Liz Spear, Patch Staff

Liz Spear is happy to be back at Patch in a brand new role as Community Publisher of Manhattan Beach Patch. She previously was the Local Editor for MB Patch from 2010-2014 and has lived in Manhattan Beach since 1995. Liz grew up in Redondo Beach and graduated from Redondo Union High School, where she first discovered her passion for journalism. RUHS' High Tide weekly newspaper and playing basketball were his two favorite high school activities. Liz pursued journalism, writing for the San Diego City College and Cal State Long Beach newspapers. She has covered most everything, from sports to opinion pieces to news to features and enjoys it all.

She was the editor of the Saturday Real Estate Home Guide at the Daily Breeze newspaper in Torrance for more than 10 years, where she was an advertorial writer working on special advertising sections and wrote a weekly Retail News column. She also wrote for the editorial department, keying in on interviews with music personalities and community and major theatrical reviews as well as concert reviews. She has been published by Palm Springs Life magazine and Life After 50, which she wrote for well before she turned 50, as well as the El Segundo Herald, egundo.com, and The Beach Reporter.

Liz loves living in Manhattan Beach and covering her community for Patch. It was through her first stint at Patch that she learned all about the amazing community Manhattan Beach is. She thanks all of the MB Patch readers who took the time to write Patch's new owners in 2014 in an attempt to bring her back.

Now that she is officially back, Liz wants readers to know that fairness is important to her as is reporting different viewpoints and opinions. You can always reach out to her at Liz.Spear@Patch.com or by text or call to 310-613-6016. Since there is so much goodness to cover in MB, she may not always be able to get back to you right away and she welcomes repeat emails and texts. Handling MB Patch as a solo reporter does get busy, so your patience is appreciated.

Liz asks readers to send story ideas and news tips her way anytime. During the evening and early morning hours, texts are probably the best way to reach her.

And Liz welcomes readers to post comments on stories as well as to use MB Patch as their neighborhood community resource for conversations, much like people do on NextDoor. MB Patch offers free Classified ads and Event postings so please post all of your events and classifieds on MB Patch.

MB Patch's new Community Publisher role will work because readers like you want hyperlocal coverage that gets the word out quicker than traditional print newspapers. Online stories also are greener than printed publications, though certainly printed publications play an important role in news dissemination. In my new role, I am also connecting with businesses and individuals who want to reach MB Patch's large targeted audience. There are two Sponsorship Packages that offer great value... more than just an "ad" on a website. Attractively priced with facets designed to get you more bang for your buck, so to speak, the Gold and Silver Packages deliver results and will keep your business in front of our readers' eyes. I'd like to say "Thank You" in a very BIG way to our first Gold Sponsor, the artisan grocery market Grow, where you'll find the best-tasting fruit, fresh produce, gourmet cheeses, a meat, seafood and deli counter, and a killer salsa many have come to know and love, and EXPECT to find at Grow. Grow opened in September of 2006 and has "Grow(n)" (pun intended) into one of Manhattan Beach's most prized stores. They started the "Apple in a Basket for Kids" feature whereby youngsters in the store could snag a tasty free and healthy apple. And they offered delivery well before it became all the rage. Grow also supports the community bigtime, sponsoring many events and activities. So, look for their ads on MB Patch and in our email newsletter AND show them some love by shopping at Grow.

I'm delighted to back at MB Patch. Please help me make it the best it can be.