A Farewell from your Patch Editor

As a wordsmith it’s not often I struggle to write a clear, concise message. But today I find it nearly impossible to say what can be encapsulated in a single, two-syllable statement: goodbye.

Some of you have heard by now that I’m leaving as editor of Kent Patch. My last day is Tuesday.

Patch is reviewing alternatives for some of its sites including Kent, but readers should rest assured they will be able to continue using Kent Patch. The local sites will remain, which means you can keep blogging, posting notes and for-sale items, but there will be no local editorial staff.

And so after more than eight years with my ear to the ground in Kent, including three with Patch, I’ve been given a pass on covering Kent City Council meetings, breaking news coverage and telling your personal stories of triumph and tragedy.

It has been an honor to have so many of you place your trust in me by letting me tell your story. I took each to heart — whether it was your fight against cancer or the challenge of opening your own business — and strived to weave the facts in a way that let people connect with your story. I hope you found the same value in the countless hours I spent tromping around Kent as I did.

Watching and reporting on the transformation of Kent these past few years has created a trove of memories I will treasure for a long time. Your community is thriving, and Kent is a wonderful place to be right now.

I will still be around Kent, as I’m teaching a course at Kent State University this fall. And I’m looking forward to spending as many hours in the seat of my kayak, paddling down the Cuyahoga River, as I did in those green torture devices called chairs at city hall.

So if you see me out on the river, bike path or in a local shop or restaurant, say hello. But for now, I have to say goodbye.

Thank you Kent for all your support!