Introducing newsday.com/towns

I’m happy to announce the recent launch of newsday.com/towns, a place to find out news and information about every community on Long Island — all 274 of them.

As part of the venture, we’re bringing on board a few roving community reporters to find the news that often goes under the radar.

They’ll be around with backpacks in tow, all set to share the chatter of the town. These folks will be out in the community each day, posting stories, photos and videos and looking for your input on what’s happening in town.

Of course, newsday.com/towns brings you all of Newsday‘s daily news and information well, with the ability to navigate by township or individual community.

Looking for a job, a home or a car? You can now search right in your neighborhood. Also, you can check out all the restaurants near by or find out when your high school football team is playing next. It’s all there.

Finally, we want to hear from you. Each page highlights the latest updates from readers. Here you can submit photos, videos, tips and events. You never know, you might just end up in the paper.

Dad nominated for Best Director in one-act festival

In his directorial debut, my father, Mario Corry, was nominated for best director in the 18th annual Strawberry One-Act Festival at Theatre at St. Clement’s for the play, “Something like Penguins.”

The play, written by Levi Wilson, won Best Play, the festival announced on Aug. 22.

The story comedy about a girl in love with two people with entirely different personalities. The actors include Janaya Combs, Ryan Nazionale and Levi Wilson. Combs was nominated for best actress and Wilson for best actor.

At Newsday, a new route

I first entered the news business as a 12-year-old entrepreneur, lugging 54 copies of Newsday in a milk carton tied to the handle bars of my silver Schwinn.

Turns out I was one of the area’s last paperboys. Soon after, the jobs were handed over to subcontractors in station wagons.

As of March 1, things came full circle. I’m back at Newsday, this time as the online editor for local news and products, handling all things hyperlocal. I’m looking forward to working with many of the great people I’ve come to know over the years in local journalism circles, and the others I only know from the pages of Newsday  – in the paper and online.

Many thanks to all the great people at News 12 for three great years.

Introducing Dominick Miserandino

Class of ’09 commencement address

I was given the honor to deliver the commencement address to the Multidisciplinary Studies Class of 2009 at Stony Brook University.