Editor's Notebook: A Fond Farewell

Dear readers,

It's definitely bittersweet for me to write this column.

Nine months ago, I turned off of Route 24, steered my car across a Passaic River bridge and headed down Main Street. I didn't know what the future had in store, and I had no idea if Chatham residents would accept this new Web site I was about to help start in their town.

As the summer draws to a close, I have my answer. You've welcomed me with open arms—you've passed me news tips, encouraged me to cover various events, and generally made me feel like a part of your community.

That's why it's difficult to say goodbye so soon. I'm leaving Chatham Patch at the next week to take over a different, soon-to-be-launched Patch site in the Philadelphia area. I'll cover Mount Airy—a neighborhood in the city where my girlfriend and several of my family members live.

I think part of the reason leaving is hard is because I feel like I'm stepping out on what has been a team effort. I haven't even come close to doing it alone. The site's loyal contributors have always been willing to take on assignments and make the site better, and I thank them for that. I hope you've been able to meet some of them along the way.

But I can't tell you how many times I've marveled at my good luck. You've been able to make my job that much easier by doing what I hoped—you've taken the site and made it your own. Any time I receive a news tip, or someone tells me about something going on that I never would have otherwise known about, you make Chatham Patch yours.

I can assure you, though, that I won't feel nervous about leaving the site. It's going to be left in more-than-able hands. Laura Silvius will replace me as the site's editor. She's got a fantastic pedigree—she has spent a significant amount of time writing for various Patch sites—and I know she'll do a great job. Feel free to reach out to her at laura.silvius@patch.com or at 973 349 6872.

Laura will transition in throughout this week, but I'll still be around town until early next week. So if you see me, stop me and say hello, just like always. Philadelphia isn't far, and I'm still going to be a part of Patch, so I'm not going anywhere. You can always get in touch at zach@patch.com.

We want to give you an opportunity to meet Laura, so we're having a little get together on Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m. at Charley's Aunt. I'll be there. Feel free to stop in at any point to say hi. For my part, I'd love to have the chance to say goodbye in person to anyone who can come.

It's been a pleasure to cover Chatham's news, and I know the effort will continue for many months and years to come. Even though it feels like it's been a short nine months, I'll always be your original, launch editor, and I'm grateful for that.

Thanks for all the help along the way, and get ready for Laura to ably take the reins.

Best wishes,

Zach