A Farewell Letter from the Editor

In military families, it’s customary to say, “It’s not goodbye—it’s I'll see you soon.” I hope this will be the case for us, Encinitas, as I resign my post as your editor and move on to new pursuits.

While my talent as a writer and editor brought me to Patch—and, happily, to Encinitas—my passion for animals will take me into the next chapter of my life as I take a leap of faith and follow my dreams into the veterinary field.

But it truly isn’t goodbye. A writer at heart, you’ll soon be seeing my byline again as I document my journey. You can still find me around town, too, as I’ll be working right here in Encinitas at and volunteering at .

Covering this beautiful beach town has been both a privilege and an adventure. My endeavors at Patch have easily marked the most significant professional learning experience of my life, and having the opportunity to live and work in Encinitas has made it all the more rewarding.

Thank you so much to all the readers, contributors and friends of our little community website. You’ve welcomed us with open arms and it has been a pleasure to serve you.

Taking my place as leader of this ship will be the wonderful and talented Marlena Medford. Marlena comes to Patch following her career as associate editor for the San Diego Suburban News group, which publishes five weeklies from La Jolla to Solana Beach. She is a San Diego native who grew up in Dallas and graduated from the University of Oklahoma. Marlena and her husband, JD, currently live in Solana Beach and will be moving to Encinitas.

Please feel free to contact Marlena with your questions and story ideas and join me in welcoming her to our vibrant community. She can be reached at Marlena.Medford@patch.com.

It is my sincerest hope that Encinitas Patch will continue to grow, both in the hearts of locals and as a trusted community news source. To hear so many of you praise our efforts—during my time here, I’ve gotten an incredible outpouring of support—makes me glow with pride. I’m so happy to have been a part of it.

Best to you, Encinitas.

And remember, it’s not goodbye—it’s I'll see you soon.

Jennifer Reed