"Has it been five years? It has.

On February 7, 2002, several of this town's most seasoned journalists whipped up a little 44-page thing dubbed the Hook.

Long on enthusiasm but initially a little unsure of our mission, we struggled to define what we wanted to be.

Five years and dozens of journalism awards later, we believe we've identified ourselves as honest brokers of information delivered with style.

And we think you're enjoying it. Our 400+ newsracks scattered over eight counties seem to empty pretty quickly each week.

Why? Is it the latest story on Lethal Wrecker or the infamous cat-shooting? Maybe. Or perhaps it's our coverage of the range of issues that catch the interest of people in the area: the Albemarle school bomb scare, the blockade of the Rivanna Trail, or the latest twist for the Prism Coffeehouse.

Although we've recently adopted a 24/7 Internet news presence, our journalistic soul most values the in-depth coverage that's become our hallmark. Relaying news of Central Virginia is our mission.

Has it been five years? It has. And not only is the Hook surviving, all signs point to thriving." (The Hook, February 1, 2007)