Email: thomas.demartini@patch.com
Phone: 610-390-5568
Hometown: Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., but consider Middletown, N.J. in Monmouth County my hometown. That's where I grew up.
Birthday: July 20
Marital Status: Married my wife Mary on April 10, 2010.
Professional Background: Began my journalistic career as a high school senior in the sports department of the Asbury Park Press at the New Jersey shore. My journalistic experience is diverse. I covered the financial markets in New York for Dow Jones Newswires and the now-defunct Bridge Information Systems for more than eight years. I've worked and written in various capacities for the Newark Star-Ledger, the Bergen Record and several defunct publications (do you see a trend here?) including the Woodbridge News-Tribune and Cable World magazine. I've covered horse racing for 16 years on a freelance basis for Kentucky-based industry publications. My most recent experience before joining Patch was at The Morning Call, serving as an editor for (the defunct) Chronicles weeklies, as a staff writer and a freelance municipal and sports reporter.
High School/College: A total New Jersey education, graduating from Middletown North High School and Glassboro State College, now known as Rowan University.
Hobbies: Cooking. I love to prepare meals. Summer at the Jersey Shore. Horse racing at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. for however long it lasts, which may not be very long. The N.Y. Mets, the N.Y. Giants and the N.Y. Rangers. Exploring the Philadelphia Art Museum with my wife Mary and step-daughter Kristen. I like to play poker when visiting Atlantic City and Las Vegas, but I'm a fish.
Favorite flicks: The Godfather I and II. Goodfellas. The Paper. Let it Ride. Heartbreak Ridge. Rounders. Morning Glory.
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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. This disclosure is not a license for editors to inject their beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to those beliefs. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that editors' beliefs are on the record will cause them to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.
Okay, I'm back….
Tom's Beliefs….
Journalism: I believe in old-school journalism. Report the facts and report them correctly without sensationalism. Be a watchdog, but detached -- don't allow personal feelings to influence reporting. Be tough, but fair. Take time to investigate thoroughly. Be tactful. Listen well. Allow people to tell their side of the story, but don't wither under pressure from anyone who wants to spin. Patience and dogged determination serves journalists well. Never show allegiance to any team when sports reporting. There really is no cheering in the press box.
Politics:
How would you describe your political beliefs? Conservative.
Registered with a certain party? Republican.
Religion: Lapsed Roman Catholic.
What do you think are the most important issues facing the community?
How the current state of the economy affects the lives of everyone from property and school taxes to sewer and refuse bills. The cost of everything increases, but people's paychecks largely stay the same -- or get smaller. How do we as a community deal with that? How will local government and school boards, given the economy, squeeze every penny from budgets and stop waste in an effort to minimize tax increases. How will libraries, parks and other community resources be funded in the future under such austere cirumstances? We need to find ways to increase local employment and stop laying off talented teachers. What's happened to the casino monies that were supposedly targeted for municipalities and education?
Where do you stand on each of these issues?
We'll never have to stop paying property and school taxes, but some formula needs creation in Pennsylvania to stop the runaway train of taxing and spending before state and local deficits become as large as they've become in New Jersey.
Lehigh Valley businesses specializing in food, beverage and hospitality can participate in a loan and mentoring program sponsored by the Boston Beer Co. of Upper Macungie and The Rising Tide of Bethlehem.
The storm that's been talked about since Friday now looks like it will bring us a few inches of snow Wednesday.
![1-4 Inches of Snow Possible Wednesday [Update]](https://patch.com/img/cdn/users/112979/2013/03/raw/c0926ca456aa9685dfb5bb4b1fb16895.jpg)
Find the cheapest gas in Upper Macungie.
The PIAA wrestling tournament begins Thursday at the Giant Center in Hershey.
The incident took place last month in the Kuhnsville Inn parking lot, police said.
Jimmy Ellerman has been serving the community as a volunteer firefighter for eight years and much of his family is also involved in service.
Emmanuel Giron, 28, of Reading is charged with attempting to intimidate his alleged sexual assault victim in the Amazon.com parking lot Friday.
Jessica Lewis, a 2004 Parkland High School graduate and Hall of Fame swimmer, will compete on Gordon Ramsay's 'Hell's Kitchen.'
Members of the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks and Fogelsville Elementary School students read together on Friday to celebrate Read Across America Day.
A 'Gas-N-Go' fuel station could be constructed on the site, as the company will come before the Upper Macungie Zoning Hearing Board next week to ask for a variance.
The boys won the District 11 title Saturday, while the girls team qualified for states by finishing second in the district playoffs. The state tournament begins this weekend.
A multi-use retail space, a bank and a restaurant has been proposed by developers. What would you like to see in these spaces?
This home is one of the most expensive in the 18069 zip code
Lehigh Valley Sen. Pat Toomey proposes letting the White House make targeted spending cuts to avoid across-the-board reductions if sequester kicks in Friday
Find the cheapest gas in Upper Macungie.
Upper Macungie Police said one was driver was cited for driving with a learner's permit without a licensed driver in the car.
Parkland School Director Roberta Marcus is the recipient of the second annual Timothy Allwein Advocacy Award for her work in public education.
The Parkland School Board approved personnel moves at its Tuesday night meeting. The board also OK'd its substitute list for administration, professional, support, maintenance and food services staff.
They were named LCTI students of the month for their outstanding achievements.
Hess on Route 309 in Orefield sold a lottery ticket worth $371,000
