The Beacon Turns One
First birthdays are awkward ones. You’re old enough to hobble to the table and eat the cake. You might have the strength to blow out your one candle. Your parents’ friends are there to cheer you on because, heck, who knows who their own friends are when they’re just one.
Then your parents take that one candle and stuff it away into a drawer, where, all melty waxy and dirty, they take it out once in a while to show off to their friends and to your friends, to let them know that, yes, one time, you turned one.
I took down the “Under Construction” home page on the Beacon’s website in the wee hours of June 1, 2013, one year ago, on a bright late-spring day not too much unlike today.
I didn’t really know what to expect. Would people just look at it once and then move on? Would they come back, week after week, to catch up on our microcosm of life on the East End?
All of that was out of my hands. My job was to keep my head down, learn all the issues backward and forward (it’s been a while since I covered some of the things going on over there on the South Fork), and try to create something true each day when I awoke.
This year has gone more quickly than I could have ever dreamed.
One year on, a lot of you have stayed, and shared this site with your friends, and helped enrich the conversation here about the issues facing this place we call home. It’s more than I’d ever expected would happen, and I’m so very grateful to all of you for staying in touch.
The Beacon is in it for the long haul, thanks to all of your support. I couldn’t have done it with out each and every one of you. Thank you.
Beth
Wow only one year ? It seems like the EEB has been an important part of our community for much longer. Keep going strong and getting stronger each day. Journalism at it’s best. Congratulations !
Congratulations from the other Steinbeck country here in California. The young Beacon’s light already is shining from coast to coast — long may it continue!
Congratulations Beth! Thank you for enriching all of our lives with your insightful coverage and witty sense of humor and for your longstanding understanding of, and love for, these communities you have called home.
Wishing you all the best in your second year!
Thanks Beth, for providing glimpses of my favorite place, especially when I can’t get out there.
A very heartfelt and happy beacon birthday. You have been so wonderful generative, skillful, fun and simply awesome and I’m so glad that you are “in it”
Sending love and thanks for your contribution to the east end and the planet.
Jim
Thank you, everybody! 🙂
Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Beacon (Beth), Happy Birthday to you. And many more!!!!!! Great job as always, Beth!
I am so, so proud of my former journalism student Beth Young — a great student and a great journalist!
Congratulations on a job well done !