For me, and I’m guessing for many of you, September has always been a time of change – of fresh starts and new beginnings. I think a lot of us share that sentiment from years of starting a new school year each September, a time that always came with great anticipation, coupled with a little anxiety.

I have never been able to shake those feelings, and this year I felt them acutely, as I sent my oldest child off to college. Talk about new beginnings, this is a big one! It’s exciting to watch her begin her new, independent life.

Here at the Current, we’ve embarked on a new journey this month as well. As of last week, The Current can be found at more than 150 locations throughout Scarborough, Cape Elizabeth, and South Portland – free! Our objective is to get the paper in the hands of as many readers as we possibly can. Whether you are a kid looking for the local high school sports news, a young family trying to navigate the bus schedules for the first time, or a senior, enjoying the prime time at Piper Shores, we want you to have access to your hometown newspaper, every single week, conveniently and at no charge. You can still subscribe and get The Current in your home mailbox, for less than 70 cents a week, if you find that more convenient. If we’ve missed a local spot where you would like to be able to pick up the paper, please let me know at lcasler@keepmecurrent.com.

Another big change for The Current is our expanded South Portland coverage. We have, for the last six years, focused primarily on Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth. For several years, we’ve also brought readers stories from South Portland, but in response to residents and business owners in the community who have asked for it, we’ll be printing more South Portland stories and putting more online.

We’re lucky to have the help of veteran journalist and South Portland resident Linda Hersey. In addition to 15 years as a reporter in Portland; Keene, N.H., and St. Paul, Minn., Hersey worked as assistant city editor at the Miami Herald and spent seven years at the Portland Press Herald, where she worked as city editor, political editor, assitant managing editor for news and assistant managing editor for features.

“I love being a South Portland resident. I care a lot about my community,” said Hersey. “I’ve been an editor, a manager and a reporter. To me the most exciting reporting and coverage is in the community, and that’s one of the reasons community newspapers do so well is people really care about the news and events and people who live in their neighborhood, their community. This is the stuff that affects their lives.”

This week she previewed a professional eating competition taking place at Costa Vida restaurant in South Portland. Those who can stomach it are welcome to watch some of the world’s top eaters take on Costa Vida’s Big Kahuna burrito Saturday. Another South Portland restaurant is also in the news this week – Beale Street Barbeque. The building where the restaurant is located is on the verge of being converted into a four-story complex with office and retail space. To find out what planning board members and local merchants have to say about the project, readers can turn to our business page.

Also, in addition to the great South Portland coverage in print, you can catch Linda’s local blog, which will debut next week. Check out next week’s Current or go to www.keepmecurrent.com to find out how to connect to your community online. Readers won’t have to wait for the paper each week to get Linda’s reporting. She’ll be updating the blog every day.

Thanks for giving us so much of your time every week. We know through letters, feedback and newspapers flying of the shelves that you are a group of dedicated and loyal readers. As always, we want to hear from you with ideas, comments, and suggestions. You can reach our editor, Brendan Moran at bmoran@keepmecurrent.com; Linda Hersey at lhersey@keepmecurrent.com; or me at lcasler@keepmecurrent.com. See you next week.

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