An Editor's Farewell

On Sept. 20, 2010, with a lot of help from contributors and the community, I launched Bethesda Patch.

The site debuted with about 13 stories, including on the newly remodeled  the ambulance fee controversy, the embattled Bethesda Theatre and the newly-opened Mussel Bar. Since then, the site has morphed into a hub for community news and information. Stories like the tragic Lululemon homicide drew the national spotlight, and we've also covered issues surrounding business, schools, and development essential to the community conversation.

It's with sadness today that I'm announcing my departure from Patch. I'll be moving to New York to take on a temporary position with CBS Crimesider. It's been a pleasure covering Bethesda and Montgomery County, and I couldn't have done it without your help. Together, we've grown our Patch site into a great local news resource.

Thanks to everyone who has submitted stories and blog posts, helped me reach a deadline by responding to my frantic calls or emails, submitted a news tip or interacted with the site via the comments section, Facebook or Twitter. 

You may have noticed the site itself has undergone a few changes as well. Thursday, the Bethesda and Chevy Chase sites merged to become Bethesda-Chevy Chase Patch. The editor for the combined site will be Laura L. Thornton, the former Chevy Chase Patch editor. Please reach out to Laura with comments, questions, tips and story ideas. Her e-mail is laura.thornton@patch.com.

The new Bethesda-Chevy Chase Patch will continue to bring you top-notch news coverage. Though I'll no longer be your local Patch editor, I'll be reading, commenting and contributing to the site, and I hope you will be too.

I'll miss covering the news here and connecting with the readers. You've truly made the site what it is today. In the words of one local musician: