New Providence and Berkeley Heights Patches Unite!

It's a merger! We've combined the New Providence and Berkeley Heights Patches to created an even more robust online experience for readers and advertisers across the entire community.

The New Providence-Berkeley Heights Patch reflects our tracking of local news, business and feedback from the three bordering towns in our coverage area. It also reflects our continuing commitment to make Patch the best online home for the local information and community conversation that matters most to you.

As always, you can make your voice part of the conversation by posting comments, events, announcements and photos. If you need more information about those opportunities or just want to send news tips or make a suggestion, Local Editor Caitlin Mahon would be thrilled to hear from you. In fact, more than ever, we will need you to call — early and often — to share with her all the news and information that you would like to see on the site.

"Launching the New Providence Patch in November, 2010 and working as the Local Editor has been the most rewarding experience of my career," Mahon said. "I got to know one town in more ways than I ever dreamed, all the while reporting on some of the biggest issues the town has ever seen. With the merger of the New Providence and Berkeley Heights Patch sites, I am eager to get to know the residents of these two great towns and the issues that are important to residents in their everyday lives." While we may be consolidating the sites, we're expanding our call to action for users, as well as business owners. For merchants and other business leaders in the region, we want to remind you to make sure that our Patch Places directory includes the listing and then claim it.

"We look forward to working with the business community to highlight the many ways that New Providence, Berkeley Heights and Mountainside work," Mahon said.

Our reminders to every member of the community stands: Do you have some special expertise, interest or point of view? Share it with the community by becoming a Patch blogger or posting photos of everything from youth-sports games to potluck dinners, happenings in the schools or charity events. "I will work hard to uncover great stories and also encourage residents to talk abut the issues that make them excited," Mahon said. "I want residents to feel they have a voice and can contribute to Patch. Because, after all, Patch is home for residents, the place where you can see what matters most to you. I am looking forward to serving all three communities to the best of my ability, but I need all Patch users to help me make the site exactly what you need."

We're constantly looking for ways to do more, do better and do right by New Providence, Berkeley Heights and Mountainside. Keep telling us what you'd like to see here. We may not be able to do it all at once, but we'll keep at it. And we'll keep listening so that we can make the New Providence-Berkeley Heights everything you want and need it to be.