A bittersweet moment: Alek Lewis is moving on

RiverheadLOCAL reporter Alek Lewis, who joined our staff in May 2021 after his graduation from Stony Brook University, is moving on. 

Alek will be starting a new job as a reporter with Newsday on Sept. 29. 

Peter and I and the rest of the  RiverheadLOCAL team wish him all the best as he starts on this new leg of his professional journey. 

Every community newspaper editor knows this day eventually comes for most local news reporters in the early years of their career. Local papers have always been an incubator of sorts, where freshly minted journalists cut their teeth, learn their trade and hone their skills. And if it’s their ambition, they look to a daily paper as the next logical step on their career path. After more than two decades as a local editor, I’ve had to part ways with many talented young reporters advancing in their careers. But this is one is especially  bittersweet. 

Alek has become a part of our family here. He and I have shared work on challenging projects, more than a few “eureka” moments, and a satisfying number of awards. We’ve had lots of deep conversations about every imaginable topic from politics, civic engagement, the future of local news, and life in general. And we’ve had plenty of laughs and way too many cups of coffee along the way. We are the same kind of nerd and I’m going to miss him like crazy. 

That being said, I couldn’t be happier, more excited for him or more proud of him — for the great work he’s done and the great work he will continue to do. I feel truly privileged to have been part of his formative years as a journalist. 

Please join me in congratulating Alek and wishing him well in this next chapter. 

Alek: You’re one in a million. Godspeed and go get ‘em, kid. And remember, no matter how far or how high you go, you’ll always be a LOCAL.