By Cheryl Conway

With winter holidays behind us and the new year already here, many may have noticed some extra kindness with more and more people giving to charities, hosting dinners, providing meals and reaching out to those struggling or needing some help to get by.

These are the type of stories that New View Media Group welcomes as good news and kindness tend to spread and creates a chain reaction that may encourage others to pitch in by donating some time, money or items that they do not need or use.

New View Media Group, it’s that new view on news that tends to steer away from anything controversial and negative, such as last year’s political debates and election. The recent election, as contentious as it was, remains uneasy for many who question the next leadership; and if the other candidate would have won, that same uneasiness would have still been present.

As readers look back at 2016, and then forward to what lies ahead, we must not forget the importance of sticking to core values, good ethics and morals, and proper etiquette which can range from being kind to others; having respect for all people; being honest and giving to those who may be struggling.

Throughout the past year, the local community has been an outreach in so many ways to help others both near and far. Readers of the “West Orange News” were inundated with so many positive stories.  A ‘book lady’ in Essex County delivers free books to nail salons and beauty shops to encourage reading among children; the Mountain Top League holds its fourth Annual Food Drive to benefit the Holy Trinity Food Pantry; local kindergartner attends school through robot; West Orange community honors first responders by painting blue lines on roads; West Orange Police Dept. donate bicycles to a village in Ghana; a fundraiser walk is held at West Orange High School to raise traffic safety awareness; a search and rescue dog statue in dedicated at Essex County Eagle Rock Park; local man embarks on 46-day sea voyage to raise awareness of rare brain cancer; Mt. Pleasant School celebrates diversity and hosts Flag Day program; local father co-authors inspirational sports book with two sons; WOHS hosts 11^th annual Relay For Life to raise funds for cancer research; local teenager creates Go Fund Me page and sells wristbands  to raise money to help friend fighting leukemia; 11-year old girl collects thousands of books to promote diverse reading and feature black girls.

The list of amazing stories that detail all of the wonderful actions prompted by the local community go on and on. For 2017, let’s continue to share in all of the good that surrounds us, big or small, near or far.

Send your press releases and story ideas to me at editor@newviewmg.com. Hope happy holidays were had by all and may 2017 be bright, healthy and filled with all great things.