Adventures of a Patch Editor

One year ago today, Dec. 23, 2010, Kent Patch launched with a dozen or so stories about the city you live in.

In the days that followed, we produced more than 1,700 stories on topics ranging from small businesses, fallen heroes, personal struggles and Kent's ever-changing landscape.

We were able to tell those stories through personal relationships forged because the Kent community opened up its doors and invited us in to tell your stories.

It's been a wild ride that's seen myself and Kent Patch contributors go to some fun and interesting places.

as seniors from Silver Oaks took a charter bus to Cleveland to fight their forced eviction. I took readers along on shortly after the city bought it from former owner Gregg Vilk.

Thanks to the Kent Fire Department, I got to perch high above South Water Street days before the tenth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks to watch a bunch of .

Many of Kent's new, small business owners have to talk about their plans to strike it rich — or at least make a modest living — opening a shop downtown. I've poured through at the Ohio EPA about the RB&W property on Mogadore Road. 

I stood in the rain to watch the . I've watched almost half a dozen for massive redevelopment projects in downtown Kent.  I've been a constant attendant at Kent's governmental meetings — so you don't have to be.

I've seen the and talked to of that crash. And I sat in court to hear the .

These stories, your stories, are all about Kent. I'm so honored to be able to tell your stories, and I'm grateful that your support — through both readership and advertising — lets me chronicle the Kent community.

But more so I'm thankful for all the friends and acquaintances I've developed and the relationships I've strengthened in the past year.

It's been a great experience, and I look forward to telling Kent's stories for as long as you'll keep reading them.

Matt Fredmonsky
Editor, Kent Patch