Privacy policy
Last updated: October 2, 2026
The short version: we collect your email address so we can send you the newsletter, and that's it. We don't sell it, rent it, or share it with advertisers. Our website has no tracking scripts, no analytics trackers, no ad networks and no cookies.
What we collect
When you subscribe, we store:
- Your email address
- When you signed up and when you confirmed (proof that you asked to be on the list)
- Which signup form you used (for example, the home page) and which version of our signup wording you agreed to
- A scrambled (one-way hashed) version of your internet address (IP), used only to stop spam signups. We don't store your actual IP address.
- When you unsubscribed, if you do, so we never email you again by mistake
When you email us, we have your message and email address, like any email.
How we use it
- To send you the newsletter you asked for, and a confirmation email when you sign up.
- To count subscribers (we report totals, never individual names or addresses).
- We never add anyone without their own confirmed signup, and we never buy, import or scrape email lists.
Who else handles your data
- Our email-sending service: we send our emails (confirmation emails and the newsletter) through Google Workspace, our business email provider. Google processes your email address only to deliver our emails.
- Our private subscriber spreadsheet: subscriber records (email address, signup and confirmation dates, status, and, if you unsubscribe, the unsubscribe date, plus which signup form and signup wording you used) are kept in a private Google Sheet in our Google Workspace for list management. It is never sold or shared. It does not include IP addresses, device or browser details, or any open or click tracking.
- Our web hosting / network provider may see standard technical information (like your IP address) when you visit, to deliver the page and block attacks. (Cloudflare Tunnel in front of Andrew's Windows laptop.)
- Nobody else. Sponsors never get subscriber information.
Email tracking
Our newsletter emails do not include tracking pixels or tracked links. (If this ever changes, we'll update this page first and say so in the newsletter.)
Unsubscribing and your choices
- Every email has a one-click unsubscribe link. It works immediately; there's no login and no "are you sure" maze.
- You can also unsubscribe on our unsubscribe page.
- Want your data deleted entirely, or a copy of what we have? Email [email protected] and we'll do it.
How long we keep it
We keep your email address while you're subscribed. After you unsubscribe, we keep only your address, status and the signup, confirmation and unsubscribe dates, so we never email you by mistake; ask us and we'll delete even that. Unconfirmed signups are deleted after 30 days, from our database and from the spreadsheet.
Security
Subscriber data is stored in a database on the publisher's own computer, backed up privately, and copied to the private Google Sheet described above. It is never published. The website uses an encrypted (HTTPS) connection.
Children
The newsletter is meant for adults. We don't knowingly collect information from children under 13.
Changes
If we change this policy, we'll update the date at the top. Big changes will be announced in the newsletter.
Contact
The Island City Weekly, 1179 102nd Ave, Plainwell MI 49080. Email: [email protected]