Community Corner

Editor's Notebook: Happy Holidays

Erica Jackson, editor of Hampton Bays Patch shares her holiday thoughts.

 As I look upon my two children, Karen and Cole and watch their eyes glow with excitement this Christmas day, I can't help but think of their future. I have every hope that they will grow into productive citizens and thoughtful-minded community members.

As they grow, I see them helping an elderly neighbor shovel a driveway; I imagine them holding a lemonade stand to benefit a charity and I envision them donating their old toys to a child who has none.

As adults, I picture them taking part in community fundraisers, joining civic groups and lending a hand to anyone who needs it.

Find out what's happening in Westhampton-Hampton Bayswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

As a journalist for over ten years now, I have seen my fair share of devastating events, but I have also witnessed, more often than not, the outpouring of support from community members when they learn of distressing news. I've seen communities ban together to hold fundraisers to help a family that lost their home in a fire and arrange candle-light vigils in memory of a child who was killed in a car accident. They are touching glimpses into what community members do for each other to shed a ray of hope even in the darkest of times.

Already, in my new role as editor of Hampton Bays Patch, I have seen so much good in the community — the Hampton Bays Winter Track team held a stuff the bus event for local families in need of Christmas gifts; Hampton Bays Middle School students are raising money for people in Haiti through the sale of hand-made pins and local business owner Patye Pace works everyday to raise money for orphans in Africa.

Find out what's happening in Westhampton-Hampton Bayswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

As I go forward in my new role as editor of Hampton Bays, I plan continue to cover the great things that Hampton Bays' residents do to better their community.  I want to get to the heart of the community and write about all the issues that effect it, from the draft environmental report that will lead the community's zoning future, to the striking poverty numbers to Canoe Place Inn.

I look forward to learning more about this great community, as well as the communities of East Quogue, Quogue, Westhampton and Westhampton Beach as this site will be expanding to those areas.  I also hope to meet the residents of those communities in the local coffee shop, at civic and school board meetings and on the street.  Already, I feel very welcomed and I hope to become an integral part in each community by covering all that's happening in them.

From my family to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.


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