Community Corner

Aloha, West Hartford!

It has been a great couple of years.

Today begins a new era for West Hartford Patch, as I leave my post as local editor, which I have held since May 2011, and move into a role as a regional editor.

I say "Aloha," not "Goodbye," because I am not leaving West Hartford, and in my new role I will still have responsibility for West Hartford as well as Patch towns in the Farmington Valley and beyond. Leaving my day-to-day role is bittersweet, but West Hartford can't get rid of me that quickly!

Today I turn the reins over to Ted Glanzer, who is our former South Windsor editor – and prior to that editor of The Granbys Patch. Ted has previously both lived and worked in West Hartford, and he knows this town very well. Coincidentally he and I graduated from the same high school (Westhill, in Stamford), but since he has a law degree and I don't, I always tell him that he is smarter than I am. He is also much funnier. And he is taller.

When I took over West Hartford Patch from Susan Schoenberger more than two years ago, I had no idea what this job would entail. My background was in writing lengthy magazine-style feature articles, but I quickly learned to cover fires, and crime stories, and the activities of West Hartford's schools and government.

I embedded myself in the Emergency Operations Center at the West Hartford Police during the first (and the second) October storm, and believe that the fast and furious news we were able to provide helped make Patch an important part of the fabric of this town. I am so grateful to have been a part of that.

I will miss being on the forefront of everything that is happening in town – the go-to person for information, the woman with the ever-ready camera to record whatever was going on. Even the friends of my teenage children knew what my job was, and they had become the source of information, too.

I have been lucky to have gotten to know all of West Hartford's elected officials and administrators, as well as many members of the police and fire departments. I have covered schools events, fundraisers, fires, crimes, controversies, memorials, meetings that lasted until the wee hours, and even a visit by Pres. Barack Obama.

I have trudged uphill through thigh-deep snow to a main road so I could ride through town with Dir. of Public Works John Phillips and survey the effects of the blizzard. I have chased down CL&P trucks (and employees) to bring you the news about power restoration. 

I have brought you the scoop on countless pieces of business news, and still plan to be in the know when Pepe's opens!

I wish you all the best, and I know Ted will do a great job. But this will always be my town, too.

Thank you all so much for everything, and don't be a stranger when you see me at the grocery store or walking through town!


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