Editor's Note: Farewell to Franklin Lakes

Dear Patch Readers, 

It is with regret that I inform you that Wednesday, Aug. 10 will be my last day at Franklin Lakes Patch. 

Since launching on Dec. 26, 2010, with coverage of the Boxing Day Blizzard, Franklin Lakes Patch has published more than 1,500 article with more than 500 penned by yours truly. It's been a very busy seven and a half months!

During that time, many have asked me if I sleep. And the answer is you betcha. Cook, clean and properly care for my home and family? Not so much. So for that reason, I've decided to scale back my work schedule and focus on my family—my almost 4 year old boy starts 1/2 day pre-K next month and I want to be able to enjoy our afternoons together. Afterall, if it's one thing keep telling me is they grow up too fast. 

Before I go, I wanted to thank everyone for welcoming Patch into the community. Though I have lived near Franklin Lakes most of my life and knew many residents before coming to Patch, working in the community gave me a new perspective entirely. Franklin Lakes was not at all what I expected it to be, and definitely not as it is portrayed on TV.

Franklin Lakes is a warm and inviting community where people know and look out for their neighbors. Franklin Lakes is a , where people support the less fortunate. And Franklin Lakes is an enterprising community, filled with many successful . Time and time again, Franklin Lakes has impressed me. 

I have enjoyed meeting you and serving you through Franklin Lakes Patch. I will continue to be around and hope to keep writing for Patch from time to time — after I finish enjoying the rest of the summer with my family and getting my house back in order.

Please keep reading Franklin Lakes Patch — I know I will. If you'd like to keep in touch, feel free to reach out to me at my personal email, RKAbma@gmail.com. 

It has truly been a pleasure getting to know you. 

Kind regards,

Rebecca Abma, Local Editor