Farewell From Your Editor, Redwood City

This is undoubtedly one of the hardest articles I've ever had to write.

I have been the editor of RedwoodCity-Woodside Patch for six months now - though it feels like so much longer than that.

Unfortunately, family matters are drawing me to the east coast. Therefore, tomorrow - Friday, April 5 - will be my last day as your editor.

As some of you I've spoken with recently know, I've traveled back and forth to the northern Virginia/Washington D.C. area a few times since January to deal with family matters. Now, my family has decided it's the best thing for us to make a move out there permanently. 

I am incredibly sad to say goodbye to the Bay Area, which has been my home all of my life, and is still home to all of my family and countless friends. But, I am also excited for new beginnings. Northern Virginia/Washington, D.C. is not only beautiful, but an exciting place to live and work - and, being that I've been in the Bay Area my entire life, it's also a fresh change of scenery.

I want to thank everyone in Redwood City and Woodside for welcoming me with open arms as your editor since I started the position on October 1. There was no doubt when I accepted the position that my predecessor - the editor that launched this site, Stacie Chan - had set the bar very high. It was also very apparent to me, from my first day, that Redwood City and Woodside Patch readers are a highly engaged and active audience that really value being connected with their neighbors and well informed of everything going on in their area, so I knew I had my work cut out for me, and big shoes to fill.

Now, looking back on these six months, I can honestly say my time as your editor has not only been challenging, but it's been the best job I've ever had. That's why, I am going to miss this job so much.

Thank you for reading the site. Thank you for commenting on articles and sharing your thoughts, thank you for e-mailing me, for calling me, and for saying hello when you've seen me around town.

Redwood City and Woodside are such incredible cities to live in, to work in, and to write about.

However, I am happy to say, I am not leaving the Patch family. As of Tuesday, I will be the editor for the sites of Fairfax City and Herndon in Virginia.

From what I have learned about these two towns so far, Fairfax City is much like Redwood City. It's the center of Fairfax County, much like Redwood City is to San Mateo County. And Herndon strikes me as being similar to Woodside in that it is a somewhat quieter, very beautiful and nature-filled town that is mostly residential and filled with families. I really look forward to covering the news in these two new towns. Please check out either site if you are ever in the D.C. Metro area and want to see what I am up to.

And, since I'm still a part of Patch, you can e-mail me anytime at the same address as always, jennifer.vanderkleut@patch.com.

As of Monday, I will leave you in the ever-capable hands of your new editor, Vanessa Castañeda. Vanessa has been with Patch for years, and launched the Menlo Park Patch site in the fall of 2010, which she has grown to be the current MenloPark-Atherton Patch site. Vanessa was one of the first Patch editors I worked with back in the fall of 2010 when I started freelance reporting again after the birth of my second son. She is smart, dynamic and a great person to work with, and she knows this area very well, so I have no doubt she'll do RedwoodCity-Woodside Patch great justice.

Since my family is still in this area, I hope to run into many of you at a Music on the Square or other local event whenever I'm back in the area for visits.

Again, thank you - you've made this an incredible job I'm sad to leave.

Humbly,

Jennifer van der Kleut