INTRODUCTION AS POSTED ON PAGE 2 OF OUR APRIL ISSUE:
Welcome to The South Jersey Local!
Usually I use this space to talk about the overall theme we have for our issue, and I will get to that soon, but first I just have to acknowledge that this edition of the paper officially marks the beginning of our second year in print, so we can now say it’s our birthday!
Our first edition featured a story about the opening of the Edelman Fossil Park and museum on our cover last April.
It was a full circle moment to be sure. The park is located in Mantua Township, where I’ve lived for most of my life, and was created by Rowan University, the school I went to to study journalism. There I was now writing about it in a newspaper I started with my family. Fun stuff!
I don’t want to spend too much time going down memory lane, but I would be doing a disservice if I didn’t reflect a little on what an incredible year it’s been.
There have been ups and downs and growing pains and lessons learned along the way to be certain, but the experiences we’ve had, and especially the people we’ve met along the way, have made it all worth it.
If you’re returning to us after following along at any point on our journey, we thank you for your continued support. If you’re just finding us for the first time, we welcome you, thank you for checking us out and hope that you’ll continue on with us.
Our only goal with this paper from day one has been to tell good stories about the people and places that make South Jersey such an amazing place to live and raise a family.
For anyone who has helped us along the way on this mission – from advertisers to the businesses that allow us to distribute our papers in their shops, to the people who have taken the time to talk with us for articles, and the readers who have offered a kind word of support – we offer our sincerest thanks and appreciation. Without you, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do.
Now for what you’ll find in this issue.
In March we had planned to focus our theme on theater and filmmaking in South Jersey, but we found so many great stories to tell we just ran out of time and space. So we decided to split them up.
In March we focused on theater, since so many great shows were coming to South Jersey stages beginning last month, and this time around our central theme is on making films in the region.
Inside you’ll find a discussion with some of the local leaders who have participated in the Film Ready New Jersey program, which aims to prepare towns and counties for welcoming film productions to their communities, a story about the inaugural Salem County Film & Arts Festival coming to Woodstown this month, and a profile on a Gloucester County film studio that works to provide hands on opportunities for aspiring filmmakers.
Of course, as with every issue, our themes is just a starting point, and you’ll find lots of other great South Jersey content
So to our readers, new and old, we can’t wait to have to have you come for the ride as we start this next chapter. Follow along and see where this adventure takes us next…and…ACTION!
– Joe D’Aquila
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