Allyson Ferrari

Reporter, Baldwin Herald

United States

I am a journalist in the New York metropolitan area, where I serve as the sole engine behind the Baldwin Herald. From investigative reporting and conducting multiple interviews weekly to final layout and production, I manage the entire lifecycle of a local newspaper. A 2024 Salem State University graduate and former Editor-in-Chief of The Log, I thrive on the high-velocity demand of 6-10 articles per week. When I’m not on a deadline, I’m immersed in the literary world as a Senior Bookseller at Barnes & Noble, where I’ve spent the last four years building displays, taking charge of events and social media, and most importantly, connecting readers with their next favorite story. My ultimate goal is to bring this blend of boots-on-the-ground reporting and deep literary analysis to the New York Times Book Review.

Portfolio

Books

Herald Community Newspapers
07/31/2026
3 things to do at Baldwin Public Library this August

From live concerts and bestselling book discussions to free movie screenings for all ages, the Baldwin Public Library is wrapping up the summer with a full calendar of August programs that offer something for music lovers, readers and families alike.

Herald Community Newspapers
07/10/2026
3 things Baldwin families should know about summer reading assignments

From finding required books to earning prizes through the Baldwin Public Library's Summer Reading Club, Baldwin students and families have several resources available to make summer reading more enjoyable before the new school year begins. Here are three things to know before opening the first chapter.

Herald Community Newspapers
07/10/2026
Baldwin Public Library's most popular books of 2026: The top 5 reads so far

From literary fiction to psychological thrillers, Baldwin Public Library patrons have embraced a wide range of bestselling titles in 2026. Here's a look at the five most-checked-out books through the first half of the year - and the reading trends librarians say are shaping what's popular in Baldwin.

Herald Community Newspapers
06/26/2026
Book Nook brings Long Island's only Black-owned bookstore to Baldwin

Book Nook, Long Island's only Black-owned bookstore and Baldwin's first independently owned bookstore, has opened on Grand Avenue with a mission that extends beyond selling books, creating a community gathering space featuring book clubs, author events and educational programs for readers of all ages.

Herald Community Newspapers
03/06/2026
New month, new book releases at the Baldwin Public Library

As spring approaches, Baldwin readers are lining up their next must-reads, with a new slate of highly anticipated titles arriving at the Baldwin Public Library this month. Through its Best Seller Club, patrons can reserve upcoming releases by their favorite authors, ensuring they're first in line when new books hit the shelves.

Herald Community Newspapers
02/27/2026
Baldwin High School senior releases debut novel

What began as a Black History Month assignment about seven years ago has grown into a published novel - the first part of a trilogy - for an 18-year-old high school senior who turned a family discovery into a deep exploration of history, identity and purpose.

Herald Community Newspapers
01/02/2026
What were your neighbors reading last year in Baldwin?

The bookworms of Baldwin dove into the fictional worlds of many award-winning novels last year. According to Elizabeth Olesh, the Baldwin Public Library director, the top books that were checked out ...

Features, Profiles & Community

Herald Community Newspapers
08/14/2026
Baldwin teen creates sensory kits to make dining inclusive

Baldwin resident Sophie Brennan turned her own experiences with anxiety into a project helping other children, creating sensory kits for local restaurants that earned her Girl Scouting's highest honor.

Herald Community Newspapers
08/07/2026
André Poprilo named principal of Baldwin High School

The Baldwin Union Free School District has appointed André H. Poprilo, the district's longtime director of fine and performing arts, as principal of Baldwin High School, effective July 1.

Herald Community Newspapers
07/31/2026
St. Christopher Parish volunteers power Baldwin's 51st annual feast

While thousands of visitors came to St. Christopher Parish's 51st annual feast for the rides, live music and homemade food, the four-day Baldwin tradition was made possible by roughly 250 volunteers whose months of planning, cooking and preparation transformed the church grounds into one of the community's largest annual gatherings.

Herald Community Newspapers
07/31/2026
How Nassau County grew from rural towns to suburban powerhouse

As the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, Nassau County's own history offers a story of local independence, rapid suburban growth and lasting reinvention, tracing its evolution from three rural Queens towns that chose self-government in 1899 to one of the nation's most populous and diverse suburban counties.

Herald Community Newspapers
07/24/2026
Baldwin Girl Scouts plant community garden to provide fresh produce for Bethany House

With handfuls of soil and packets of seeds, more than 20 Baldwin-area Girl Scouts transformed a corner of Meadow Elementary School into something much larger than a garden - a place where lessons in leadership, nutrition and community service will one day provide fresh produce for families served by Bethany House.

Herald Community Newspapers
07/17/2026
Plaza Elementary's Team ORCHID trains young journalists in Baldwin

Plaza Elementary School's Team ORCHID is giving fourth- and fifth-grade students hands-on experience in journalism, from interviewing Baldwin community leaders and researching local history to producing multimedia stories and preparing to launch podcasts.

