Happy New Year!

I’m sitting here staring at my computer screen on a Saturday afternoon, and the office seems especially quiet and empty.

That’s because for the first time in 32 years, Mike Scharnow is no longer a member of The Times staff.

Officially, Thursday, December 31, was his last day as editor of this community newspaper. He left the office about 2:30 p.m. that afternoon. Before leaving, he came into my office to say goodbye.

We shook hands and I told him it was a very sad moment for me. He agreed and thanked me for giving him an opportunity to work at the newspaper.

I thanked him for the fine job he had done since being named editor in June 1994. The newspaper has won numerous editorial awards from both the Arizona Newspaper Association and the National Newspaper Association under his leadership.

He is leaving to pursue a career change and has started his training as a financial consultant with a company called Thrivent.

I understand the editorial staff took Mike out for a happy hour one day during his final week as a show of appreciation for his guidance and ability to get the best out of them in putting together their stories each week.

One of those staff members saying thank you to Mike was Ryan Winslett, who is replacing Mike as editor.

I also took Mike out to lunch after I returned from a holiday trip to have Christmas with our New Jersey grandkids for the first time since they were born.

Diane and I have been asked how our trip was. We had a good time except for the extra time spent in both the Phoenix and Newark airports from flight delays both coming and going.

Because of announcements on TV stations we arrived about three hours early to make sure we had plenty of time to check our baggage and pass the security process during the busy holiday travel season. I’d say we got through that process in about 20 minutes at the Phoenix airport and about a half-hour in Newark.

The delays were caused by weather conditions where our flights were originating.

The weather couldn’t have been better for late December in New Jersey. I had been dreading this trip because of potential ice and snow storms that could move into the area. I was afraid of falling by slipping on the Ice.

Instead, the weather was quite remarkable. On Christmas Eve day, it was 71 degrees in Central Park in New York City.

That was an all-time record high for that date. The previous record of 63 degrees was broken by 8:30 a.m. that day. And when I later checked the Phoenix temperature later the high was only 53.

On Monday, we took the kids to a new park in Essex County, N.J., not far from daughter Tammy’s house. There were plenty of people out jogging around the lake and kids playing on the new playground equipment in short sleeve shirts and shorts.

That night the temperature did drop as a cold front moved in from the west. They were expecting a “balmy” temperature of 41 degrees when the ball dropped in Times Square on New Year’s Eve.

Anyway our Christmas was very good. We got to see all the grandkids: Brandon, who is seven; Brodie, who is six; Brylee, who is 4; and Brielle, who, is 2.

Those are the New Jersey children of daughter Tammy. Another daughter living in New Jersey is Dani. Her son, Hunter, is now 16 and has his driver’s permit. He drove when we went to see the latest “Star Wars” movie. He actually did quite well and he and I enjoyed the movie.

Daughter Holly and her two girls, seven-year-old Brooke and five-year–old Addy, celebrated Christmas this past Monday. They stopped at our house on their way back to their home in Carlsbad, Calif. They spent Christmas at Holly’s mom’s house in San Carlos, Mexico.

Finally, our newest grandson, Camden, almost 2, stayed at our house with his parents, our daughter, Toni, and her husband, Jason, when we went to New Jersey.

They are staying until this weekend and will return to their home in Las Vegas.

With a final Christmas celebration this past Monday night, we can finally take down our decorations.