Peter Verry, Patch Staff

Through the encouragement and persistence of a professor during my undergraduate studies, I decided to pursue a career as a journalist. Just over seven years later I graduated from Hofstra University with a master's degree in journalism. Upon receiving the degree this past May I immediately began to freelance for Glen Cove Patch. Within a few weeks I was writing for 10 different Patch communities. Given my passion for journalism and being a lifelong Long Island resident, providing community news coverage for the places I've grown familiar with throughout my life was a natural fit and my chance to provide the quality of news coverage that Long Island deserves. Prior to Patch I was a sports writer for Nassau News Live, where I covered the final season of Hofstra football, Hofstra and C.W. Post basketball and Adelphi baseball. Throughout my career as a journalist I have also contributed to numerous prominent music, fashion and art related blogs and Web sites.

<b>Beliefs</b> <i>At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable.</i><i>This disclosure is not a license for our editors to inject these beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that our beliefs are on the record will force us to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you, the user, ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.</i>

<b>Politics</b>

<i>How would you describe your political beliefs? </i>

I believe that regardless of party lines, whomever holds office should be held accountable for their decisions and actions by their constituents. I believe the only people deserving of holding a political position are those who honestly and wholeheartedly have the well-being of the people they serve in mind.

<b>Religion</b>

<i>Do you consider yourself religious?</i>  

I consider myself a religious person but choose to celebrate my religion in my own manner, which is different than the norm.

Do<i> you identify with a certain religion?</i>  Catholic. 

<b>Local Hot Button Issues</b>

<i>What do you think are the most important issues facing the community?</i> 

What I find most important issues to Smithtown are frequent issues throughout Long Island, such as taxes and the high costs of living, the lack of places for the youth to congregate and the presence of drugs and drug usage amongst the youth of the community.

<i>Where do you stand on each of these issues?</i> 

The issue of taxes and high costs of living is a seemingly endless problem and those with the ability to create change all seem to differ in how to solve this problem. If the economic system has been damaged for as long as it has with no solution in sight then the entire system should be destroyed and rebuilt. As far as youth congregation, to ensure adolescents stay on a path to success and keep them off the streets and parking lots to socialize, positive and enjoyable activities should be readily available within the community and promoted to them in a manner that they can relate with. Drugs were introduced to my neighborhood when I was very young and I have witnessed first hand how they can destroy the lives of people who seemed destined to have a great future. The drug epidemic needs to be stopped before the youth is introduced to it through schools functions and community outreach programs rather than primarily focusing on the drugs already available in the streets.