The high value of our Gazette's local journalism

My second job out of college was editing a weekly newspaper, The Honeoye Falls Times, in a village outside Rochester, NY. That was 1962, light- years ago. Today, in the Age of Internet, I still appreciate the homespun quality of hometown newspapers. The Gazette provides meaningful information to a sparse rural population.

Sadly, many small newspapers are either failing outright or are being gobbled up by faceless corporations. In contrast, I like what I’m seeing at the Gazette. It appears that Free Press Publishing and Roger Harnack, your new publisher, will continue to monitor and report on the pulse of the region. That’s important, especially in these uncertain times.

I’ll miss Gordon Forgey and his fine editorials. I enjoyed chatting with him. His door was always open. Actually, his desk opposite the entrance was the office he worked from most of the time.

The first time I visited the Gazette looking specifically for him, I stepped into the Gazette office and asked the first person I saw whether I could speak with Gordon Forgey. The man at the desk smiled sweetly and responded, “I’m Gordon.”

I’m looking forward to meeting and chatting with your new editor Jana Mathia, once it’s permissible again to greet one another by shaking hands. Meanwhile, I wish her well in her new job.

Pete Haug,

Colfax