Patch Editor Says Goodbye

Dear Patch Readers,

I am writing you today to let you know that I am leaving Patch.

This isn’t easy, and frankly wasn’t my decision, but big changes are coming to this company that are way out of my stratosphere. My last day is Oct. 15.

I do not know what is in store for the future of University Place Patch, but what I can tell you is that it will remain open after I’m gone. You will still be able to share your local events, post blogs and talk about what’s happening in town, but there will be no dedicated, boots-on-the-ground editor like me around to help out. 

I'm not sure how long it will stay open. Now you know what I know.

It's been about a year since I took over University Place Patch from Lakewood editor Brent Champaco, and what a ride it's been.

I grew up on the Tacoma border of UP and it's funny how many times you can drive through a town and not really know it. University Place is a complicated, rich community and I've enjoyed meeting every single person.

Thank you for all your emails and support. 

I'd especially like to thank Chief Mike Blair at the UP Police Department, and Mariza Craig and Linda Seez at City Hall for taking a chance on the new kid, and giving me the information I wanted to deliver to all of you. 

I can tell you this... University Place Patch is very popular in this community. To me, this proves that a gaping news hole in UP exists.  

Everyone I’ve spoken to in town told me the same thing – more local news is needed here. More of it, different kinds of it… because UP is unique and deserves the spotlight, too.

My last ask to you is, please keep this dialogue going, whether here on UP Patch while you can, through our Facebook page or through an entirely different organization altogether. 

As for me, I’m still in the game—I am now a writer for the Q13 Morning News Show, with Kaci, Kelly, Bill and Brien. They are an amazing, hardworking group of people and I’m really excited to be part of the morning team. I’m up working before the crack of dawn writing stories for the live show, because I know it’s important, but also because it makes me happy.

Thank you for everything! I really enjoyed getting to know you, thank you for sharing your lives with me.

~Lauren Padgett