Herald Community Newspapers
07/09/2026
Baldwin's Pascale Leone re-elected to Girl Scouts of Nassau County leadership committee

Baldwin resident Pascale Leone has been re-elected to the Girl Scouts of Nassau County Board Development Committee through 2028, continuing her role in helping recruit future leaders and expand opportunities for thousands of girls across Nassau County while drawing on more than two decades of nonprofit leadership experience.

Herald Community Newspapers
06/26/2026
Baldwin students donate mindfulness artwork to Nassau and Suffolk family courts

More than 30 works created by Baldwin School District students will be permanently displayed in Nassau and Suffolk family courts through the district's Mindfulness Through Art program, bringing colorful, calming artwork to courthouse waiting areas where children and families often face stressful situations.

Herald Community Newspapers
06/19/2026
Meadow Elementary students connect with Kenya, donate 14 bicycles

Third graders at Meadow Elementary School in Baldwin raised approximately $1,400 to fund 14 bicycles for students at a school in Kajiado, Kenya, after building friendships through the Red Trunk Project, a global education initiative that connected students through cultural exchanges, pen-pal letters and virtual meetings.

Herald Community Newspapers
06/12/2026
Baldwin Relay for Life survivor Marie Burns shares cancer journey after years of advocacy

After spending 16 years walking the Baldwin Relay for Life track in support of cancer patients and survivors, Marie Burns will take center stage this year as the event's survivor speaker. Burns, 59, was diagnosed with Stage 3 ovarian and peritoneal cancer last June and hopes sharing her experience will encourage others to seek medical care, advocate for their health and support the American Cancer Society's mission.

Herald Community Newspapers
06/05/2026
Baldwin valedictorian Luna Questelles earns perfect ACT score, National Merit Scholarship

Baldwin High School valedictorian Luna Questelles has earned a perfect score on the ACT and a National Merit Scholarship from Stony Brook University, achievements that place the Class of 2026 senior among the nation's highest-performing students. Despite the accolades, Questelles credits curiosity, a love of learning and Baldwin's supportive community for their academic success.

Herald Community Newspapers
05/08/2026
Baldwin schools launch first-of-its-kind Make-A-Wish initiative

Baldwin Middle School students have raised nearly $14,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation while helping launch a first-of-its-kind partnership that trains Baldwin school nurses to identify and refer eligible children facing critical illnesses directly to the organization's wish-granting program.

Herald Community Newspapers
05/08/2026
Long Island widows create healing space for women of color

After struggling to find grief support spaces that reflected their cultural experiences, two Long Island nurses - Gina Lissone of Baldwin and Medina "Dina" Fonville of Brentwood - launched Widow's Journey Reach One Teach One, a nonprofit helping younger widows, particularly women of color, navigate loss, healing and rebuilding community.

Herald Community Newspapers
05/01/2026
Meadow Elementary School Girl Scouts expand school welcome wall languages in Baldwin

Every morning, Meadow Elementary students walk through front doors that now greet them in more of the languages spoken at home - a visible reminder that every culture belongs. The expanded welcome mural, unveiled April 17, was created by seven fourth-grade Girl Scouts who noticed classmates and families were missing from one of the school's most prominent displays and decided to change it.

Herald Community Newspapers
04/24/2026
Women's History Month drive delivers supplies to Bethany House in Baldwin

Boxes of household essentials and pantry staples filled Bethany House's Baldwin location on April 8 as Nassau County Legislators Debra Mulé and Scott M. Davis delivered the results of a monthlong Women's History Month supply drive for women and children experiencing homelessness.

Herald Community Newspapers
04/20/2026
Water economics: On Long Island, balancing need with cost

On Long Island, residents are served by either public water districts or private water suppliers and, depending on location, some pay significantly more for the same basic necessity - often with little or no ability to choose their provider.

Herald Community Newspapers
04/10/2026
'GLO Up, Show Up' and shine bright

The Girls Loving Ourselves, or GLO, Empowerment Club at Baldwin Middle School celebrated Women's History Month with a special empowerment ceremony late last month.

Herald Community Newspapers
02/06/2026
Baldwin Filmmaker's Documentary Reframes U.S. Occupation of Haiti

Baldwin resident Alain Martin, 45, never set out to become a filmmaker, but a decade-long passion project, his documentary "The Forgotten Occupation," is now reaching national audiences and reshaping how Haiti's history is understood.

Herald Community Newspapers
12/05/2025
Meadow Elementary community aids Jamaica after hurricane

Christina Espeut, a PTA mom at Meadow Elementary School, and her family take an annual trip to Jamaica. Due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa in October, Espeut had to break the news to her children that their family trip was canceled this year.

