News-Review staff’s favorite stories of 2013
We asked our crew what stories they most enjoyed reading or meant the most to them.
Here’s their favorite stories of 2013:
“The story on the ancient language of Mixteco being spoken in Riverhead. I love reading our local news but with this story I felt I really learned something new.”
Candice Schott, web advertising manager
“The News-Review had extensive coverage on Common Core being introduced to local schools and the aftermath of its introduction. I feel this coverage gave the community a voice about this hot-button subject and also provided a full picture of this controversial initiative.”
Sonja Reinholt-Derr, sales and marketing director
“Michael Hubbard returning home. This young man has given us all a firsthand account of the strength of the human spirit. The way the community has rallied around him and his family is truly remarkable.”
Andrew Olsen, publisher
“Miguel Maysonet making it to the NFL was a highlight for me. There’s no greater thrill in sports than watching someone you saw ‘way back when,’ excel on the highest level possible. No matter what happens moving forward, Miguel has made his community proud.”
Grant Parpan, executive editor
“The enterprise piece about the history of the Shoreham-Wading River’s athletic department because it covers every angle of the controversy surrounding the departure of several athletic directors in recent years.”
Jennifer Gustavson, senior staff writer
“The pot bust on Osborn Avenue. The idea of federal investigators watching snow melting on top of a shed in Riverhead while hundreds of marijuana plants grow inside was pretty interesting and how the story was covered and written was fun to watch from behind the scenes.”
Joseph Pinciaro, managing editor
“The ‘left to die’ story on hit-and-run crashes took crime reporting to the next level. It was a perfect example of expanding on a news hook to add perspective to a serious issue.”
Cyndi Murray, government reporter
“The story about a biologist stumbling upon an unexploded bomb from World War II unearthed by Hurricane Sandy near Gardiners Point. It revealed great details into the history. Great stories can be discovered when least expected.”
Joe Werkmeister, web editor
“My favorite fun story of the year had to be the column about the silly things tourists say. One character from the reality show ‘Princesses: Long Island’ compared an area vineyard to the Garden of Eden, then proceeded to relieve herself between the rows of grapes. Another young woman on the show later cried that she was ‘in the middle of nowhere.’ The column provided some hilarious insights into what people think of us.”
Michael White, editor
“The comprehensive exposé ‘Leaving the Farm’ was a realistic and practical report on migrant workers who toil in the fields of the North Fork’s agricultural industry, literally growing and harvesting the food we eat.”
Matt Kapelas, editor, northforker.com
“I think the reopening of the Suffolk Theater in downtown Riverhead was an important story, because it confirmed the fact that downtown is in the process of a real rebirth as the grand and vital destination it once was.”
Bert Vogel, advertising production manager
“Jackie Spinella: the first girl to ever play football for Bishop McGann-Mercy. What I like about the story is the great courage, physical and otherwise, it must have taken her to go out for the team and stick with it through the season.”
Bob Liepa, sports editor
