Jade has over 15 years of journalism experience and has been published in numerous national and local publications. She's covered surfing, travel, lifestyle, and hyperlocal news extensively, authored a book, and reported from the White House press pool.
She loves surfing, traveling, and fishing with her son, and just about anything in the ocean.
Jade is a graduate of the University of Hawaii at Hilo where she fell in love with journalism.
Reach her at jade.eckardt@patch.com with news tips and story ideas.
The Town of Islip is hosting a workshop about TOI-360, a comprehensive plan designed to guide the community's growth over the next 20 years.
A Brentwood teen has been missing since November, Suffolk County Police Department announced Monday.
A Long Island Rail Road train crashed into a car on the tracks in Central Islip on Friday night, according to MTA police.
Suffolk County Police Arson Squad is investigating a residential fire that the West Islip Fire Department extinguished on Sunday.
The Bay Shore community has a chance to come together with a dinner hosted by the Bay Shore Historical Society.
West Islip Union Free School District’s PTA Council held its annual holiday breakfast where the fourth and fifth-grade chorus performed.
The annual Central Islip toy distribution will bring over 1,000 toys to children in the Central Islip area for Christmas.
Free turkeys and hams will be given out to families in need this Thursday in Wyandanch just in time for a holiday dinner.
A GoFundMe has been organized to help a West Islip family who's starting over after their home was destroyed in a devastating fire.
Dior is a 3-year-old "chocolatey" pit who resides at the Babylon Animal Shelter and he's Patch's Pet of the Week.
A new wastewater treatment plan is coming to West Babylon, Suffolk County officials announced on Thursday.
Teachers and students were honored for their achievements at a recent North Babylon School District Board of Education meeting.
Over 100 assault weapons, handguns, and long guns were turned in at a gun buyback where money was exchanged for firearms on Long Island.
A 60-year-old man, formerly of Babylon, was found guilty after sexually abusing his girlfriend's young daughter for 5 years, the DA says.
A Deer Park man died after suffering a brutal assault and carjacking on Long Island, Suffolk County police say.
A GoFundMe has been organized to help a West Sayville family who's home was destroyed in a devastating fire on Friday.
Suffolk County Police Arson Squad detectives are investigating a residential fire that West Sayville Fire Department extinguished on Friday.
After a West Babylon teen claimed she escaped an attempted kidnapping, an investigation found the claims to be "unfounded," police say.
The Wayfair store at Tanger Outlets Deer Park, the company's first on Long Island, will close its doors after a winter sale.
A Long Island businessman pleaded guilty in October to knowingly exposing employees to hazardous levels of mercury, the DA says.
