Farewell, Glen Burnie

It's going to be hard to write this, but let me start by saying thank you.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to Patch in some form—as a source, sending a news tip, leaving a comment or review, voting in a poll, writing an article or submitting a blog.

After nearly two years as your editor, I'm leaving Glen Burnie Patch and moving for a new job in Myrtle Beach, SC.

It's been challenging, interesting and gratifying covering Glen Burnie and the surrounding area. From attending and covering the , to the and , to sharing the experience of my , it's been a wild ride.

My time in Glen Burnie has had its ups and downs, but surprisingly I find myself feeling sad about leaving this place behind—and all of the amazing people I've met.

I can't even begin to name everyone who has touched my life over the 22 months I've lived here, so I won't. But please know that I appreciate all of you for everything you've done to help me adjust and find my way in Glen Burnie.

I've worked hard to build the site into what it has become and I'm counting on all of you to help the site thrive.

Please continue to contribute to the community we've built by sharing announcements, accomplishments and events in town, signing up to blog on topics that interest you, commenting on articles you find interesting and submitting news tips so that whoever my successor will be can keep up with the news that happens in the Glen Burnie area.

As I reflect on my time at Patch, I've been telling people that the timing of my departure is almost poetic.

On November 12, 2010—10 days before the , Misael Flores was shot and killed while visiting a friend who worked at Mr. Wings & Pizza. Without a live site to post the news, I turned to Facebook to write the story and get it out to the community.

in connection with the murder and botched robbery of the pizzeria. Within the past week two of those four teens were sentenced for the crime with a third scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday, my last day with Patch—and I'll be there to cover it. The fourth is expected to enter a plea this fall.

My time with Patch is ending as the Flores family begins to get some closure—and that makes me feel like it's OK for me to go.