Following the departure of former editor Anneli Fogt, who left the newspaper in November, The Beachcomber has named Susan Riemer to the editor position.

Riemer has worked at The Beachcomber for 16 years, first as an editorial assistant, then as a part-time reporter and for the last several years as the full-time reporter. Publisher Daralyn Anderson noted her experience and said she was pleased to have Riemer fill the editor role.

“Susan knows the island extremely well and has written countless stories about nearly every facet of island life,” she said. “We are happy to have her in this new position.”

Riemer, too, said she is pleased to step into the editor job, noting that she has worked closely with four editors in her time at the paper.

“My hope is to draw from the best lessons I have learned from each of them on writing, making hard decisions, being accountable in the community and moving on from mistakes,” she said. “The job is a challenging one — more than many people realize — but I love that it is never, ever boring.”

She added that while the role, and fate, of newspapers is changing in the digital age, she believes strongly in community newspapers and the role they play.

“I am passionate about the sharing of information,” she said. “And I love a good story. With my colleagues, I am looking forward to telling more of them as the new year unfolds.”

She encourages islanders to stop by and say hello or to be in touch with news tips, questions, complaints or simply old-fashioned conversation.

She can be reached at 206-504-1878 or editor@vashonbeachcomber.com.