Regular readers of the Whidbey Crosswind will notice a few changes to the publication this week.

Established a year ago to cover active duty Navy and community news, Sound Publishing, Whidbey Crosswind’s parent company, decided to take the paper in a direction which more accurately reflects the community.

Island County is home to more than 13,300 veterans, according to the U.S. Census, or approximately 17 percent of the population. With more veterans and retirees living on Whidbey Island than active duty personnel, Sound officials decided to shift the focus of the Whidbey Crosswind to better serve the community.

“We have an opportunity here to do something no one else is doing,” said Whidbey News Group Publisher Marcia Van Dyke. “There are really no publications devoted to veterans and retirees, so we look at this change as an opportunity to cover issues that affect a significant portion of our Whidbey Island population.”

With the change in focus comes a broader distribution for the publication, which will come out monthly, rather than weekly.

The Whidbey Crosswind will be available island-wide each month. Distribution points in Anacortes, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor and Coupeville will remain. New distribution points include the Greenbank Store; Timbucktu Coffee House, Eagles and Ace Hardware in Freeland; American Legion Post 141, Rod and Gun Club, Star Store and The Goose in Langley; and Les Schwab, Red Apple and Anchor Books and Coffee in Clinton.

Story ideas, questions and letters to the editor can be sent to kreed@

whidbeycrosswind.com.

The first issue can be found inserted inside this edition of The Whidbey News-Times.