A Patchwork of Memories
After two and a half years, inaugural Doylestown Patch editor Sarah Larson is stepping down.
When I was recruited to build and launch Doylestown Patch in 2010, I never could have guessed the journey that lay in store.
I traversed the greater Doylestown area from one side to the other, meeting you, listening to your stories and sharing them with your neighbors.
For the first few months, every conversation began with "What’s Patch?"
Pretty soon, though, I didn’t have to explain.
But now, it is time to say good-bye.
I will be leaving Patch early next week.
As I finish my last week here, I am most proud of the fact that whoever follows in my footsteps will not have to answer the "What’s Patch?" question very often. I leave Doylestown Patch firmly established in the media landscape of Central Bucks County.
We grew this thing together, you and I, over the past two and a half years.
We came together in times of crisis:
When a gunman was on the loose.
When a hurricane bore down on us.
When another gunman forced the lockdown of an entire neighborhood.
When power was out to everything in your home except your smartphone, and you came to Patch for information to help you make it through.
I did my best to provide that information, regardless of the day or the hour.
I also did my best to make Patch a place where you could get information, not just from me, but from each other.
Coffee and adrenaline became my friends.
And, so did you.
I have met some amazing people, and I will remain forever grateful to those of you who took the opportunity to become a part of the Doylestown Patch community.
You made it what it is, and I hope you continue to participate passionately.
Share memories.
Debate ideas.
Suggest new strategies.
Yes, question everything.
But, treat each other kindly, too.
After all, we're all neighbors.
I will still be working in Doylestown, so if you see me grabbing lunch at Vine and Fig or a cup of coffee from Nonno’s, please don’t hesitate to say hello.
So, really, this isn’t a goodbye.
It’s more of a 'Thanks for the memories. I’ll see you around town.'
As for Doylestown Patch, please continue sending your news, tips and ideas to doylestown@patch.com, so they can get to the right person.
Kevin Kelly
8:05 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013
You have done a fantastic job covering the issues involving Central Bucks County! I wish you all the best with your future endeavors!
Ny Horner
9:23 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013
I am one of those who fell into the, "What's Patch?" category but it didn't take me long to find out. Thank you for the memories, Sarah. You will be missed but best of luck to whatever is next for you.
Janet Mintzer
11:20 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013
Best wishes Sarah. Now come on out to be a part of Doylestown Rotary. Be my guest anytime.
Mark Glidden
6:26 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
Sarah, you did a wonderful job. I was amazed by the spot coverage you were able to pull off and also at your ability to build this from thin air. Good luck as you move down the virtual road and hope to see you in town.
Busy Bee Toys
7:56 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
Sarah, you have played such an important role in our community! It has been wonderful getting to know you and I wish you all the best in your next endeavor!
Anne Biggs
8:03 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
It was exciting to help launch Patch and to work with you through those early months of "What's Patch?" And it's been fun to watch Doylestown Patch evolve and become a part of this community. You amazed me by your ability to be here, there and everywhere -- don't you ever sleep? I look forward to seeing you around town. Best wishes for your next leg of the journey, Sarah. --Cookie
Brad Hedrick
8:13 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
Sarah, you have made Doylestown Patch my daily go-to source for local news. Thank you, best wishes for your next venture, and I'm glad you will still around! Who knows -- maybe Patch will do a follow-up story of you in your new venture...
Susan
8:18 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
Sarah, you will be missed. You are a great writer. Good luck with your new endeavors!
Krisy Paredes
8:34 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
Sarah,
You have made Patch a destination. It is now an asset to the community, it's businesses and members. Thank you for your hard work!
David Holewinski
8:34 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
Sarah, you and the Patch have been a welcome addition to the area media sources. The Patch, in my humble view is a no nonsense source of information that over the past two years plus has reported the news with honesty and accuracy. You will be missed. Best to you where ever you decide to go. Mayor David Holewinski, New Britain Borough.
Susan Madian
8:51 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
Sarah,
So sorry to hear that you're leaving the Patch but thrilled you'll still be around. You've brought the Patch from nothing to the place I rely on for all the local news and fast breaking events. Thank you for enhancing our community!
Jean Brenner
8:56 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
Best to you, Sarah. You have performed a fine community service with stories and events not covered by print media. Best to you in whatever you will be doing next.
Marie Axler
9:17 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
Oh no! I'm sorry to hear that!
You'll be missed. I wish you luck in your future!
