News from The News:
Thank you, Phyl!
by Nancy Wood, Editor,
August 12, 2010, page 2.....

Working behind the scenes at The Charlotte News are several key individuals whose skills as copy editors raise the level of professionalism of this paper. Since the late 1990’s Phyllis Lary has dedicated nearly every other Monday to that task. She said that, “Sometime in 1997 or 1999 I responded to a notice in The Charlotte News that said something like the paper was looking for volunteers to help “paste” up pages. I had worked for The Hartford Courant as a copy editor, and, as the editor of my high school paper, I had actually pasted up many pages, many years ago. After an interview with Robin Reid and meeting Janice Heilmann, I knew I would enjoy the work and the camaraderie.”

We have greatly appreciated her expertise and dedication for more than ten years, and are very sorry to announce her retirement as of the last issue.

Beth Merritt continues to ply her red pen as a continuing copy editor, and on occasion Ellie Russell has been ably filling in. Leslie Botjer is joining them on a seasonal basis.

Leslie, who lives on Converse Bay Road, says her qualifications include journalism courses in high school, and teaching history and government when living overseas. She said she is willing to help because she believes that “local papers are the only ones that are going to survive in the current form. They are very valuable – it’s how you know what’s going on in your community.”

Welcome, Leslie.