Laura Glasser, Patch Staff

<b>Email: </b>laura.glasser&#64;patch.com

<b>Phone: </b>631-561-9506

<b>Hometown: </b>Sound Beach

<b>Birthday: </b>March 15, 1985

<strong>Bio</strong>

I started my professional journalism career as the finance reporter for the Long Island Business News just after graduating from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania with a bachelors degree in print journalism in 2007. I worked that post for three years, covering Long Island banks, accounting firms and other companies, along with working on the paper&#39;s developing website. In 2008, I was named Cub Reporter of the Year by the Long Island Press Club.

I left LIBN in April to spend some time with my now 8-month-old daughter and started freelancing for Patch this summer.

I&#39;m originally from Pennsylvania and moved to Long Island with my husband, who&#39;s from the area, in 2007.

When I&#39;m not working or spending time with my family, I&#39;m in my much-too-small kitchen cooking and baking. I also love tending my vegetable and flower gardens in the summer.

<b>Your Beliefs</b>

<i>At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable.</i><br><br><i>This disclosure is not a license for our editors to inject these beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that our beliefs are on the record will force us to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you, the user, ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.</i>

<b>Politics</b><b> </b>

How would you describe your political beliefs? Moderate<br>Are you registered with a certain party? No<br><br><b>Religion</b>

How religious would you consider yourself? I was brought up Catholic and attended Catholic school, but now consider myself casually religious.<br><b><br>Local Hot-Button Issues</b>

What do you think are the most important issues facing the community? I think the high cost of living on Long Island is one of the biggest problems facing the region and the major reason so many young people choose to move elsewhere.<br>

Where do you stand on each of these issues? I don&#39;t think the answers are simple. Fixing one problem can often create another. I think a great deal of cooperation across all areas is needed to bring down excessive costs and keep young people living here.