A farewell from your former East Meadow editor, Mallory Wilson

After two years of spending time diving into the East Meadow community and all it has to offer, it is now my time to say goodbye and thank you. I will admit that it feels weird to say goodbye, as if I’m leaving my hometown and all my neighbors.

When I arrived at the East Meadow Herald, I was fresh out of college. I was excited to have my first job, and eager to jump into the world of local news. At first, I was placed into East Meadow and Wantagh and Seaford, but after spending time getting to know the communities, I knew that East Meadow was where I wanted to be.

I have never seen a community so involved in so many different ways. Each club and organization is active and passionate. From the chamber of commerce, to the PTA, to Kiwanis, to the veterans — it seems as though everyone gets involved to make their community better. You should be very proud of that.

Thank you to everyone who took a chance on me, and reached out to let me know the happenings of the community. It was clear that, as a community, you realized the importance of local news and how it helps a community stay informed and up to date.

It wasn’t always easy. Hyperlocal stories mean really building relationships, and I feel as though I did with many of you. Together we celebrated accomplishments, and talked about the harder-hitting stuff. Whatever the community felt, I felt.

Whereas the bigger news outlets have more staff, we at the Herald have more heart. We feel what the communities feel because we are so close, and in turn, everyone is better because of it.

I am handing the baton to Jordan Vallone, the editor of the Bellmore Herald and Merrick Herald. She will now be the editor for the East Meadow Herald as well.

We started at the Herald together, and I am confident she will do as great of a job with East Meadow as she does with Bellmore and Merrick.

Together, over the years, we have discussed our communities and their happenings, and I firmly believe there is no one better for the role.

Thank you to everyone for everything you did to help me report for the East Meadow Herald. Thank you for your trust, and for your friendships.

It was a pleasure getting to know so many of you.