Editor's Note: So Long Cranford, I'll Miss You (Too Much!)

When I moved to Cranford I wasn't sure what I'd find. With all my New Jersey experiences in and around a Cherry Hill newsroom, I feared I'd find the new environment, a distinctly new North/Central Jersey culture, and a mostly solo job covering a strange town without full staff support overwhelming.

I discovered the opposite.

So writing this goodbye note... it's difficult. Cranford is now my second home. From the time I accidentally steered a 22-foot Budget rig down the no-truck streets in town (and didn't get caught, haha!), to my 100th confusing Township Committee meeting, I've met only friendly, happy faces ready to explain school budget nightmares and invite me out for beers at the Riverside Dive.

I experienced more than I expected. I met a family of Christmas-smiths with a crazy energy bill. I saw a mayor (and many others) freezing his butt off at the shore in early March. I snuck up on a nighttime yoga class at Droescher Mill with a Cranford police officer, both of us thinking there might be a robbery in progress.

And Saturday's my last day.

The now 65-site strong Patch.com plans to launch sites in the DC-area this month. I'm moving down to my hometown, Fairfax, Va., to start another local news effort. This is one of those "it's me, not you" cases. When I moved to New Jersey years ago, I left my family and longtime boyfriend. It's been too long. If I could move them up here, I would.

Cranford Patch readers: I'm sorry I'm leaving so soon. You guys made my late-night natural disaster and meeting coverage worth it. Don't worry, "The Cranford Patch" isn't disappearing. I'll be the first to welcome Michelle Walbaum from the Princeton Packet as the new editor. She'll do a great job. Please help her along as you helped me.

My freelancers: Come with me! I'll pay the usual article/photo fee to anyone who ups and moves with me! Seriously, though. I couldn't do any of this without you.

Always feel free to contact me at whitney@patch.com. Hope this message finds everyone well.