Amherst, NH|News|
Monday Essentials: Orange Leaf, Aspen Dental to Open
What you should know for the week ahead.

Until I was a junior in high school, I planned to go to school for acting, but I took a semester-long journalism class at the recommendation of my sophomore English teacher and my career path changed. I went to St. Michael's College in Colchester, Vt., where I earned a degree in journalism and mass communication.
I have worked in community journalism since I graduated from college in 2004. I worked for nearly three years as a reporter covering seven towns for the Argus-Champion, a newspaper in the Newport/Lake Sunapee region of New Hampshire that has since closed. Until I took the job as the editor for Merrimack Patch, I worked for the Nashua Telegraph and Cabinet Press where I worked in several capacities including as a reporter, copy editor and editor. I worked most recently as an editor handling the content for the Cabinet, Merrimack Journal, Bedford Journal and Hollis Brookline Journal.
I live in Nashua and have lived in the Nashua area since 2007. I was born and raised in Exeter, and can see myself living in New England, if not New Hampshire, for the rest of my life, despite strong urges every January to pack up and move to San Diego. I think I may have lived there in a previous life.
I'm a member of the Gate City Striders, a large group of runners who get together for coached track workout and group runs, and am hoping to getting back to running competitively as I did in high school and college.
In my free time I also like to play floor hockey and softball, spend time with friends, read and cook.
Your Beliefs
At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license for you to inject your beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that your beliefs are on the record will cause you to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.
Politics
I'm a registered Independent though I vote more with the Democratic party. While I am tend to lean to the liberal side on most issues, I'm more interested in the person than voting along party lines.
Religion
I grew up Catholic and went to a Catholic college but I haven't been practicing for several years. I appreciate the beliefs of others and take interest in reading here and there about other religions.
Local Hot-Button Issues
Finding businesses to replace Zyla's and the old Shaw's.
What you should know for the week ahead.

Souhegan and Merrimack Watershed groups done testing until
Not ready to buy? These houses and condos are available for rent in town.
What you should know as you start your week.
Fill out this easy form and Patch will build an interactive map of garage sales, yard sales, estate sales in the area. Share the details of what exactly you have for sale in the form!
Fill out this easy form and Patch will build an interactive map of garage sales, yard sales, estate sales in the area. Share the details of what exactly you have for sale in the form!
Own a home without as much of the work with this spacious condo.
Own a home without as much of the work with this spacious condo.
Meet this week's Pets of the Week from the Humane Society for Greater Nashua.
Meet this week's Pets of the Week from the Humane Society for Greater Nashua.
A snapshot of Merrimack Police activity on Sept. 3 and 4.
A snapshot of Amherst Fire Department activity between Sept. 5-9.
Check out our of yard sales in Amherst and beyond.
Check out our of yard sales in Merrimack and beyond.
Position would assist welfare department as needed.
Merrimack's High Hopes Foundation helps make family's life easier and safer with the donation of a van.
The following information was provided by Amherst Police. An arrest does not indicated a conviction.
The following information was provided by Merrimack Police. An arrest does not indicated a conviction.