Hub reporter enjoys seeing behind the scenes in Orleans County

Photo By Tom Rivers – Sue Cook has been taking photos and writing stories for the Orleans Hub since January. She lives in Albion and also works as a graphic designer for The Lake Country Pennysaver.

ALBION – Readers of the Orleans Hub started seeing Sue Cook’s byline in January. Her debut article was about a long-time library worker in Holley who retired. (Holley gives retiring library clerk a big sendoff)

Cook has been writing community stories on a regular basis for the past five months. She also works as a graphic designer for The Lake Country Pennysaver. The Orleans Hub is based out of the Pennysaver at 170 North Main St., Albion.

The Orleans Hub went “live” on April 2, 2013. We’ve been growing since then, adding staff with Mike Wertman covering sports and his wife Cheryl photographing sporting events.

Cook, 26, grew up in Albion. She graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology with a degree in Graphic Design and a concentration in Archaeology Material Cultures. While at RIT, she worked as a reporter on the college’s newspaper/magazine.

She has enjoyed getting out of the office and covering stories throughout the county, especially now with the warm weather. She has met many inspiring local residents in the past five months.

“I’m shocked at the number of people here who are doing really interesting things,” Cook said.

She is impressed how the small town communities stay close, and often celebrate each other. For example, Cook noted when Bruce Marshall retired in April as head custodian at Kendall Elementary School, he was given a big party by students and staff. (Kendall head custodian feted after 36 years)

Cook follows the Hub social media accounts and she sees teen-agers and recent graduates giving stories “likes” and commenting on the issues.

“The students see the community is listening to them and we care what they’re doing,” Cook said.

She has written about many of the new businesses in the community, and many of the cultural life events. She has met the artists and actors in many productions. She sees their commitment and the high quality of their work.

“It’s been cool to see behind the scenes what a lot of people don’t get to see,” she said.

The schedule of a reporter is often unpredictable, and the topics are varied.

“I learn something new with every assignment I go to,” Cook said.