Editor's Notebook: Strong Finish in Maplewood

Susie Adamson took this picture of me at last year's Seth Boyden 5K as I struggled across the finish line — near the back of the pack.

She captioned it, "Strong finish for editor, Mary Mann!"

This past week or so, I hope I've provided a stronger finish than my race performance as I end my tenure as local editor of Maplewood Patch and head slightly south (no pun intended!) where I will begin work as Associate Regional Editor for Union County Patch. There, I will help oversee seven local Patches.

My last official day as editor of Maplewood Patch is Friday, April 27. We have not yet announced a new full-time Maplewood Patch editor to take my place. In the next few weeks, you may see a few different bylines as we pilot a few of our superstar substitute editors and look for a permanent replacement. 

In the meantime, please contact the Essex County Regional Editor Liz Moore at elizabeth.moore@patch.com or 973-803-8768 or the Essex County Associate Regional Editor Jack Durschlag at jack.durschlag@patch.com or (973) 487-9351 with story ideas, news tips — and perhaps your resume!

Some of you may know Liz and Jack already. Combined, they have more than three decades of experience at the Star-Ledger before coming to Patch.

Meanwhile, I am still at Patch. Same email, same phone, same mobile, same laptop on my dining room table. Please always feel free to reach out (I'm at mary@patch.com).

Finally, let me say that it has been an absolute delight, pleasure and privilege to report on this town, this school district and all the institutions and residents therein. I have been writing for Patch from the day that Maplewood, Millburn and South Orange launched on February 4, 2009 — the first three Patches in a network that now numbers almost 900. I became the full-time Maplewood Patch editor on October 5, 2009, and have enjoyed watching this Patch grow and become an important part of the conversation in our community.

While I am sad to leave, I am excited about the prospect of helping Patch on a bigger, broader scale. Another thought that comforts me as a leave the helm at Maplewood — I still get to continue to enjoy living here in Maplewood even as I get to better know our nearby neighbors in Union County!