We're in This Together

A familiar face. A new role. Change is good.

When you’re afforded the opportunity to be editor-in-chief of a magazine like Delaware Today—and you’ve been on the planet long enough to know you don’t do anything great alone—you must give credit where it’s due. Please allow me a paragraph to do that.

I’m grateful to our publisher, Rob Martinelli; my predecessor, Mark Nardone; and to the Today Media staff. I’m thankful for the support of my family, extended family and friends; for my parents’ unconditional love and generosity; and for my son, Benjamin, who has brought more joy to my life than words can say.

Thanks for indulging me. Now, let’s talk about the full-time editorial team at Delaware Today. The success of the editorial side of the magazine is not dependent on what I do, but rather, what we do. We work with some amazing freelance writers, editors and photographers, but I recognize the formidable talents of our full-time edit staff, which includes Kelly Carter, Drew Ostroski, Louise Bolin, Matt Amis, Katie McCabe, Mark Nardone and Jared Castaldi. (See the new Team Notes below.) We’re headed in a new direction. Trust me: This team is up to the challenge.

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Leadership guru Peter Senge describes businesses as learning organizations, “where people continually expand their capacity to create the results they truly desire, where new and expansive patterns of thinking are nurtured, where collective aspiration is set free, and where people are continually learning to see the whole together.”

Our team has this shared vision. We’re ready to create an even more enjoyable and relevant magazine for you. We’ll offer vibrant and colorful content; in-depth profiles of Delawareans you know and some you don’t—but should; informative and entertaining service features; expanded coverage of Delaware’s arts scene; and artful, creative design. Then there’s Gabby, the society column created by the late Sally Rinard. We may have a new Gabby, but we’ll honor Sally’s legacy by expanding the glitter and gossip for multigenerational crowds in all three counties. Sally would consider this “fabulous, dahlings.”

We also plan to invite you, our readers, to Town Hall meetings. Check for occasional invites at our Web site, delawaretoday.com. Have a great story idea? Send me a note at mhess@delawaretoday.com, or one to this incredible staff at editors@delawaretoday.com. There’s lots more to say—and I can talk—but for now, just enjoy the issue.

 

Team Notes

Clockwise from left: Louise Bolin, Jared Castaldi, Katie McCabe, Matt Amis, Drew Ostroski, Mark Nardone and Kelly CarterLouise With the collaborative efforts of Kate Handling, Cindi Metz, Anastasia Quinn and the ING Direct crew, the Delaware Bridal Proposal contest was quite a success! After they narrowed it down to three choices, I suggested, “Well, how about a Facebook contest to determine the winner?!” After only four days of online voting, the contest produced more than 600 new DT Facebook fans!

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Jared I had a great time photographing Marie Swajeski and the cast of their current production at the Delaware Children’s Theatre. It’s pretty rare that I’ll have an entire production rehearsing just for me.

Katie After 15 years of proofreading and editing, computer screens and general OCD, I’m now the proud owner of my very first pair of cheap reading glasses from Happy Harry’s. At least they are purple.

Matt This month I’m raising funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Man of the Year campaign. You can catch me around town hosting events to raise money. To help me out from your desk chair, simply go to mwoy.org to donate.

Drew Nothing against all of the other interesting folks that I’ve met through my work here, but getting to interview Fred Comegys was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done.

Mark I enjoyed the Music Masters piano concert at the Music School of Delaware branch in Wilmington Feb. 17. The performers—faculty and guests—were amazing.

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Kelly My husband and I visited the Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts for the first time since our wedding there over four years ago. I don’t know why we haven’t been back sooner, because this is such a wonderland. I always see something I never dreamed I would see and I always walk away inspired. This time it was a life-size man carved out of a stack of books and suspended from the ceiling.

 

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