Community Corner

Editor's Notebook: Patch Celebrates its 100th Site Launch

A look at Patch's commitment to community journalism in Port Washington.

Tuesday, Aug. 17 marks Patch's 100th site launch, in Morristown, NJ. That's more than 30 new Patches since I started in late June. If ever there were a sign of company growth, and a rebirth of journalism, this is it.

Since stepping up as editor of Port Washington Patch – filling the very capable shoes of Paul Shapiro, who now runs Huntington Patch – I've learned even more about the community I've long considered home. People are passionate about the peninsula, and they want access to the information they need to continue to make Port a great place to live.

That's why residents sent me tips of sheer outrage when trees were chopped down without notice on Port Washington Blvd. near Campus Drive. It's why they contacted me when they heard about an explosion at the hockey field at Schreiber High School. And why they reached out to me to find out if it was true when Peter Wezenaar unexpectedly lost his life when he was struck by an auto while cycling. They were looking for answers.

Find out what's happening in Port Washingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

But perhaps the most poignant note I received was on a weekday evening from a senior citizen, desperate for information about when Nassau County would spray pesticides to help ward off West Nile Virus. There was no news on local television about spraying in Port Washington, she said. And she was looking for answers.

These notes point to what hyperlocal journalism is all about. It's having someone accessible to look into the issues that matter most to a community. And it points to the need for village, town and county officials to make sure that pertinent information is easy to find.

Find out what's happening in Port Washingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Hyperlocal journalism is also about celebrating the big wins. And there are plenty of those in Port Washington, from the kayak run on Manhasset Bay that raised more than $2,000 for the Community Chest, to the abundant talent at the Port Summer Show. Of course there's so much more, from the innovative confectioner at Main Street Bakery who makes ice cream from liquid nitrogen to to our student athletes, merchants, artists and more.

People tell me they're addicted to Patch. And that's a good thing, because the company plans to be here for the long haul. AOL acquired the company in June 2009, and has since invested $50 million in Patch. 

Since the first Patch sites launched, journalists have collectively produced more than 55,000 articles and nearly 1 million photos. That's a lot of stories. 

And it's only the beginning.


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