Dear readers,
For the last 15 months, I've had the pleasure and honor of serving as the local editor of Barnegat Patch. Today, I bid you all a fond farewell.
Next week, I start a new chapter in an old home. I'm headed to my native city of Charlottesville, Va., where I'll be the news editor for the C-Ville Weekly, a great paper in a bustling university town. I'm thrilled to be taking on a new challenge in a place I love, but leaving is bittersweet. Being both your neighbor and your source of news has been a joy – and so much more than a job.
Some days have been more or less like those of any small-town reporter, spent standing in the rain at the scene of accidents and fires or staying late at marathon zoning board meetings, clacking away on my keyboard.
At other times, the nature of this job has broken down the wall that sometimes stands between the reporter and her subject, offering me a totally different view of town. I've talked to Barnegat High School students about local journalism while covering their own work on their school paper. I've toted boxes of canned goods down Main Street to the food pantry before writing about volunteers' latest efforts to feed local families. And best of all, I've had the chance to get to know many of you personally. You've joined me for coffee, invited me into your kitchens or stopped me on the Barnegat Branch Trail or in the grocery store just to chat.
That's what makes Patch remarkable. It's more than a website, a bookmark in your browser, an email in the morning. It's a community resource run by a familiar face, and a place to learn and share thoughts, ideas and opinions.
It's also much bigger than me. I've worked hard to build our local Patch site over the last year-plus, but its success can be credited to you. You listened when I explained what we do. You read and you wrote. And you kept coming back.
Barnegat Patch welcomes a new editor on March 19. Katia Raina is an experienced, award-winning local journalist whose name you'll recognize from the news stories and columns she's written for us over the last year. I'm happy to be handing over the reins to someone so competent and committed. Her contact information will be available through the site when she starts a week from Monday.
I hope you'll give her a warm welcome when she begins, and I hope you'll continue to be a part of Patch. Read, share, comment, blog, and keep talking to whomever's at the helm about what you want to see here. This site really belongs to you. I'm proud to have been a part of it for a while.
Wishing you all the best,
Graelyn
marlyn
12:40 pm on Friday, March 9, 2012
Thanks for all of your hard work & good luck with your new job.
MORRIS FLORY
1:49 pm on Friday, March 9, 2012
Good luck in your dream job.
Charles J. Giles
2:30 pm on Friday, March 9, 2012
Dear Graelyn, It has been an Honor & a Privledge to have worked with you on multiple stories & blogs. You brought news to the area with expertise. The storm coverage with up to the minute updates is just a small example of your dedication to our town.Thank you for all the 9/11 coverage for our steel, Smitty, myself and the First Responders in our town. May you have the Best of Luck in your New Job and May God Bless You & Your Family Today, Tomorrow & Always. Love Ya, Charlie Giles
Jackie Knoff
4:06 pm on Friday, March 9, 2012
Good luck and god speed
Tom Davis
4:23 pm on Friday, March 9, 2012
Thank you for serving our readers well, Graelyn!
Fred Rubenstein
5:01 pm on Friday, March 9, 2012
Much luck to you, Ms. Brashear. May your success know no boundaries.
Mike Howard
5:41 pm on Friday, March 9, 2012
Good luck G. It is great to have known you.
Joseph Hyer
6:44 pm on Friday, March 9, 2012
Graelyn, it has been a pleasure to work with you. You've been a great mentor, and I truly believe the folks in Charlottesville are VERY lucky. Best wishes!
Cindy Janowiak
11:05 pm on Friday, March 9, 2012
Graelyn, thank you for all the enthusiasm you’ve shown to Barnegat. Best wishes in your future endeavors! Cindy
Barnegat Historical Society
11:23 pm on Friday, March 9, 2012
Thank you, Graelyn, for your interest in our organization’s activities and programs. The Patch is a great free forum for not-for-profit organizations to advertize their programs and fund raising activities. Best wishes to in your future endeavors!
Ken Bank
11:36 pm on Friday, March 9, 2012
Congrats, Graelyn. If UVa C-Ville is anything like Penn State, you'll be very busy!
John B Taxpayer
7:33 am on Saturday, March 10, 2012
Graelyn, you will always be the person associated with the Barnegat Ocean Acres Patch!! Though sad to see you go, I glad there's new and exiting things on you horizon!
I'll read you in Charlottesville as my new rep lives there!
Best of luck to you!
Jerry Harper
9:06 am on Saturday, March 10, 2012
Graelyn, it has been a pleasure to have worked with you. I believe Barnegat is loosing a great asset as you leave. I wish you the best success in your new venture. I am sure you will provide them with the same dedication and thoughtfulness that you have shown Barnegat. I have known Katia for many years and I know she will continue to fulfill the task that you have done so well.
Best wishes for a great future in journalism.
Ralph Splendorio
12:31 pm on Saturday, March 10, 2012
Graelyn... congrats on the new job. .and best wishes. You are a true professional.
Mattie
1:12 pm on Saturday, March 10, 2012
Best of Luck!
Rick
1:56 pm on Saturday, March 10, 2012
Good luck in your new endeavors.
The Charlottesville area has produced some great writers. Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe and Earl Hamner.
BeyondReality
4:06 pm on Saturday, March 10, 2012
Graelyn, Thank you for all your hard work, it is greatly appreciated. You made this news outlet special. Before the Barnegat Patch came the best we had was the APP, I have been proud to get my local news from this site, you have really built something special. Good luck in your future, NC is lucky to have you.
Cheryl
4:13 pm on Saturday, March 10, 2012
Thank you for keeping "The Patch" always something to look forward to every morning. Good luck in NC. You will be missed.
Armando Quiroz
4:13 pm on Saturday, March 10, 2012
Graelyn, so sad to hear this news but equally as thrilled to hear about your new employment. I wish you the best. You have been so very kind and passionate. Your work has helped Barnegat connect and communicate like never before. Thank you for your hard work!
Sean Conneamhe
7:22 pm on Saturday, March 10, 2012
"Charlottesville is a beautiful city. You will appreciate it even more now!"
"Thank you for your wonderful work in Ocean County."
Debbie Timpanaro
7:42 pm on Saturday, March 10, 2012
Graelyn, thank you for everything you did and gave to our community. I wish you great success!
Katia Raina
8:18 pm on Saturday, March 10, 2012
Dear Graelyn,
Thank you for your generous introduction. I don’t think I could ever truly replace you, but I will work hard to keep the site something you – and Barnegat – could continue being proud of.
Susan
12:11 am on Sunday, March 11, 2012
I thought you did a great job with the Patch. Good luck in VA.
Eric Thomas
9:08 am on Sunday, March 11, 2012
Good luck in your new situation. Journalism is a time-honored profession that carries great responsibilities. As you continue to learn, you will most likely excel.
Thank you for your work in Barnegat. I hope Virginia proves a bit more docile.
JD Watson
11:13 am on Sunday, March 11, 2012
Best of luck, Graelyn. I've admired your work this past year plus. Thanks for all you've done.
Jim De Francesco
4:44 pm on Sunday, March 11, 2012
I wish you every possible success. You are a true professional!
Trish
7:39 pm on Sunday, March 11, 2012
Good luck Graelyn and much success. I will miss your Sunday nature articles.