Thank You, Grayslake!

In this season of giving thanks, I am grateful for so much related to this job. Grayslake Patch launched just one year and one month ago on Sept. 30, 2010. And, oh, what a year it has been!

Here are some of the highlights:

• Thanks to you, the readers: You have tuned into Patch, have commented on stories, have voted in contests and have shared what matters most to you. You embraced the site from the beginning, and that has continued to grow.

• Thanks for sharing your stories: I have had the pleasure to post 2,101 (now 2,102) articles, photos galleries and videos this year. I love sharing your stories, your struggles and your successes. From featuring new businesses to old standbys, from covering school stories to community events, from live-blogging at football games to showing the impact of local fundraisers, I am constantly amazed by the efforts of Grayslake people.

• Thanks to the bloggers: Several bloggers are posting on Patch to share their expertise. I have posted 68 blogs since we began promoting blogs several months ago. That number grows each week. Topics include health, beauty, schools (elementary to college), business and sports. And there is always room for more!

• Thanks for the comments: (Mostly!) We have an especially active group of commenters on Grayslake Patch. I appreciate the passion with which you share your views. While I wish we could avoid the personal attacks that sometimes crop up, I am thankful that you are engaged with the stories and the topics we cover.

• Thanks to my freelance staff: I appreciate all of the freelance writers and photographers who have helped cover this town since Day 1. While the amount of work available and the people who do it has varied, you have all impressed me with your skills and your dedication.

• Thanks to my friends and family: You have been supportive and encouraging as I launched into this new format of journalism. My husband, Glenn, has been especially understanding of the long hours required to maintain a 24/7 news site.

• Thanks to my co-workers: I continue to be excited about the future of Patch. This is a unique approach to community journalism, designed to give readers all of the local news to make their lives easier. That is no small task. There are now nearly 900 Patches across the country, working town by town, who network with one another to cover larger issues. They are an incredibly talented, creative and innovative group of people.

Thanks everyone for a great first year. Here's to many, many more!

Best,

Marcia

Marcia Sagendorph

Editor, Grayslake Patch