Community Corner

Patch Editor In Northern Virginia Bids Farewell After 8+ Years

A Patch editor in Northern Virginia bids farewell after nearly nine years. Here are some of her favorite stories.

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(Emily Leayman/Patch)

After nearly nine years, tens of thousands of articles and countless hours spent covering meetings, elections and other work, I am signing off as a field editor at Patch.

I started with Patch in March 2017 as an eager recent college graduate ready to delve into local news. Soon I got my first big test: covering the congressional baseball shooting in Alexandria.

But a lot of my stories are the day-to-day happenings that don't often get the attention of national media.

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I've covered zoning reforms, local impacts of multiple government shutdowns in 2019 and 2025, Metro shutdowns and the Potomac Yard Metro opening, help for the homeless, parades, and everything in between.

During the pandemic, I reported on day-to-day updates on COVID-19 numbers, how neighbors were helping people in need, support for frontline workers, Black Lives Matter protests, and a news conference with then-Gov. Ralph Northam.

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I've also seen Northern Virginia change through development — I covered the arena and entertainment district proposal not advancing in Alexandria, the opening of the Virginia Tech campus in the same neighborhood, a development boom in Falls Church, the demolition and redevelopment plans for Landmark Mall and much more.

I took on the Woodbridge, Manassas and Ashburn sites in early 2024. In Loudoun County, I covered the home explosion that killed a firefighter and the investigation aftermath, trial for the gas company worker and tributes to the fallen firefighter. I've written about data centers as development continues to happen and the ending of by-right data center approvals. In Prince William County and Manassas, I've covered the Digital Gateway lawsuits, done an exclusive two-part interview series with the Manassas mayor

In 2025, I made an appearance on Nancy Grace to discuss missing college student Sudiksha Konanki from Loudoun County on a spring break trip abroad.

I also received a Virginia School Board Association Media honor roll induction thanks to the Falls Church School Board.

Another favorite moment was presenting awards at the Cappies Gala two times at the Kennedy Center.

Now, I say goodbye to Patch with fond memories and gratitude for Patch colleagues I've worked with — my manager Deb Belt, fellow editor Michael O'Connell, former colleagues Mark Hand and Liam Griffin, the late Skip Wood and many more in Virginia and across the country. And thank you readers for following along with me to get local news that matters to you. I won't be gone from local news as I continue reporting on local news in parts of Northern Virginia.

Here are some of my favorite stories that I've covered at Patch over more than eight years:

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