- May 4, 2024
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One of the best things about working at a community newspaper is connecting with neighbors, and then reconnecting. It’s fun to live in what, at times, feels like a very small town.
Two years ago this month, I was able to meet a freshman at Matanzas High School: Alayne McDonald. After the earthquake in Japan, she ran a blanket drive to give supplies to residents in need on the other side of the world. Her brother, Ryan, was stationed in Atsugi, Japan, at the time, on the U.S.S. George Washington.
It wasn’t until a week or so ago that I found out our elections coordinator for the 2012 elections, Darrin McDonald, was actually her brother, as well.
The proud father of all three, Bill McDonald, sent me an email with an update on the family. Darrin has been accepted to a master’s program at York University in York, England, and will begin studying there this fall. Ryan is now a petty officer third class in the U.S. Navy, after three years in Atsugi.
Alayne is graduating 13th in her class one year early from Matanzas, and was recently accepted at the No. 4 university in England, Durham University.
Bill McDonald, a teacher at Indian Trails Middle School, also informed me that used to be neighbors with our advertising manager, Jaci Beckett Centofanti, and he coached soccer with Associate Editor Andrew O’Brien’s father, Don. Small world!
Good luck to Alayne, Darrin and Ryan!
