich wants to keep its newspaper, it must make the choice to do so.
The steps are simple but essential. Subscribe. A newspaper cannot exist without paying readers. Engage. Send a letter, share a story, submit a moment that matters. A town that participates in its paper ensures that the paper truly reflects the town. Advertise. Local businesses have long been the financial foundation of newspapers. If you own a business, take out an ad. If you don’t, support the businesses that do—because when they invest in local journalism, they invest in Greenwich. Show up. Attend town meetings, local events, and community conversations. Participation shapes the quality of local news.
A town that values itself, that understands the necessity of a shared civic life, will take the steps to keep its newspaper strong.
Last week, we received many kind words. We also received a suggestion or two. One tells us what we are doing right. The other makes us better. That is how a real newspaper operates—with humility, accountability, and trust in the intelligence of its readers.
We work to get better every week. But that only happens because the people of Greenwich have decided to make it so.
