Chris Orchard, Patch Staff

Email: chris.orchard(at)patch.com Phone: (617) 306-6164 Hometown: Milton, Mass. Birthday: December 4

Bio Chris has worked as a reporter for South End News, Dover-Sherborn Press, Allston-Brighton TAB and Bay Windows. His work has appeared in Chicago's Inside and Inside Lincoln Park newspapers, at bostonherald.com and at artandculture.com.

Chris also worked at ABC News as a production associate for 20/20, Primetime Live and 20/20 Downtown and as a desk assistant for Good Morning America and Morning News.

He's also been a copywriter, an office temp and an intern at a maritime history museum in New York. He lived in Switzerland for three and a half years, penned an unpublished novel about community journalism (please don't laugh) and built a small dinghy from scratch.

Chris grew up in Milton and went to Middlebury College, where he majored in history and Spanish.

He has lived in four different apartments in Somerville—he proposed to his wife in one of those apartments, and another one was broken into—but he recently upgraded to a condo, also in Somerville.

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 am not registered or affiliated with any political party. I have voted for both Democrats and Republicans, though I have never voted for a Republican presidential candidate. I consider myself a left-leaning independent.  Religion I do not actively participate in organized religion, but culturally I come from a Christian tradition. At Christmas I decorate a tree; on Easter I have dinner with my family.

Local Hot-Button Issue Hands down it's the Green Line extension. If the Green Line comes to Somerville—and that's still a big "if" considering today's atmosphere of budgets cuts—it will fundamentally change the city and the region.

Understandably, such change can cause both excitement and anxiety in a community like Somerville.

As someone who has used the T his whole life and who spent over three years in Switzerland, where the capabilities of a comprehensive rail system are on full display, I have to admit I'm excited for the Green Line extension—and public transportation projects in general.

That said, I recognize there are many valid thoughts and opinions about such an important issue, and I will always do my best to cover the subject honestly, respectfully and objectively.