John Owens Named Editor-In-Chief Of Anton News

Anton Community Newspapers • 132 East 2nd Street • Mineola, NY 11501 • Phone: 516-747-8282 • FAX: 516-742-5867

John Owens Named Editor-In-Chief Of Anton News

Friday, 04 January 2013 00:00

Angela Susan Anton, publisher and CEO of Anton Community Newspapers, has named John Owens editor-in-chief of the 17-newspaper chain. Owens is an award-winning journalist and long-time publishing executive known for building strong editorial teams and producing targeted, must-read publications.

“John is a proven editorial leader with fresh ideas, energy and vision,” said Ms. Anton. “Our organization has long been the source for community news, and now, with John spearheading the effort, our editorial success can soar to the next level.”

John Owens, the newly appointed editor-in-chief of the Anton Community Newspapers. Owens will direct the news-gathering operations of the editors and writers covering 70 communities in Nassau County.

“I have worked with John over the years, and it is a pleasure to bring him aboard,” said Michael Castonguay, president and chief operating officer. “John’s wide-ranging talents and deep editorial experience will be an asset to Anton News, as well as to our readers, advertisers and the overall communities we serve.”

A two-decade resident of Manhasset—and reader of Anton’s Manhasset Press—Owens’ résumé includes serving as senior vice president and editorial director at international publisher Hachette Filipacchi Media, where he had creative responsibility for nearly a dozen consumer magazines, including Car and Driver, Popular Road & Track, Popular Photography, Boating, and Travel Holiday. He was also the editorial director at Yachting magazine.

During the 2010-11 school year, Mr. Owens taught writing to eighth and ninth graders at a public school in South Bronx. He experienced bureaucrats and “school reformers” who blame teachers for all of our educational system’s woes while depriving America’s most needy children of a decent education. The result is the book, Confessions of a Bad Teacher, which will be published by SourceBooks in Spring 2013. Owens is represented by Dupree Miller and Associates.

Owens has made more than 100 appearances on national television and radio, including Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, CNN, Fox News, and NPR’s All Things Considered. He also was the regular travel expert on CNBC.

He began his career in daily newspapers at The Record in Troy, New York, and most recently edited AAA New York’s Car & Travel magazine.

“I am delighted to join Anton News and help its dedicated journalists tell the stories of our communities,” said Owens. “And, needless to say, it is an honor to work with Angela, who, in addition to her publisher’s role, is an acclaimed leader in the Long Island charitable and philanthropic community, and Mike, an incredibly talented president who is proving there is excitement and enormous opportunity in the business of community news.”

The Anton Community Newspapers publishes 17 community newspapers in Nassau County. The newspapers serve communities from the South Shore to the Gold Coast of the North Shore, and have a weekly circulation of approximately 75,000 and a weekly readership of about 150,000.

News

Friendship Circle Luncheon Turns 10

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

Kroplick and Kammerer honored

On May 8, more than 500 fashionably dressed women converged on the Garden City Hotel for the Sid Jacobson JCC’s tenth annual Friendship Circle Luncheon. Notable celebrities on hand were Good Day New York co-host Rosanna Scotto, who was also the event’s MC, and singer/actress Megan Hilty from the Broadway play Wicked and NBC’s hit drama Smash, who entertained the ladies with her favorite songs from both shows.

The Friendship Circle Luncheon was started 10 years ago by Denise Silverberg, as a way to raise money for programs providing support for adults in their 30s, 40 s and 50s that are afflicted by Alzheimer’s. Silverberg’s mother has the disease, so she understands firsthand the role of a caregiver and the stresses involved in taking care of someone who has it.

Revised HUB Transportation Study

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

Deputy Mayor Nicholas Episcopia attended the HUB Stakeholders Meeting held by Nassau County’s consultants on the Transportation Project. He was joined by EPOA President Judy Courtney, Vice President Chris Mullaney, and Director Leo Stimmler, as well as William Bellmer, a member of the Garden City Planning Commission, Dorothy Episcopia, past EPOA president, and former mayor Robert Rothschild. Bob Schoelle and Brian Ridgeway attended the afternoon session. Garden City is a stakeholder because a large portion of the village lies within the defined HUB area.

As presented, the currently preferred alternative transportation plan appears reasonable and eliminates the construction of a light rail system that would run from the Mineola Station, south behind Arthur Street, and east along the spur adjacent to St. James Street South, as was initially proposed. Nonetheless, as we have consistently done over the years, we will continue to monitor plans for the transportation project and strongly express our opinion if we believe any aspect of this project would be detrimental to the quality of life in Garden City.

Sports

Almost Perfect

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

Boys JV lacrosse team goes undefeated

The Garden City JV lacrosse team finished the year with a stellar 14-0-1 record. Led by Head Coach Tom Flatley and Assistant Coach Brett Hepworth, the Trojans overpowered most of their opponents with explosive offensive bursts, tough-nosed gritty defense, and rock-solid goaltending. The offense averaged over 15 goals per game, while the defense allowed just over three goals per game.

The season commenced with a hard fought, triple overtime thriller against Syosset that ended in a 7-7 tie. As the team became more cohesive, most of the next few opponents, including Hewlett, Lynbrook, Carey, Roslyn, Kellenberg, and others, found themselves overmatched against this Trojan team. However, that did not dissuade Ward Melville from putting forth an inspired effort on their home turf for three quarters, before finally falling to Garden City 12-7.

Playing With A Big Stick

Thursday, 16 May 2013 00:00

Defense keys successful lacrosse seasons

The boys and girls high school teams are both rolling and have their sights set on a long run in the playoffs. Both team have faced a number of formidable opponents throughout the season and have successfully navigated their schedules. One thing that has been consistent for both teams has been that their defenses have had to stand tall at key times and shut down very active offenses. Both Coach Finnell and Coach Chapman have made sure that the non-league schedules of their teams will ensure that their teams are prepared for whatever the playoffs can throw at them.

After going the full season last year undefeated, the boys team has three blemishes on their record with losses to powerhouses Ward Melville, Manhasset and LaSalle of PA. With a 9-3 record the Trojans are looking to wrap up the number two seed in the playoffs to force a rematch of the Manhasset game in the County finals. The boys have excelled defensively only allowing 4.25 goals against per game. And if you remove those three tough losses the goals against average drops to 3.1.