E-mail: Charlene.Arsenault@patch.com
Phone: 508-736-7708
Hometown: Central Massachusetts
Birthday: June 29, 1970
Snapshot: Married, keyboard player, animal activist who started the Pet Rock Festival, writer, night owl, chatterbox, kind of sporty, adventurous, bad at math and eating small portions.
I grew up in Leicester, MA, and graduated with an English degree from Fitchburg State College in 1993. Out of college, I landed a small weekly music column called The Beat Goes On (yeah, I didn't name it) under the tutelage of editor Sandy Bowles, who was also an editor at Patch.
But my first "real" job was at Worcester Magazine, which I nabbed not long after. Spending days in the news room, where then the pages were still tacked to the lightboard in the production room, typing led to becoming a music column, and ultimately to an editor position.
As a reporter Worcester Magazine, the Telegram and Gazette, Central MA News and a host of other publications, I have covered just about anything imaginable.
Politically, I'm unusual, especially in Massachusetts. Unusual in that I'm gay, yet I most often vote conservatively. I consider myself socially liberal and fiscally conservative and generally subscribe to the Libertarian way of thinking.
I am very concerned about never letting biases get in the way of presenting an objective story. In the end, the story is about the subjects—not me—and I always let them talk.
Over the years, I've gotten quite a few letters and comments that compliment my ability to be fair, my concern over anonymity (when it is requested) and sensitivity to keeping a comment in context.
I edit and provide content for Massachusetts Patch sites.
Be on the lookout. Here are 10 suspects, including a pair in Sudbury, on the Massachusetts State Police "most wanted" list.
The Splash Pad is opening early, and the pools are staying open later, to accommodate the heated masses.
The following are excerpts from the Marlborough police log. An arrest does not indicate a conviction.
Mass. Ventures dished out these grants at these annual awards, hosted in Marlborough.
Want to join the Sudbury police as a dispatcher? There's an opening.
Kelly Cox will study coral reef ecology and the conservation of marine systems along the Great Barrier Reef.
Massachusetts' top crime news also includes a woman indicted on a Christmas Day murder, the biting of a cop and a teen propositioned.
After allegedly urinating in public and exposing himself, a Framingham sex offender was also arrested for failing to tell cops he moved.
Here's what's happening on Massachusetts highways on one of the busiest travel times of the year.
The following are excerpts from the Milford police log. An arrest does not indicate a conviction.
The following are excerpts from the Framingham police log. An arrest does not indicate a conviction.
A Sudbury tennis player competed at her shot at achieving the highest level of success in their age division in New England.
A Weston tennis player competed at his shot at achieving the highest level of success in their age division in New England.
The ban from last week was lifted by the Shrewsbury Health Department.
This week's featured local calendar event comes to you courtesy of She's Busy, a band that's real good.
Join your neighbors for Family Fun Day at Dean Park.
A million dollar paving program is kicking off soon in Sudbury.
It's been a long process, but there's now new leadership at the Wilson Elementary School.
The man refused to give his name. Once he did, police found he had a warrant out for his arrest for other charges.
Westborough authorities found this cat, which seems that it may have a home. Is it yours?
