Give me a holler with story ideas, suggestions, or questions: michelle.rotuno-johnson@patch.com. You'll see my bylines in NJ and PA, and occasionally other places on Patch. I live in southern Ohio currently.
I "began" my journalism career at the age of six when I decided to produce a paper for my neighbors with looseleaf paper, a pencil, and some very amateur drawing skills. Now, I am a general assignment editor for Patch with our NJ/PA team, providing local news coverage to our readers in the region. I really enjoy covering local news and working with other Patch journalists.
My work has appeared in newspapers, on TV stations, and for a radio station as well as on digital platforms. I have undergraduate degrees in journalism and religion from Ohio Wesleyan University, and a double Master's degree in journalism and mass communication from Ohio University and the University of Leipzig in Germany. In 2014, I wrote a local history book on the Marion Popcorn Festival, which takes place every fall in Marion, OH.
When I'm not "doing the news," I am usually thinking about Star Wars, The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss, or soccer. I am a big fan of Chelsea Football Club, both the men's and women's teams. I have a dog named Sprout and two cats, Scoops and Bast.
This award recognizes education professionals "who devote their careers to serving as advocates – and often lifesavers" for students.
Wayne parents, caregivers, teachers, and adult community members are invited to the dinner, and a presentation by the JCK Foundation.
Bursts of heavy snowfall could make driving very hazardous throughout the day, forecasters said.
Do you have some confidential papers you'd like to get rid of? Mark your calendars for the town's next shred event.
The egg hunt is open to all Chester residents from ages 3 - 10, and registration is required.
A resident called 911 after spotting the four car theft suspects trying to get in her yard. Three of the suspects are juveniles, per police.
Firefighters had to briefly evacuate while part of the home was collapsing, officials said.
Three Passaic Co. men were charged with murder for a stabbing at a North Jersey bar, prosecutors say. A Pennsylvania man is still at large.
Zufall Health, which Bob and Kay Zufall began as a one-room clinic, now serves 48,000 patients in seven New Jersey counties.
This money will help law enforcement tackle the rise in auto thefts and associated home invasions, officials said.
The county tax rate has not gone up for five years, even as state mandates have been driving up costs, said commissioners.
In the spirit of the song "Feed the Birds," the high school theater company is partnering with nonprofit organization the Raptor Trust.
Families can also get seats at the Easter Bunny Breakfast or Bunny Trail Brunch during the weekends of March 23-24 and March 29-30.
Crews will be doing prescribed field burns at the Black River Wildlife Management Area, beginning Tuesday.
Have you gotten your flock out to the new Duck Donuts in Whippany? The chain's ninth New Jersey location opened this past weekend.
The victim claims that a school district and a youth baseball program should have seen signs the coach was abusing him.
The township will receive federal dollars to support replacements of pumps at the Mountain View station to protect residents from flooding.
Work for the project is expected to continue through mid-May, and there will be some lane closures in both directions.
Voters approved the partial ban last fall, after the town council was split on the issue.
Officials said to expect delays, as crews will be working on stormwater inlet improvements.
