December and the times are a-changing

As we usher in December and are solidly in the month of Kislev, we can feel the changing of the seasons here in Rhode Island. It’s suddenly too cold! But it’s all part of the rhythm of life that drives our familiar seasons.

And big changes are coming at Jewish Rhode Island, too.

We are saying goodbye to Peter Zeldin, our advertising sales director. Peter has been taking our story to advertisers around Rhode Island for six years, letting them know that supporting Jewish Rhode Island is good for business and good for the community. He has been an invaluable partner in producing Jewish Rhode Island at a time when many businesses fail to realize the continuing power of print newspaper advertising, especially in a niche community like ours. Our readers read the paper and engage with our print advertising.

A New York native, Peter came to us with 25 years of experience at Cox Media. He tells me that he is hoping for some relaxation and a little travel in his retirement. I am especially grateful for his time, energy, efforts and the perspective he has brought to Jewish Rhode Island during his time here and wish him well wherever the road leads him.

Tracy Blake takes over advertising sales beginning with our January issue. She brings experience in ad sales in the Fall River and New Bedford areas, and we look forward to working with her to grow our print and digital advertising revenue moving forward. You can read more about Tracy, who lives in Somerset, Massachusetts, in the January newspaper where she will introduce herself. That continues a longstanding tradition where Jewish Rhode Island staff write about themselves when they join our team.

I am grateful that even our designers and ad salespeople are willing to give writing a go when it comes to introducing themselves. I do think it is important for you, our reader, to know who is behind this paper you pick up every month. You read about me all the time through my columns and articles and that is my primary job. I’ve been told you are just as curious about the other people who produce the paper.

And speaking of big changes, I have some news about the editor role at Jewish Rhode Island. I have decided to retire after production of the March issue. I’ve spent more than a decade helping bind our community together by shining a light on some of the wonderful people, places and history that help make Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts such a great place to live.

After 50 years working as a reporter and editor at more than a half dozen newspapers and magazines in five states, it is time for me to look forward to a new chapter of life. I’ve enjoyed serving this community that I am a part of and growing alongside it, and now it is time to put production deadlines behind me and focus on other activities and my family.

I’m hoping that a new editor will be on board by the time I say goodbye in a few months. The search is already underway, and I look forward to seeing how he or she will bring new ideas and approaches to the role.

For now, I’m still here, and I’ll share more as the March issue nears.

As we kindle the Hanukkah candles in a few weeks, we hope that the light will spread joy and hope. Every year, we all find much to be thankful for, and I will certainly be thankful this year for all the experiences, support and partnerships from my tenure as the editor of your community journal.

This year especially, we will all hope that our Jewish joy will overshadow the hateful antisemitism that we see growing again around the world.

Look for your January paper a little later than usual. Because of various calendar and holiday conflicts, we’ll publish our next issue on Jan. 9. And feel free to reach out with any questions or comments, editor@jewishallianceri.org. Hag Hanukkah Sameach!

Fran Ostendorf

Editor