Editor's Note: Patch Celebrates its 100th Site Launch

I remember back in April when my freelancer Susan Danseyar and I went to our first ever representing Belmont Patch - the annual Town Meeting being held just a few hours before our launch. We had just begun to establish our presence in town. And while residents weren't sure what to make of our hyper-local news site, it didn't take long for it to catch on. And Patch continues to grow.

Patch was founded in New York City in February 2009. The first sites were actually launched simultaneously a year later in Maplewood, South Orange and Millburn-Short Hills, New Jersey.

Since then, Patch has gone on to launch sites in nine states, and has collectively produced more than 55,000 articles and almost 1 million photos.

Today Patch reached another exciting milestone, launching its 100th local news website, in Morristown, N.J.

Less than 110 days old, Belmont Patch was the 49th Patch site and has become a site were news is being reported first - whether it is coming from Town Hall, from the neighborhoods or the business centers, including the new beer store and the possible entry of a restaurant in a former bookstore.

Now, four months later, there are 13 local sites in the area, in neighboring towns like Arlington, Lexington and Concord, and many more on the way.

Since coming online, Belmont Patch was the first to report breaking news on two fires that occurred within two hours with video reports and official information online within the hour.

And not to be lost in the mix are the smaller features – posting useful information, videos of the local children's camp and features of the young woman who has a fancy cake shop on Belmont Street.

These articles - about people and the community we live in - is what Belmont Patch is all about. Belmont Patch provides a glipse into the greater Belmont community.

Highly politicized events and developments around town are essential and will be reported. But the town also consists of the small and recognizable: the people who lovingly tend gardens, those attending library functions, others who use their unique talents to help others, or just reporting on someone who is simply impressive.

This weekend, Belmont saw a force of nature in 19-year-old Nathanial Meyer, who created out of social networking and pure strength of personality the Belmont Summer Music Festival, a joyful gift of music to our community that more than 500 people crammed into the Beech Street Center to hear an orchestra of young people perform Mozart and Beethoven. 

See our video of the performance and you'll agree.

Belmont Patch is here to report on all aspects of life in Belmont. I've been a resident myself for 17 years (living halfway between the town's Starbucks). We want to hear from you - whether it's with a news tip or to post your own announcement, let us know.