Maria Evans
9:40 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
Thanks for all the support, Sarah, for so many local nonprofits especially. You went above and beyond to help many, many good causes.
lmcarson1@comcast.net
9:50 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
You are, and will continue to be I am certain, a positive force in our community, Sarah. Whenever I observed you gathering information for the Patch about people, issues, or events, you were obviously completely absorbed and concerned about the subject. Your stories reflected that fact. I am sure it has been exhilarating, but perhaps exhausting. Thank you for all the energy you have invested here in this very critical local media outlet. I hope to see you around town and best of everything in your new venture, whatever it may be.
Diane Check
10:00 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
Sarah - you have been such a delight to work with. Although we've never met personally, I thank you for your encouragement to write my blog and was looking foward to this coming Doylestown Legion baseball season to do it again! But, I will write, but will miss you incredible speediency in getting the posts up and for being a "fan" of all I wrote. I am sending a virtual {{hug}} along and thank you for your great help along the way and wish you the best of everything! Blessings!
john davis
10:45 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
Its been an absolute pleasure to work with you. When you first told me about your new job with something called "the Patch", I thought you were nuts! You sure proved me wrong-not that its hard to do!! You've made the Patch a very important part of our community in such a short time. Good luck and don't be a stranger.
Jean Laustsen
10:54 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
What?!? You want your life back? You want to sleep? Socialize? Well, that's our loss. Thanks for doing such a great job keeping Doylestown up to date on what's happening. You have made "Patch" a household name. All the best to you. Hope to see you around.
Phil Herman
12:00 pm on Friday, March 15, 2013
Thanks for your hard work, Sarah. You made me consider cancelling my Intel subscription. (Still haven't had the heart though!)
Frank Bristow
1:21 pm on Friday, March 15, 2013
Thank you Sarah! I look forward to Patch every morning. Best wishes in whatever your future brings!
jeri
1:52 pm on Friday, March 15, 2013
Sarah,
You don't know me - I could say US and cover the thousands who all feel like we know you. Thank you for consolidating the news into what we in the area consider to be the most important FACTS without the commercials and filler. I hope that your next venture is rewarding and that you leave knowing how much you were appreciated by the masses. Best of Luck!
Laura Freed
7:39 am on Saturday, March 16, 2013
Much luck and happiness in your new endeavors! You will be missed!
Ingrid Auerbach
8:15 am on Saturday, March 16, 2013
Sorry to hear your leaving. You did some great coverage of everything happening locally. It was great meeting you those few times we did for different things. I am sorry we did not get to meet up about my weight loss story.
Lynn goldman
8:37 am on Saturday, March 16, 2013
Sarah, Bill and I will miss you. We had coffee with you every morning and relied on your insights and news to keep us in touch with the neighborhood happenings. Congrats. You accomplished what you set out to do.
Sandra Cody
10:25 am on Saturday, March 16, 2013
Sarah, though we've never met face to face, I'll miss you. You helped me over some rough technical spots and helped me get started blogging for Patch. Thank you! Good luck with whatever comes next for you. I've come to count on Patch to keep me posted on what's happening in the community throughout the day. You've accomplished much in a short time. Again - thanks!
Kathy
10:52 am on Saturday, March 16, 2013
Sarah,
All the best to you. Your reporting skills will be missed, you did a fantastic job building "The Patch"... No doubt a 24/7 endeavor ....I really relied on your service to find out what was happening in the community. You will be missed...but glad to know you still will be in Doylestown.
Kathy Guarini
Tim Stack
11:24 am on Saturday, March 16, 2013
I live in California but thanks to you and the "Patch", I still get to wake up to Doylestown. Thank-you.
Sharon Kraynak
11:27 am on Saturday, March 16, 2013
Sarah, best of luck to you on your new path.
Debi Sarandrea
5:07 pm on Saturday, March 16, 2013
You've done an amazing job of keeping all of us up to date on everything Doylestown. Thanks so much and all the best to you!
Catriona
6:05 pm on Saturday, March 16, 2013
I was thrilled to discover Patch as a great resouce for local news. Thank you and wishing you very best wishes.
Dawn Byers
10:48 am on Sunday, March 17, 2013
You have left a wonderful legacy for our community. Thanks for being a catalyst to bring us back together again!! Now what will we do?? Better question, what will you do? Kids Castle has a space for you as I am sure many other organizations feel the same!! Stay well!
Sarah Larson
10:02 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Thank you, all of you, so, so much. It's been my privilege.
RP
10:28 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
You did a great job! Hope to see you around.
Kara Seymour
10:33 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Good luck Sarah! You are great and I will miss having you as a colleague!
Nora Jemali
4:27 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
This is true, in a short period of time you went from "What's Patch" to thousands of people reading the site! You did a great job Sarah, Thank you!!!! You will be missed. Good luck!!!!