This week, I bid farewell to the website I helped launch nearly two years ago.
I have accepted a new role in Patch.com, and starting this week, I am now the Associate Regional Editor in Southeastern Connecticut. I’ll be working with Regional Editor Elissa Bass, who oversees a group of Patch sites along the shoreline and on the Connecticut River. I will also be relocating to that region within the coming months.
To call this open letter “bittersweet” is really an understatement. I am extremely excited to begin my new job, but I really am going to miss managing Naugatuck Patch. More importantly, I’m going to miss Naugatuck and the people here.
Nothing made this job more enjoyable than seeing the growth we’ve undergone over the past two years. When Patch came to town back in late 2010, nobody knew what we were and, perhaps unsurprisingly, people were skeptical on whether to trust us or read our website.
But after a few months, a few dozen town meetings and some breaking news later, we went from being an obscure entity to a notable source of news and information for the borough.
For me, it’s really been fun and exciting along the way. I’ve met so many amazing people in Naugatuck and listened to fascinating stories. I’ve been able to cover major news developments, including the tumultuous winter of 2011, the Naugatuck High School referendum and Election Day.
And let’s not forget Tropical Storm Irene. Just like nearly half the town, I lost my power too, and for four days was forced to work out of Dunkin’ Donuts for 10 hours straight (those comfy chairs at the New Haven Road location are quite lovely).
I’ve taken photo galleries and done video stories that I will occasionally look at every now and again during those hard, grueling work days when I need a reminder why I love this profession. As any journalist will attest, we accept criticism, both positive and negative, all the time. But it’s those one or two “thank yous” or “great jobs” that we get during the week that make this job worth it.
As I now move on to a new position with greater responsibilities, I am leaving Naugatuck Patch in good hands. Paul Singley, who covered Naugatuck at the Republican-American before launching Oxford Patch in October, 2010, is the first person in the company to be promoted to a position called senior local editor. Starting this week, he is responsible for both the Naugatuck and Oxford Patch sites. Paul can be reached by email at paul.singley@patch.com or by phone at 646.241.6337.
And if you ever want to get in touch with me, or just want to say hi, it’s the same email (ronald.derosa@patch.com) or same phone number (203-605-3213) anytime.
Best,
- RD, editor
