Happy Birthday, Little Neck Patch!

Not only is today Veterans Day, it's also the one-year anniversary of the Little Neck Patch.

We've come a long way since we began 365 days ago, kicking off the site with a story of a contentious median on Little Neck Parkway. Of course, we couldn't have done it alone. 

We owe a great debt of gratitude to a number of people, starting with the site's , who launched the site and fearlessly helmed it until the end of May.

Thank you to everyone who regularly comments on the site - and for that matter, those who have ever commented on the site, or those who may soon comment on the site (see where we're going here?) Interaction from the public is what Patch is all about, and we appreciate everyone who contributes, be it with a news tip, or posting events and announcements. Thanks also to those following along on Twitter and Facebook.

I know that both myself and Douglaston Patch editor Nathan Duke owe a shout-out to the restaurants of Little Neck Plaza - particularly and Panera Bread - for allowing us to hover for hours in their establishments while we write and edit.

We've covered some big news in the last year - from the surprising closure of Scobee Diner, to a Little Neck teen charged with murder. We commemorated events that have impacted the city as a whole, like the legalization of and the . We've also fastidiously covered all of the year's weird weather events. To wit, we've had: , , and a . While we fear for the intensity of the winter to come, you can be sure we'll continue to cover whatever Mother Nature throws at us with equal enthusiasm.

And of course, a big "thank you" to our readers. You're the reason we're here, after all. If you have a question, concern, story tip or suggestion, don't hesitate to send me an email at LaurenE@patch.com, or give me a call at (301) 257-0955.

Here's to the last year, Little Neck, and to making Year Two even better. Cheers!