Editor's Notebook: Patch Celebrates its 100th Site Launch

This is a big day for San Rafael Patch and all Patch sites nationwide. This quickly growing network of local news and information sites as of today numbers 100.

The newest site is in Morristown, N.J., so if you grew up there or know someone, take a look. I grew up in the Three Villages on Long Island and it's really fun for me to go on the site and l see photographs of places where I use to hang out as a kid.

Since the San Rafael site launched on June 30, I am now immersed in everything San Rafael, my home for 20 years.

It is fun to cover the school districts my daughter attended. Most recently, San Rafael Patch covered events at the newly renovated Northgate mall and it is interesting to see this project was not just a remodel, but a change in attitude.

Northgate has reached out to the community, inviting girls and their mothers to fashion events, organizing donation drives and hosting summer concerts.

Last weekend, San Rafael Patch covered two downtown art events showing how this is now the center of the countywide art scene. Saturday's story on the 2nd Friday Downtown Art Walk, focused on the many people who strolled Fourth Street, maps in hand, visiting galleries and exhibits.

We also covered an artist reception at the Marin Arts Council gallery, where we reached the conclusion that the downtown arts scene has "Zing!"

When I worked for a print newspaper, I did a package on Marin's foster program and met foster children and parents in San Rafael. The kids, who have lived under a variety of terrible situations, were resilient and amazing. The parents are incredibly giving people. So when I heard the Sleep Train advertisements seeking back-to-school donations for foster children, I thought of the San Rafael store and got in touch with headquarters to do an article on how Sleep Train is helping to make a difference in children's lives. 

As a San Rafael resident, did you know Mike's Bikes has been shipping donated bicycles to Africa since 2007 — and not only do they supply the two-wheel transportation, they teach repair and provide other support to the communities that benefit from them.

If Patch.com is new to you, don't feel alone. It is new to many of its employees. Patch was founded in February  2008 in New York City. The first Patch sites launched simultaneously in Maplewood, South Orange and Millburn-Short Hills, New Jersey in February 2009.

The company was acquired by AOL in June 2009 and the parent company has since invested $50 million in Patch and we are now in nine states. Since the first Patch sites launched we have collectively produced more than 55,000 articles and nearly 1 million photos.

I have enjoyed being a print journalist for many years. The process of collecting information and reporting a story has alway been something I've liked to do. After learning that Patch holds its employees up to the same journalistic standards and ethics that traditional newspapers do, I felt that I could continue the career I had long been engaged in, knowing Patch is about the same excellence I have always strived for.

If you see me around town, say "hello," I'm often at San Rafael's three farmers markets, or dining in restaurants (Bistro Ginolina is my current fave) or shopping at Northgate or downtown.

Take time to check out our other nearby Patch sites in Mill Valley and San Anselmo-Fairfax. We are coming soon to Novato and  many other North Bay sites uare set to launch before the end of 2010. Remember to follow the Patch sites on Facebook and Twitter too!