New Patch Editor Pulls into Nazareth

"I pulled into Nazareth..."

Those first few words were always intriguing. As a Classic Rock historian, I always wondered about this magical place called Nazareth that starts off The Band's "The Weight."

It wasn't until I moved to the Lehigh Valley a little more than two years ago that the pieces of the puzzle came together.

And there was the building that inspired the song that I spotted when I pulled into Nazareth Friday night.

Hello, I'm Dino Ciliberti, the new editor of Patch.com's Nazareth site. To say I remember, hum and sing all of these Classic Rock songs should tell you that I'm a little older than past Patch.com Nazareth Editor Mallory Vough.

OK, I'm a lot older...actually turning 47 in June. So groups like the Eagles, The Band, the Beach Boys, Yes, Chicago and all of those classic rockers really hit home for me.

Robbie Robertson, the main writer of songs for The Band, penned "The Weight" and included Nazareth because he was pulling into Martin Guitar to check out some guitars. And, the rest, they say, is history...

For nearly two years, I've been working for the Palmer-Forks Patch.com site, almost one year full time as editor and the year before as a guest editor of several sites and a hired gun covering all kinds of stories and towns throughout the Lehigh Valley.

I also write a weekly column about Philadelphia sports teams (I'm a long-suffering fan since the early 1970s) that goes to almost 50 Patch.com sites throughout the region. You've probably seen the column on this site each week.

Nazareth poses a new challenge for me.

But after working more than 25 years in the newspaper industry, including serving as editor of three newspapers over a decade, I'm up for the task.

I've covered a few meetings over the years in Nazareth (the council, school board and Lower Nazareth supervisors) and I've traveled about, even going on the Martin Guitar tour when I first moved here.

Living in Forks Township, I know Lower Nazareth really well. That's our retail scene.

So you'll see me with my wife and 10-year-old son at Target, Wegmans, Kohl's, Sam's Club, Walmart, Panera Bread, McDonald's, Red Robin, Buffalo Wild Wings, Diner 248, Arby's, Frank's—pretty much all of the retail places—on any given day.

Mallory, my buddy whom I will miss, told me a lot of great things about all of you. She also took me on an extensive tour of the community Friday.

On Friday night, I tried to retrace my steps as my wife and I went on a drive through Nazareth, Lower Nazareth, Upper Nazareth, Plainfield Township and Bushkill Township.

We even stopped for dinner at Mivajo's Pizza. Excellent food there I must say.

It's going to take me a little while to connect the dots and know my way around. But I'll be around, covering meetings, going through stores and meeting and greeting people.

But I really need your help.

This site is as much about you as it is about me. So please continue to post your comments and pictures and events and announcements. Please drop me emails with any news tips or just to introduce yourself.

You can reach me at:

• dino.ciliberti@patch.com
• My cell: 484-661-9686

I'm really excited by all of our possibilities together. Patch.com is just a great platform and a wonderful way to share news and information that you won't find anywhere else.

So I'll see you around the next time I pull into Nazareth, probably humming that song.