No, I don't have the swine flu, am not on vacation, and didn't abandon you Mill Valley. As of today, my position, along with nearly everyone else's at Patch, has been eliminated as part of a restructuring plan AOL has with Hale Global, new majority owners of Patch.com.
If you are in my email contact list, you received this news around 9 a.m. this morning, very shortly after I did.
Although I have only been your editor since August, your community quickly adopted me as their own. Today may be a melancholy day at Patch, but please know the Local and Community Editors gave their all to keep your town's coverage local and relevant.
Thank you to students like Annelie Miller, who is changing the world with her huge heart:
Mill Valley Middle School Student Hopes to Change the World, Selling Her Art With a Cause
And Hana Dahl, for being such an articulate inspiration with your filmmaking passion:
Putting Distractible Students in Cardboard Boxes? Mill Valley Said Yes in the 1960s
Thank you Bob Silvestri, who gave me the most powerful advice in the most effortless conversation, "If every person did just one thing they said someone ought to do, the world would be a better place." Sorry Bob, I know that conversation was off the record but you are right.
Thank you to Linn Walsh for being a fabulous representation of the City of Mill Valley, and for being so very patient with me.
I am thankful that I happened to sit down next to Joe Friedman to work at The Depot, and that our conversation went from how to use iTunes for sound bits, to the beautiful story of how he and his wife met in that very spot, and they began traveling the world upon retirement:
Mill Valley Couple Swaps Homes All Over The World
Thank you to former Mayor Andy Berman for your dedication to this community, your honest politics, and for truly being a nice man. Communities all over could learn from your leadership.
Andy Berman's Blog
Thank you to Scott Rubin at Mathnasium for being the first to welcome me to town, and for all of your words of encouragement.
Mathletes Unite to Show Off Their Skills
The list could go on.
Thank you to everyone who commented, whether you agreed with me, didn't like what I had to say, or corrected a typo — you made me a better journalist.
Though the future of Mill Valley Patch hasn't been lined out to us, you can continue to post community news via blogs, board posts, and the community event calendar.
