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

A century ago, Maplewood—at least as it is now known—did not exist. One hundred Patches ago, Maplewood had about 27 more municipal employees, our school district was getting $5 million more from the state, and the Yankees hadn't won the World Series in 8 years.

What a difference a hundred makes.

With the launch of the Morristown site, Patch achieves the 100 mark today. The first Patch sites, Maplewood, South Orange and Millburn, launched together in February 2009. Adam Bulger was editor of Maplewood Patch back then (he's now in Springfield).

I remember meeting with Adam at Sona for lunch one day in Januray '09. He was looking for local writers who knew Maplewood, had deep connections with the community. With two children who had rampaged through four local preschools and who were halfway into the school district, as well as experience working with the local business community, I was his gal (or one of them, at any rate—Judie Hurtado and Brooke Lefferts were also early local contributors).

Eighteen months and 97 Patches later, sites stretch from east to west, and north to south. There are Patch sites in ten states, from California to Virginia (there's even a West Hollywood Patch). Locally, Patch sites thrive in Springfield, West Orange, Montclair, Livingston, the Caldwells, with more county coverage to come. 

Patch was a slow burn here in Maplewood. And that was the plan. Build credibility and gain recognition through word of mouth. My first story launched with the site on February 4, 2009. I wrote about a children's music program sponsored by Arts Maplewood at The Burgdorff. Stories on condo development, the debate over lights for Underhill Field and the fate of local coffee shops followed.

At first, when I approached people for interviews, they'd respond "Patch, what?" Now, I have a hard time fielding tips and responding in a timely manner to pitches from new writers and photographers. I've had strangers approach me in Kings and at Kim's Nails—"Aren't you the Patch editor?" Someone even yelled across Maplewood Avenue, "Hey, Patch lady!" (Well, that was Mary Rene Clawson.)

Maplewood Patch has built its reputation not by chasing ambulances and breaking hot news stories. Rather, we are here slogging it out day in and day out, covering every Township Committee meeting, budget hearing, planning proposal, Board of Education meeting. We're interested in every sport from lacrosse to fencing—but also in music and the arts, deli cheese, gluten-free pizza and Jersey Girl chocolate. In short, we will and must cover anything and everything that is Maplewood and that affects the daily lives of Maplewoodians.

As Patch moves forward into triple digits, I'm confident that our local sites will continue to tell the stories that matter to this community. From budget meetings to block parties, from Maplewoodstock to movies in the park, we're there.

I cannot begin to express the gratitude I feel to the writers and photographers who share their talents and ideas with the community. More than 50 Maplewoodians have contributed to the site over the past 19 months. Many more have commented—on our site or on MaplewoodOnline where Patch articles seem to be a common source of fodder. I'm further grateful to our readers, who email me when they see a typo, hear a siren, smell smoke (I'm not kidding) or have a tip on a closing supermarket.

This is your Patch. Thanks for making it really and truly a part of Maplewood. We plan to be here still in a 100 more Patches, after a 100 more school events, gallery openings, Board of Education meetings, Rent Parties, Township Committee budget hearings, MayFests—whatever it takes.

We're in for the long haul.