I’ve lived in Maine for only a handful of days. Already, I’ve decisively chosen the pine tree design for my new license plates, shared my first tray of oysters and thought a lot about “Salem’s Lot,” a Stephen King book in which vampires invade a small Maine town — though it’s unlikely I’ll be reporting on anything like that. Someone told me that Mainers will always see out-of-staters as “from away,” but so far I’ve felt more than welcomed.

I grew up in Rochester, New York, and am a recent graduate of Middlebury College, where I majored in literature and German. I studied abroad in Germany for five months, so Maine is only the second-farthest place I’ve lived.

My time here has also been spent dissecting sample ballots for local elections, proposed budgets and school board meeting agendas. That’s because it’s my job to provide community news for the towns of Gorham, Buxton and Standish. I’m filling big shoes, taking over for veteran reporter Robert Lowell following his retirement. Like Bob did for 26 years, I’ll cover the topics that are important to your daily lives: local government, education, business and any neighborhood affair you should know about.

During my time in Vermont, I was a culture reporting intern at Seven Days, where I wrote about a 17-year-old who owned an ice cream “trike” (an ice cream truck on a tricycle), a group of rowers passionate about old-school skiff boats and a row of town crosswalks freshly painted in rainbow colors. Storytelling is my favorite part of journalism, and I’m eager to discover what stands out about your communities.

At Middlebury, I was the editor-in-chief of our student newspaper, The Campus. There, I learned the importance of strong local news and accountability reporting. I hope you keep in touch to tell me about what matters to you and what you think I should be covering about your home.

My leisure time is spent exploring both cities and nature on foot, swimming, reading fiction and collaging, once I’ve found the perfect materials. Good coffee excites me and I’m always looking for the perfect scone to pair with it. I’m thrilled to be back writing and reporting in New England.

I hope you’ll send me story suggestions, tips, or just reach out to chat. Email me at [email protected].