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I’m Andrea Gemmet, and I’m the new editor of The Almanac. I’m also the old editor of The Almanac, if anyone who perused the staff box between 2020 and 2023 happens to be reading this.
I was born and raised on the Midpeninsula, and with the exception of my college years, I’ve lived in San Mateo County my whole life. It’s a place I know well, because it’s the place I love best, from Bedwell Bayfront Park by the Bay to the Old Spanish Trail at Coal Mine Ridge, from Cafe Borrone to Kings Mountain Road.
Some longtime readers might remember me from my early days as an Almanac reporter, hanging out at school board meetings, covering the education beat. Others may remember me covering crime and breaking news, the towns of Atherton and Woodside, or the city of Menlo Park. Over the years, I covered most of the beats The Almanac had to offer. And if you’re a fan of the Mountain View Voice, our sister publication, that was also me — I was its editor from 2010 to 2022.
The first time I took on the role of Almanac editor, it was the tumultuous spring of 2020, when the pandemic turned the world upside down. I was working from my dining room table and socializing with my staff via Zoom happy hours. Two years ago, I pivoted from news and leapt into the world of feature journalism, overseeing Menlo Park-based PUNCH Magazine’s editorial coverage of the Peninsula’s notable characters, cuisine, design trends and travel.
This month, I’ve come home to The Almanac. In the grand scheme of things, two years away isn’t much time, but a lot has changed since I departed in late 2023. Embarcadero Publishing Company has transformed into the nonprofit Embarcadero Media Foundation. The Almanac’s two reporters, Arden Margulis and Jennifer Yoshikoshi, are new to me, as is much of the newsroom staff at our sister publications, the Palo Alto Weekly, Mountain View Voice and Redwood City Pulse. Our shared newsroom is thrumming with energy and lots of fresh perspectives.
What hasn’t changed is the commitment to serve as a watchdog for the communities The Almanac covers. Every day, we strive to bring trustworthy, well-informed news coverage to our readers. Since this job doesn’t come with a crystal ball, we rely on our readers to tip us off. Is there someone in your neighborhood worthy of a profile, a trouble-spot that needs attention or an amazing photo you’d like to share? Feel free to reach out to me with your story ideas, news tips, letters to the editor and guest opinion pieces at agemmet@almanacnews.com.
Congratulations, Andrea!!! I still remember when you were a “cub” reporter quietly sitting in the back of Independence Hall covering Woodside’s Town Council.
The Almanac and our community are very lucky to have you in this leadership role. Best wishes!