Farewell, Roxborough and Manayunk

I know, I know. It seems like I just came back to Roxborough and Manayunk, right?

After having covered the two neighborhoods for two-plus years at the Star newspaper, I relished the opportunity to edit this new thing we call Patch.

And I’ve had a great time, thus far, spending my time covering, and overseeing coverage of, your neighborhoods.

But after a short two months, my stint as editor of the Roxborough-Manayunk Patch ends today.

I’m moving on to try my hand at legal reporting for a new online news site covering civil courts.

As journalists, we like to get experience doing different types of writing, (at least this journo does), and an opportunity came my way that was difficult to pass up.

But just because I’m leaving the area doesn’t mean I have no love left for two communities I’ve grown to know and love quite well.

One thing I’ve always enjoyed about covering Roxborough and Manayunk is the passion shared by the residential and business sectors of the two neighborhoods.

Whether it’s citizens working to ensure a certain quality of life for those who inhabit these Northwest Philly enclaves, or business leaders doing their best to put the communities on par with other Philadelphia hot spots, Roxborough and Manayunk seem to have their share of passionate advocates.

I’ve always enjoyed interacting with the various folks who live and work here, learning what’s on their minds, what makes them tick, how they feel about things.

As a journalist, one is afforded the opportunity to vicariously live through others sometimes, and the Patch gig has been no different.

Of course, it’s always sort of funny to be the face of local news, to walk down the street and have people recognize you, whether it’s from a newspaper column or, now, a very visible website.

But that’s something that comes with the territory, and I’ve never had a problem being friendly with those I come in contact with, so no worries there.

I guess I’ll miss many things about being the editor of Roxborough-Manayunk Patch, but these are the main things that stick out.

As for the future leadership of the website, I’m sure someone else will be brought on to deliver the news and tell the story of your two communities, someone who will hopefully grow to love and appreciate these two neighborhoods as much as I have.

Well, it’s goodbye for now, folks. Thank you for letting me a part of your communities these past couple months, or actually, these past two-plus years, counting my previous job as Star reporter.

I’m sure it will be all good things to come.

Farewell my friends!

–Jon