Josh Bakan, Patch Staff

Covering: Ocean City, Barnegat-Manahawkin, Berkeley, Lacey, Long Branch-Eatontown, Little-Silver Oceanport, and Galloway.

I am a Boston-area native who first came to New Jersey to attend Rutgers University. Although surrounded by in-state students who found themselves longing to leave Jersey, I fell in love with the Garden State (although I'm still a Boston sports fan. Sorry, that part won't change.). In the past, I have worked for media outlets such as The Star-Ledger, New Jersey Advance Media, and New York Daily News. I've covered urban atmospheres, rural environments, and everything in between. I'm a wired-in millennial, so let's connect. Please send any tips and comments to josh.bakan@patch.com.