Sometimes it’s not a bad idea for an entire region to get in touch with itself — and for that, I turn to a favorite quote from the late educator and writer Stephen Covey, whose simple but direct point for businesses and individuals was to focus on “the main thing.”

This year, Comstock’s readers revealed an interest in the kind of hyperlocal news only regional media can provide, from profiles of rising leaders to behind-the-scenes explorations of the developments and investments that impact the cities where we live and work.

For most of us who live and work here, Sacramento, the once-called “cow town,” has grown with the region into a thriving but manageable metropolis.

The biggest, most bumbling elephant in the room these days may be summarized in that famous line from “Jerry Maguire,” the 1996 Tom Cruise movie: “Show me the money!”

For 175 years, from California’s admission into the U.S. until now, it sits as the fourth largest economy in the world. More than 220 attempts have been made to divide our state into two, three and even six states. The various reasons have included its sheer size and its presumed ungovernability.

I just spent a week in Washington, D.C., attending a National Press Foundation fellowship on local small business reporting. What I learned is that the Capital Region’s problems are not unique; small and mid-size cities around the U.S. are experiencing much of the same challenges and problems that we have here.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: Both Capital Public Radio an KVIE have demonstrated determined resiliency in the face of funding cuts. This reflects an admirable pliability coupled with toughness on the part of both stations — and says something very positive about the Capital Region, which is stepping up to support them.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: While the actual, astronomical middle of summer is August 7, the days surrounding it may still retain that hazy, lazy and magical quality Shakespeare celebrated in his lighthearted “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” I’ve lately been finding that some of my dreams for this region and state are leaving me, if not literally sleepless, at least mentally and emotionally tossing and turning.

On average, more than 13,000 animals come into Bradshaw Animal Shelter in Sacramento each year. During our Comstock’s photo shoot, we were told 72 animals came in on one day alone!

FROM THE PUBLISHER: In a moment of either exasperation or truth seeking, Dr. Sigmund Freud, the father of modern psychiatry, asked, “What does a woman want?” Today, that question needn’t be gender related. It might be more appropriate to ask, “What does the new generation — the youngest segment of the workforce — want?”