An Editor's Farewell

Close to two years ago, I embarked upon the journey of starting a daily news website called Half Moon Bay Patch.

I couldn't have been more thrilled. With its coastal setting, strong roots in farming, a harbor, natural beauty and love for all things pumpkin, Half Moon Bay was my kind of town and an ideal place for me to work as an editor and reporter. It also wasn't completely unfamiliar. Growing up on the Peninsula and visiting Half Moon Bay throughout the years — the first time on a nursery school field trip to the beach, in fact — my return has also been somewhat of a homecoming.

Since the months leading up to our launch in October 2010, I've met and spoken with community and city leaders, local authorities, residents, business owners and members of the Latino community. I've also gotten to know an eclectic group of farmers, fishermen, surfers, activists and artists — and many of you.

A journalist rarely gets the chance to directly engage with such a diverse group of people that make up the Half Moon Bay Coastside region. I've learned a lot from you and hope that our reporting has offered a valuable source of information which has benefited and enhanced your lives.

It's not without some sadness, then, that I will be leaving my position on Friday to further my passion for environmental journalism at GreenBiz, an environmental and sustainable business news site in Oakland where I will be both an editor and reporter.

Hearing your stories and reporting from the Half Moon Bay Coastside region from Montara to Pescadero over the last two years has been an amazing experience as a journalist. We've covered a , a of , the of the city's 50-year-old police department and a at Mavericks, as well as its more joyous . We've focused on , , and the around us. Our series of columns shared the voices of a group of local Latino residents in Half Moon Bay rarely heard from before. And who could forget the fun covering annual traditions like the and the preceding , , and ?

Along the way, you've trusted me and my incredible team of reporters and photographers to bring your stories to life through online print, photography and video. Contributions from , , , , , , , , , , , and have been indispensable, along with those from , columnists and , Día a Día coordinator and columnists , , and . Spanish translators and made the series possible. And the bulk of our directory was set up by , Melanie Samse and Wayman Barnes.

Many of you advanced our stories even further with your cogent comments and insightful conversations with fellow readers and residents. Others contributed through sending me news tips and photographs. Bloggers , , , , , , , , and took the time to share their expertise and perspectives. Thank you.

While Patch searches for my replacement, you'll be in good hands. Longtime Half Moon Bay Patch contributor Christa Bigue will be your guest editor. Please send all correspondence, news tips and press releases to her at xtapalmer@gmail.com. You can also contact Peninsula Patch Regional Editor Jamie White at jamiew@patch.com.

They say that it takes a village to raise a , and in the last two years, Half Moon Bay Patch has certainly grown up from the combination of daily reporting and your loyal support.

It's been both an honor and a pleasure to be your news editor, and I wish you all the best.

Onward!

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