Salem State Log
12/05/2023
The Jolie Tea Company: Downtown Salem's Hidden Gem

Salem, Mass. - When people think of places to visit downtown, the first thing that comes to mind is witches. Whether that be the Witch Museum or the Witch House, those are the attractions that visitors are drawn to year round. The real hidden gem of Downtown Salem is located right on Derby Street.

Salem State Log
12/02/2023
Period poverty and why you should care about it

Period poverty is defined as the lack of access to menstrual products, hygiene facilities, waste management, and education in regards to menstruation. This problem affects the 500 million people who lack access to menstrual products and hygiene facilities. Non-menstruating individuals may be wondering why this is a problem everyone should care about; And that is...

Salem State Log
11/09/2023
November: National Diabetes Awareness Month

November marks National Diabetes Awareness Month, a time to come together and support those living with the chronic disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Not enough people are educated on Type 1 diabetes and what it is exactly. Type 1, also known as juvenile diabetes, is a chronic condition where the pancreas makes little...

Salem State Log
11/15/2022
Ginsburg Initiative is a step forward for intersectional feminism and Salem State students

When former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick started the Massachusetts Commonwealth Commission on the Status of Women, the voices of the women living in Massachusetts were being heard louder than ever before. Here in Essex County, we have the Essex County Commission on the Status of Women (ECCSW), the purpose of which is to advance the...

Salem State Log
10/03/2022
Associate Professor Cindy Vincent combines teaching public relations with civic engagement

While growing up in Sacramento, California, Dr. Cindy Vincent-Associate Professor of Media and Communication at Salem State-was not only involved with her school's yearbook club; she was also out joining local protests. As she got older, she started to study activism and research civic engagement. Most recently, she has been doing her part advocating for...

Salem State Log
10/02/2023
The Advocacy Journey of Salem State's Liv Duarte

Growing up on Cape Cod, Liv Duarte had a happy childhood. She comes from a two parent household, where they always put her and her brother first, ensuring both kids had everything they needed to succeed. But through all of this, Duarte was exposed to the world of difficulties and grievances that every parent hopes...

Salem State Log
09/22/2023
Jeff Theis: The Teacher Who Never Planned to Teach

Jeff Theis is an English professor, at Salem State University, but growing up, that was the last thing he wanted to do. Theis began his career at Kenyon College where he got his bachelor's degree in English. He then started at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he received his master's degree.

Breaking News

Herald Community Newspapers
05/22/2026
Long Island Rail Road strike ends after tentative MTA deal

The three-day Long Island Rail Road strike ended late Monday after five unions and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority reached a tentative agreement, bringing relief to Baldwin commuters and riders across Long Island after days of disrupted service, alternate travel plans and uncertainty.

Herald Community Newspapers
05/20/2026
Baldwin voters approve $180M school budget for 2026-27

Baldwin voters approved the Baldwin Union Free School District's nearly $180 million 2026-27 budget Tuesday, along with the Baldwin Public Library budget and two reserve-funded propositions for school improvements.

Personal Essays

To Love Hopelessly
01/06/2024
my marjorie, my grandmother

I woke up that morning ready to experience the happiest day of my life, a moment I had been waiting for since I was six years old. Seeing Taylor Swift. The Era's Tour was the concert of the summer and I was one of so few people who were able to snag a ticket.

To Love Hopelessly
01/05/2024
love in the modern world

Love is made out to be this wholesome, beautiful thing that every person strives for. Being in love is supposed to make you feel safe, warm, and comfortable. You're supposed to feel happy. So why has it only ever felt cruel, soul-crushing, and pointless for me?

To Love Hopelessly
02/14/2024
is it really enemies to lovers? or is he just an asshole?

There's a fine line between love and hate- the enemies to lovers trope proves that. When you're young, adults tell you that a boy is picking on you because he has a crush on you. We are wired to believe that being treated unkindly is a form of love.

Sports

Salem State Log
12/02/2022
Salem State's men's ice hockey team a magnet for out-of-state students

Those of us who grew up in New England may wonder why so many out-of-state students attend Salem State-but for some, including many members of Salem State's men's ice hockey team, this may be one of their only options. Why? So they can continue to play the sport they grew up loving.

Salem State Log
11/22/2023
Vikings take down MCLA Trailblazers 6-1

On Thursday, Nov. 16, the Salem State Vikings dominated the scoreboard with an impressive 6-1 win against the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Trailblazers. Two minutes into the first period, Trailblazers' Christian Nawrocki (Darien, Conn.) was sent to the penalty box for hooking. At the very last second of the Vikings power play opportunity, Luke...

Salem State Log
02/06/2023
Vikings men's ice hockey defeat Framingham State Rams 7-2

On Saturday, January 28, the Salem State Vikings put a quick end to their losing streak with a 7-2 win against the Framingham State Rams at the Rockett Arena. Only 11 seconds into the first period, Erik Larsson (Lake Tahoe, Calif.) started the game off strong earning the Vikings their first goal, with an assist...