Mara has made a name for herself pounding the pavement of Staten Island looking for stories that affect local residents, businesses, and politics. You may have seen her lugging her gear around the Island, at community board meetings, major crime scenes, on the Hylan Boulevard divide, or at the top of the Fresh Kills Landfill.
A graduate of St. John's University on Staten Island, Mara started her journalism career with Time Warner Cable as an intern for The Staten Island Newscenter on SI76, and was later promoted to a freelance news reporter. She joined NY1 News in December 2004 to be the first reporter for the "Staten Island News Now" insert. Since then she has taken on the role as weekend anchor for the local insert.
Mara has received several awards for her work from the community, including the Staten Island Economic Development's Top 20 Under 40 Leadership Award and the Media Award from the Iron Hills Civic Association.