You Say Goodbye, I Say Hello: Patch Editor is Moving On
I've been the New Lenox Patch editor for almost two years, but now I'm moving to another role with the company. I want to thank the community for making Patch what it's become.
I was sitting at Country Charm yesterday, sipping coffee and answering emails, when the waitress came to take my order.
“Are we gonna need more time?”
I ponder the question for a second, before ordering my usual—wheat toast, hash browns and an omelette with sausage and green pepper. Do I need more time? No, I think, I'm ready for the next step.
Effective this week, I will no longer be the local editor for New Lenox Patch. But I won’t be going far. I’ve accepted a job as an associate regional editor for Patch, and your New Lenox site is one I’ll still be overseeing. My bylines might not be leading your morning newsletters anymore, but I’ll still maintain a presence in the community I call home.
Looking out the window, traffic crawled past Country Charm, caught in the stretch of road construction on the Route 30 widening project. Inside, the conversation is about local business, an upcoming garage sale and someone’s boyfriend. I ate quietly in the corner, admiring this small town relic in the center of a growing community.
It’s that dynamic—an involved, tight-knit community growing up together—that I think has helped New Lenox Patch fit so well in this town. And it’s what makes it so hard to say goodbye.
I launched New Lenox Patch in October 2010 and have been running the site ever since. Over nearly two years, I’ve learned a lot about the character of this community, and I personally thank all of the readers and the people in town who have helped make it a successful site.
Patch is a place for our community to participate in the news and interact with neighbors. We don’t just spit out the news and let you read it. A lot of times, you have helped report the news and add a new perspective. You’ve taken advantage of the tools on Patch by adding events to the calendar, blogging in our Local Voices section and managing your business listings in our directory.
In short, you have helped make New Lenox Patch what it is, and I sure hope you continue to do that.
I was welcomed into New Lenox with open arms, and I’ve been able to share news about the great community. This is a place where the community comes together to help those in need, and I’ve tried to reflect that spirit through Patch, whether it was getting in the dunk tank for the Relay for Life or shaving my head for St. Baldrick’s, two of my favorite memories throughout my time as the local editor.
I've had the chance to meet fascinating people and do many interesting things, and I've seen New Lenox Patch grow from an unknown website to a daily read for many people.
Later this week, I’ll introduce a guest editor who will run New Lenox Patch until a full-time replacement is found. But I’ll still be involved with the site and living in New Lenox, so if you see me in the community, come say “hello.” Perhaps over breakfast at the Country Charm.
Thank you, New Lenox!
Redhead
6:32 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
You were a great editor and you will be missed!! I was so happy to have someplace to go to read about what is happening in New Lenox. I have seen you around town and read the patch every morning. You have done a great job and I wish you well in your position as associate regional editor. Good luck and thank you again for all of your work.
Susan
7:09 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Good luck and congrats. It won't be the same but I am sure with you above it will still be great!
Lynn
7:14 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
So sorry you are leaving, you do an awesome job!
NL Patch Fan
7:33 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Many Congrats Michael! We will miss you, but great news you will be overseeing the New Lenox Patch. I wish you much success in your new position.
yrrehs
8:27 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Congratulations on your new position, but it is sad all the same. When I first started reading your columns I told the family that you will be going on to bigger things someday. You are very talented and I wish you the best of luck!
Ann C. Piasecki
8:43 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Congrats on your new promotion! It was great working with you.
Ann P.
Sharon Grod
9:12 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
nobody will do as good a job as you have done. sorry to see you go :(
Colette Loecke
9:43 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Wish you nothing but the best in your new position. Glad to hear you will still be a part of the community and will be overseeing our Patch. It has really matured under your direction and hopefully it will continue to be my source for local news and events.
patti miller
9:48 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Hey Michael!! I have met you a few times, and you've done an awesome job, good luck with your new endeavor and hope to see you around!!!
Dan S.
9:55 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Conrats on your well-deserved promotion. I have logged in every day to the New Lenox Patch, and will continue to do so. You've done a great job, and your hard work is noticable in the quality of the site you've built!
shar
9:57 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Michael, don't go! LOL I know you will keep a special eye on New Lenox Patch and will make sure the next editor is as intelligent and caring as you. It has been great to work with you and I know you will make Patch stronger then ever. All the best to you!!!!
Kathie Johnson
11:19 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
The New Lenox community will sure miss you. You made this community a part of Patch and that is why it is such a success. I know I will miss you and hope that you make New Lenox your home for a very long time because I know New Lenox has become a part of you. Kathie Johnson
Concerned (NL)
11:38 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Good luck in your future career!
Committee Member
12:13 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Good luck Michael, you have made a Patch a big part of our daily lives! I appreciate all you do to keep the community "up to date" and make yourself available to us! Good luck in all you do and make sure to give the "new guy" a chance to fill your shoes!
OLY
12:21 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
GOOD LUCK MIKE! Hope I continue to run into you at Starbucks!!!!
Tom Weigel
1:24 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Mike, Good luck in your new position. You have done a great job to keep New Lenox informed with Patch. Tom Weigel
ron kurowski
3:07 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Michael, Good luck on your new position and thanks for all your help.
Ron Kurowski
Annette Bowden
7:31 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Knowing you are still behind the scenes makes your leaving a bit easier. Best of luck and look forward to meeting the new editor. He or she has big shoes to fill but I am sure you will make sure it's the right fit. You've been very good to and for our community Michael...thank you for that! Congrats and good luck.
Sue
7:35 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Michael, your talent and dedication shows in your work. You will do fabulous in your new job. It truly has been a pleasure seeing you at all the community functions, thanks for caring about our great town of New Lenox, you will be missed! Best of Luck!
lala
8:52 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Best wishes with your new position!
Reality Bytes!
11:29 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Good luck Michael!!!
Phyllis Novy
9:47 am on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
As a member of the Lincolnway Tea Party I want to let you know that we appreciate your support and thank you for this site that has become a model of community excellence in news reporting. One day you will look back on this as the first step in your successful career in journalism. I hope that you will always remember that journalism's first obligation is the "truth." God bless you in all your pursuits.
OLY
9:49 am on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
+ 1 on above
Michael Sewall
9:56 am on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Thanks so much for all of your kind words, everyone! It's been great working with you and seeing you out in the community.
Matt
12:18 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
PROMOOOOTION!! Congrats Michael, I'd say it is a well-deserved promotion! It's going to be weird reading these articles with a different editor, but I'm sure the replacement can do a great job aswell.
While I've only known about Patch for a few months, the time that I've been on here has been very helpful. Thank you for a great 2 years, and best of luck to your next position.
Silver Cross Hospital
1:15 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Congrats Micheal, and good luck on the next journey as well. You are awesome, Im sure you will continue to do great things!
Al Kandziorski
8:48 am on Friday, July 6, 2012
Mike,
Best wishes to you. Good luck with your new endeavors. It's been a pleasure.
Marilu Gill
12:30 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Congrats on the promotion Michael. It's been fun watching you grow in your Patch career.
Phil
8:40 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Congrats. Love your work and personal dedication to our community. One last request before you move on...Look into the amount of forclosed, short sale homes in NL and the ever rising property taxes and report on the effect on the residents, were are they now? Focus on the 3/4 of our taxes that go to the local schools and the added and growing fees from them including the fact they are now sending the students parents to colelction agencies. Couple that with LWW wanting their fees up front. What is the real comunity impact and how can we assist residents to keep them in NL and fund the services we all need. That would be a story everyone would be reading I am sure.