Audrey Levine, Patch Staff

Audrey is a lifelong (for better or worse) New Jersey resident, having lived in Dayton until she recently moved to Branchburg, just outside of Bridgewater. She is a 2007 graduate of The College of New Jersey (formerly known as Trenton State College, but that name is not to be used if possible), with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and professional writing, and a double minor in communications and photography. She is currently enrolled in a Media Management certificate program at The New School, in New York.

Immediately following her graduation, Audrey became a reporter with the Princeton Packet newspaper group, covering Hillsborough and Manville, which was her first foray into the life of Somerset County. After three years spent covering municipal government, she has moved on (and up) to the position of local editor of Bridgewater Patch.

Audrey is very excited to be the new editor of Bridgewater Patch, and is looking forward to the opportunity to cover this great, and quite large, town.

Audrey is a lover of dance, having studied ballet and other forms since she was 3 years old, and she is looking forward to, hopefully, finding a place nearby where she can take an adult class. Writing is, obviously, her other passion, and she is hoping to one day be a published novelist, so anyone reading this with connections is welcome to send them her way.

<b>Your Beliefs</b>

<i>At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license for you to inject your beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that your beliefs are on the record will cause you to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.</i>

<b>Politics</b>

<i>How would you describe your political beliefs? Are you registered with a certain party?</i>

I am not registered with a specific party, and like to think that I don&#39;t allow any political beliefs to color my judgments in my writing (but I know we all slip sometimes). I am not married to any particular belief, but I would say that I am fairly liberal in my thinking.

<b>Religion</b>

<i>How religious would you consider yourself? (casual, observant, devout, non religious)</i>

I am Jewish, and proud of my religion, though I consider myself to be stuck in the middle between casual and observant.

<b>Local Hot-Button Issues</b>

<i>What do you think are the most important issues facing the community? Where do you stand on each of these issues?</i>

I think the biggest issue in this town, and most towns, is the budget crisis in the state that has affected municipalities and schools alike. With money being so tight, it is difficult for schools and towns to continue offering the services residents are used to without either eliminating staffers or increasing taxes, neither of which usually please people. I think the biggest challenge going forward will be trying to find a way for schools and municipalities to do more with less, while dealing with ever-decreasing state aid and emergencies that could arise. I feel for the township itself and the hardships it must endure, as well as for the workers who are finding their wages and jobs cut to eliminate costs. But I believe the best thing we can do now is try to make the most of the situation by cutting where possible and understanding that it will take some time to climb out of this hole that has been dug for us.