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We love unveiling a new issue every month.

Our work goes straight into your hands, and we always hope it means something to you. This is a small but widely varied industry. The one thing that we all have in common is appreciation for the people who make a difference for more than just themselves.

Some do that in small ways, like an innovative boatbuilder who designs a new kind of boat and creates it out of two would-be-retired seiners. (See Splitting pairs about a Virginia menhaden seiner.)

Some do that in big ways, like NF Highliner Larry Simns, who has held the title of president of the Maryland Watermen's Association since 1970 and recently released his memoir, co-written with Robert Rich Jr. (See the Editor's Log and the full story in the magazine.)

Then there are those who just get an early jump on things, like buying their first boat at age 12. That's what Maine lobsterman Alec Peasley did and is now building his third and biggest boat. (See Around the Yards.)

More than anything, I love to hear a good story. There are a lot of challenges in our industry right now, and I refuse to bury my head in the sand about them. But today I'd like to focus on what's going right.

Let's ring in the new year with some cheer and then get down to work.

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Jessica Hathaway is the former editor in chief of National Fisherman.

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