Citizen is only newspaper in Lehigh with a presence

By Staff | Jul 21, 2009

The offices of the Lehigh Acres News Star have closed as of Friday, July 17. The announcement was made on a News-Press website earlier last week. The closing of the News Star leaves The Lehigh Acres Citizen as the only local community newspaper with offices in Lehigh Acres.

The Citizen is located at 411 Lee Blvd., across the street from Truly Nolan and next to a string of medical offices.

Jack Glarrow, the publisher of Breeze Newspapers, of which The Citizen is a part, said upon learning of the News Star’s leaving Lehigh, that the local media landscape is changing.

“We want readers of the Lehigh Acres Citizen to know that we are a part of the Lehigh community and will be for a long time.

“You can call us at a local phone number, 368-3944 and visit us at our office located at 411 Lee Blvd., he said.

“We believe that in order to understand Lehigh, we need to be in Lehigh.

“Residents of Lehigh Acres have adopted the daily Lehigh Acres Citizen web site, lehighacrescitizen.com, as their own.

Glarrow went on to say that the number of visitors to that site has tripled in the last six month.

“We are proud to say we are staying in Lehigh Acres, and have become the only local news source to have a daily presence in this community. As always, stop by to say hello,” Glarrow said.

Editor Mel Toadvine has been with The Citizen since its inception in 1996 and has become an integral part of the community. He not only works in Lehigh, but he and his wife live in Lehigh.

He is always available to answer your questions about news and coverage and encourages readers to check out the lehighacrescitizen.com website daily.

“We strive to keep our Internet daily up to date during the day and night,” Toadvine said.

Because of the popularity of the Citizen, papers are taken from racks all over the community within a day or so. Toadvine said every piece of news that is in the weekly paper is on the Internet, too.

“But in addition, we supply you with more news during the week, news that you are interested in and news that affects the readers of Lehigh Acres,” Toadvine said. Copies of the Citizen are also given away free to many residents in the community when the paper arrives in their driveway on Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning.

Dick Masse is The Citizen’s display advertising executive and he is available, too, to talk to advertisers in the community and to aid them with advertising that will help their business to grow in these difficult economic times.

Businesses in Lehigh should feel confident that Masse is a professional, able to answer your questions about display advertising. Readers interested in classified advertising can put their ads into The Citizen or any of its sister newspapers or The Shopper anytime by coming to the office or by calling from home 574-5644 to place their ads. The ads are also online.

Toadvine has been with The Citizen since its inception in 1996 and has watched the community grow. He has also witnessed the downward trend in the economy and keeps his readers informed.

He encourages readers to participate in online message boards regarding issues in Lehigh.

“This is an open forum where Lehigh Acres residents can voice their opinions with others. I especially like this new form of newspaper publication since the readers can interact with others in the community on our forums,” he said. In addition, The Citizen has bloggers who write on particular subjects. If you are interested in becoming a blogger, contact Toadvine at The Citizen.

When The Citizen opened its doors in 1996, it promised to become the leading community newspaper in Lehigh Acres and that is its constant goal, Toadvine said.

“Again our offices are on the curve of Lee Blvd., near the medical complex, at 411 Lee Blvd. Continue to write us letters to the editor and to comment on our daily Internet website at: lehighacrescitizen.com. Support our advertisers during these difficult times. They are our friends and our neighbors,” Toadvine said.

The closing of the News Star which is owned by the Fort Myers News-Press and Garnett Newspapers reflects the economic problems of Garnett nationwide. Massive layoffs at Garnett newspapers have taken place last year and again this year, Toadvine said.