A Changing of the Guard at Patch

Hi all--

If you're a regular reader of Riverdale Park-University Park Patch, you may have noticed my face at the top of the page over the past week. That's because I have the privilege of serving as the site's new editor while my predecessor, Sonia Dasgupta, . In that vein, I wanted to take a minute to introduce myself.

While I'm new to this neck of the woods, I grew up not too far down the road in Baltimore and have spent plenty of time in and around DC over the years. I'm also no stranger to the Patch family, having recently moved to the region from Connecticut after serving as the editor of Darien Patch for the past 18 months.

Like all communities, Riverdale Park and University Park have many characters, institutions, and controversies that shape their distinct personalities. Though I've gotten to know a great deal about the area in a short amount of time, I still have a lot learn from both Sonia and you, the readers. 

But I'm also struck by the similarities with the towns I came to know in Connecticut. Development, education, conservation, fiscal affairs — these issues are every bit as pressing (and at times, complex) as they were in my last posting. So I hope that my past experience with covering a small town will serve both you and the site well.

If you have any questions, tips, or comments — or if you'd just like to say hi — you can reach me at johnd@patch.com or 203-816-1731. I hope to see many of you soon as I settle in!

Cheers,

John Davisson