Patch In New Hampshire Turns 9: Thank You, Concord!

CONCORD, NH — The Concord NH Patch news and community website turns 9 today. Happy birthday!

Around 3 p.m. on June 17, 2011, the lights were turned on by the then-owner of the company, AOL, and me scurrying around for a number of weeks before that, populating the site with photos, listings, and news stories.

During the summer of 2011, 10 New Hampshire sites were unveiled to the public as part of "primary Patch" sites set up here as well as Iowa and South Carolina, to bring hyperlocal news, info, and presidential primary coverage to online news. Two more sites were created later as the staffers here made their mark on the world.

For a deeper overview of Concord NH Patch's history, read the 8th birthday note published in June 2019 here.

Today, Patch has more than 1,250 sites across the country.

Since the creation of the Concord site, each year, I write a note on the site's birthday to thank all of you for your support and readership, and to also reflect on the previous year. I usually go and get a cake, light a candle, and have a bit of fun, posting a video.

Page Views Go Boom: Since Sept. 3, 2014, New Hampshire's Patch sites have collected nearly 72 million page views according to internal Google Analytics Data. During that same time period, the Concord NH Patch site derived about 27.4 million PVs.

This year, things are a bit different. It's been busy around here, if you haven't noticed: Between COVID-19, all the crime and breaking news, and the political scene heating up, there just too much to do right now. And, earlier this week, I dropped about $90 on Burgerfest burgers and totally forgot about the cake.

Top 9 Most Read Posts On NH Patch

• 'She Made a Lot of Bad Decisions': Family's Heartbreaking Obituary for NH Woman Who Died of Heroin Overdose
• UFO Update: Craft Was Seen in Concord, Boscawen
• Shredded Chicken - Who Knew it Was So Easy?
• More UFO Lights Seen Over Concord
• Immigration Checkpoint On Major New Hampshire Highway
• 10 Things Every High School Graduate Should Hear
• Couple Going At It On Hood Of Car Arrested: Cops
• Mass. Woman Arrested for Exposing Herself on I-93

One thing we have not done is bought Patch a birthday present or anything. But earlier this week, we got a few … six, actually, in the form of New Hampshire Press Association Distinguished Journalism Contest 2019 Awards.

No, really, six. I know; I was stunned, too, but very excited!

This year, Concord NH Patch won awards for Investigative Story/Series (Concord School Officials Not Credential Series); Crime/Court Reporting (Bicentennial Square Attempted Murder); two awards in the Entertainment/Arts Reporting and Best Use of Video-Feature categories for "Long Lost Art Of Poetry Not Lost On Concord's Currie: Watch;" Best Use of Video-News for "Granite Staters Mourn Friends, Family At Homeless Persons' Vigil;" and Spot News Photo for "Single-Vehicle Rollover Crash Reported In Concord's West End."

I do not know what place all of the stories will finish but that doesn't really matter, does it? Just being acknowledged with awards is very cool and shows that, yes, 2019 was a pretty good year for news at Patch. It was also good to see our news partners InDepthNH.org and freelance photographer Jeffrey Hastings winning a bunch of awards, too. We're all lucky to be working with them to expand our news and information offerings at Patch.

On Patch's 8th birthday last year, I noted how meaningful it was to celebrate again having stepped away and then returning to doing what I love so much and, I think, what I was meant to do in the first place when I came here nine years ago at this moment and worked so hard to found and build this site. After about 46,000 posts and stories, who knows how many emails and phone calls, texts and IMs on Facebook, it is still a joy and, frankly, a blessing to be employed doing the work that I love considering all that is going on in the media business and our world today.

We all know that there is darkness hanging over a lot of life these days. There is uncertainty, fatigue, and confusion; drama and angst; sickness and worry; fear, sorrow, and hope, too. Hang in there, everyone; it will get better. It always does, doesn't it? Every day is another one you might not have had otherwise. And know, too, that I'll do all I am capable of to let you know what's going on in Concord, like always.

In closing, thank you all so very much for reading, sharing posts, offering comments and critique, and sending tips, too. Keep them coming, BTW: tony.schinella@patch.com. Stay safe and well!

Got a news tip? Send it to tony.schinella@patch.com. View videos on Tony Schinella's YouTube channel.