Local journalism rooted in Delano since 2009
Delano Now was founded in 2009 by Gene and Maria Garaygordobil, two career journalists who believed Delano deserved reliable local news and information residents could trust. From the beginning, their goal was not only to keep the community informed but also to highlight the people, accomplishments and positive work that make Delano a better place.
Gene Garaygordobil’s journalism career spanned from 1989 to 2020. During that time, he worked as a writer, editor and executive editor. Maria Garaygordobil worked as a photographer from 1990 to 2002, documenting the people and events behind local stories. Together, they brought decades of journalism experience and community knowledge to Delano Now.
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide accurate, fair and dependable coverage of the issues that matter to Delano residents. We cover local government, elections, schools, public safety, businesses, sports, community events, obituaries and the everyday people whose stories deserve to be told.
We believe local journalism should examine important issues and hold institutions accountable while also recognizing the achievements, organizations and residents moving the community forward.
The Next Chapter
Today, Delano Now is led by Gene and Maria’s son, Aidan Garaygordobil, a Delano native with degrees in journalism and history and experience in reporting, photography, communications and community outreach.
Aidan plans to continue the mission established by his parents while expanding Delano Now for a modern audience. That includes strengthening its website and extending its reporting across social media, photography, video and other digital platforms.
The way people receive their news has changed since 2009, but Delano Now’s purpose has not: to keep the community informed, preserve its stories and provide a trusted source of local information.
Help Us Cover Delano
Local journalism is strongest when the community participates. Delano Now welcomes news tips, event announcements, photographs, story ideas and correction requests from readers.
