Taking On a New Challenge

I’ve always had something of a competitive streak—challenge me to anything, from a game of chess to a half marathon, and I’ll try to find it in me to win.

So two years ago, when a former colleague asked me why I was ditching the world of newspapers to jump into a total unknown with Patch and asked me the fateful words, “What are you going to write about in West Deptford?,” I picked that gauntlet off the floor and walked out the door.

Two years and more than 2,000 stories later, there’s little question I found a couple topics to cover.

But a new challenge has come my way, and that means I’m stepping away as West Deptford’s editor.

I’m not going far; I’ll be staying in South Jersey and with Patch—just taking my news reporters’ notepad up Route 295 a few exits to tackle what will be our new site in Cherry Hill, which launches at the end of the month.

It’s an expansion that wouldn’t have happened without readers like you—people who embraced what Patch is doing in West Deptford and beyond and helped us grow and reach more people who want to connect with their towns.

It wasn’t an easy call to make the switch—in the 22 months I’ve spent as West Deptford editor, I’ve been lucky to be let into your lives, to experience the hardships and highs. From the floods that wrecked homes in Willow Woods and West 1st Avenue, the WDHS marching band’s drive for a second straight ACC championship to one active political scene and everything in between, I’ve been fortunate enough to be there and tell your stories.

And beyond that, you’ve shared your photos, told us about events going on—and used Patch to help promote those happenings—and made West Deptford Patch the place to get everything local.

For all that, and for what you've given me as a community, I thank you.

While I may be leaving, Patch will still be here as your news source for West Deptford. In my place will be temporary editors Shannon Sadler and Mike Monostra, who can be reached by emailing westdeptford@patch.com.

You can also reach out to our Regional Editor, Tim Zatzariny Jr. by email at tim.zatz@patch.com or by phone 609-775-5880, or Associate Regional Editor Lauren Burgoon at Lauren.burgoon@patch.com or by phone 856-952-4366.