You heard it here first: Today is my last day with Patch.

I'm leaving my post as Local Editor and moving home to Gettysburg, Pa, to start my next great adventure.

I first came to Patch as a 21-year-old Penn State graduate, two degrees and several internships under my belt, but with no idea what kind of moxie it would require to really learn the ropes for the real thing.

Starting small, I made myself a familiar, if not recognizable face around town. You might've seen me at the supervisors meetings, a Girl Scouts cupcake wars contest, in elementary schools or at my regular table at Starbucks, sometimes with my terrier mix Belle at my feet.

I suffered through the embarrassment of being on camera for my video introduction, which was my first post back in February of 2011.

I worked to cover important town issues both fairly and comprehensively so Northampton Patch could be a source for community news and the place everyone came to talk about it.

Attending and making sense of the Giant meetings last summer taught me patience. Listening to Carleigh Jones's friends discuss her vivacious life gave me hope. Keeping up with the disappearance (and reappearance) of a local 20-year-old man and seeing his friends' persistence in finding him showed me the sheer volume that someone can be loved.

Most recently, reporting to the community that American Tower Corporation planned to bring new towers to their neighbors' front yards helped spark a heated debate that made me consider where the future of telecommunications is actually headed.

Heading hopefully onto the next journey, I will take with me memories of the passion people have for their community and the drive I developed doing my best to stay fair and current on the big issues. 

Thank you Northampton for the lessons, the life experience and being a safe first home away from home.