Hello, Baldwin, I’ll be your new Herald editor

How much does a polar bear weigh?

Enough to break the ice — I’m Brian Croce, your new Baldwin Herald editor.

Now, aside from making terrible introductory jokes (hopefully you didn’t roll your eyes too hard and hurt your head), I’ll be the person reporting on everything Baldwin.

I’ve been a member of the Herald editorial staff for the last 27 months as a reporter covering the communities of Valley Stream, Lynbrook and East Rockaway. During that time I met a lot of great people who care about their neighborhoods and plenty of interesting residents with great stories to tell.

Of course, there were still plenty of stories that dealt with sad or disheartening topics, but they’re important too.

I grew up in Oceanside — about 30 seconds from the Baldwin border on Atlantic Avenue — and graduated from the State University of New York at Oswego in 2011 with a degree in journalism. Last year, the New York Press Association awarded me second place in its “Rookie” Reporter of the Year contest, which means I have a cool certificate on my desk.

I know a little bit about Baldwin, its schools, parks, businesses, organizations and people, but I still have much to learn.

Over my first week on the job (I started last Tuesday) I’ve already met plenty of kind people who either live or work in the Baldwin community. It makes my job of getting to know a new community a lot easier when people are welcoming and inviting. Thanks for that.

And for the people I haven’t met yet, I hope that won’t be the case for too long. If you see me at an event, meeting or on the street please say hello. I’ll be the guy with the red hair, dangerously pale skin and a notepad.

I hope that the horrendous ice-breaking joke at the top didn’t make every Baldwin reader vow to never associate with me. If not, please let me know if you have any tips, story ideas or general comments about anything happening in Baldwin.

If you’d like to reach me at our Garden City office, give me a call at (516) 569-4000 ex. 246 or shoot me an email at bcroce@

liherald.com