It’s been a wild and wonderful ride these past seven years, but I wanted to let everyone know that I am departing this beloved newspaper. I was offered, and accepted, a role in Ulster County government — Assistant Deputy County Executive. By the time you read this, I will have already started.

There’s a lot I’d like to say, and people I’d like to thank, and hopefully I can do so without getting too sappy. Please excuse me if I do.

First and foremost, I want to thank Sharon Richman and Alex Shiffer, the owners of the paper, and the amazing folks behind it all. I know it’s become a popular trope to hear, “We’re like a family,” and see it as a red flag, but we really do feel like a family. We’ve been there for each other through some truly difficult personal times, we’ve butted heads and disagreed on occasion, but we’ve rebounded and been stronger for it. I’ve watched their incredible daughters Jasmine and Violet grow up; they were practically my own daughter’s age when I met them and now they are these outstanding adults who I am so proud of. Chris Rowley is a heartfelt and multi-talented human being, whose institutional knowledge is matched only by his youthful wit. Alec McCabe, our new editor, has a zest for local news that rivals my own, and I’m confident leaving the editorial side in his capable hands. Robyn Hager is a solid and talented force who impresses me at every turn, and I’m so excited to see the big things she’ll accomplish. Of course, there’s so many more — Tim, Debbie, Mike, Tom and Jamie, Maya, Robert and many of our freelancers and columnists, I will miss working with all of you.

Our entire family here is so precious to me, and I am a better human for knowing and working with them all.

I’ve grown as a person so much these last seven years, and have both mourned and celebrated with our communities. I’m eternally grateful for my time here, and it’s been a sincere privilege to work with and learn from everyone I’ve encountered: the folks who point out typos in the paper, those who I can call for info, the ones who cheer me on at roller derby bouts, cook me delicious food, ask about my family, and those who stop in, just to say Hi.

I will always love Ellenville. I have a soft spot for all the municipalities we cover, but Ellenville is unique. I love that I can visit every single business and recall good memories with the folks inside. I love that I can walk down the street and people know me, and stop me to catch up. I love how Ellenville is coming together — despite rough patches, with new and established residents working together for the common good. I love that people knew they could reach out to me day, night, weekend or whatever, to talk news. And I love the occasions when I travel locally, and spot someone reading the paper.

I’ve seen a lot these past seven years. Politicians, editors, reporters and freelancers, businesses and the like, come and go. No matter what, through Covid and uncertainties, you’ve supported me. You’ve supported us. I ask that you continue to support us, because, if I can be frank, it’s increasingly difficult, from a financial perspective, to keep good people on staff. Like me, sometimes we lose them to higher paying jobs elsewhere. But this paper is special. You know it and I know it. So please continue to support it any way you can — subscribe and donate, yes, but also ‘like’ our articles on social media, tell your friends and colleagues that you read about it in the SJ. Support an advertiser and tell them you’re there because you saw their ad in the Journal. Every little piece of the puzzle goes toward making us stronger. And yes, I still say ‘us.’ It will take a long time for me to say otherwise.

I will miss you all so very much. So much that I’ve gotten teary about it. But honestly, I’m still serving you. Just in a larger capacity. My role now is strikingly similar to being a newspaper publisher — a lot of community outreach and engagement, whether in person or through correspondence with the press, online or with constituents on a number of issues. It helps that I know many of the key players already. And that I’m familiar with many of the issues that County Executive Jen Metzger laid out in her latest State of the County address. Many of these issues — housing, mental health, safer streets, unjust utility rates, etc., are issues we’ve tackled in these pages, straight from the local folks who are dealing with them head-on.

So, for now, I will say, be well, and I’ll see you again soon. I’m sorry I didn’t get to visit with many of you in my final days. In a stroke of bad luck, I fell ill my final week. I’ll visit soon though, and if you’re ever thinking WWAD: What Would Amberly Do? It’s this: Be kind. Always be kind. But question everything.

With love,

— Amberly Jane Campbell